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G538 Distichlis spicata - Puccinellia lemmonii - Salicornia spp. Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group contains alkaline-saline marshes found in non-coastal and non-tidal areas of the Intermountain West. Marshes can be densely vegetated emergent or barren and sparsely vegetated playas where soils and water (if present) are alkaline. Characteristic species may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex spp., Distichlis spicata, Grayia spinosa, Leymus cinereus, Leymus triticoides, Muhlenbergia spp., Poa secunda, Puccinellia lemmonii, Salicornia spp., Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Triglochin maritima.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group

Colloquial Name: North American Desert Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group is found in the intermountain western U.S. Associations are composed of densely vegetated seasonal wetlands, saltwater emergent marshes to barren and sparsely vegetated playas (generally <10% plant cover). Characteristic species may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex spp., Distichlis spicata, Grayia spinosa, Leymus cinereus, Leymus triticoides, Muhlenbergia spp., Poa secunda, Puccinellia lemmonii, Salicornia spp., Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Triglochin maritima. Soils and standing water (if present) are alkaline. Salt crusts are common where there are actively drying ponds, that can have saltgrass beds in depressions and sparse shrubs around the margins. Playa flats are intermittently, seasonally to semipermanently flooded, usually retaining water into the growing season and drying completely only in drought years. Many are associated with hot and cold springs, located in basins with internal drainage. Soils are alkaline to saline clays with hardpans. Seasonal drying exposes mudflats colonized by annual wetland vegetation. Water is prevented from percolating through the soil by an impermeable soil subhorizon and is left to evaporate. Soil salinity varies greatly with soil moisture and greatly affects species composition. During exceptionally wet years, increased precipitation can dilute soil salt concentrations which may allow less salt-tolerant species to become established or more abundant. Some stands occur on floodplains, along the margins of perennial lakes, and in alkaline closed basins, with extremely low-gradient shorelines.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Salt-tolerant herbs that are seasonally or intermittently wet on barren to sparsely vegetated playas, lake margins, closed basins, and low-gradient shorelines.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Open shrub and/or herb vegetation.

Floristics: Characteristic species may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex spp., Distichlis spicata, Grayia spinosa, Leymus cinereus, Leymus triticoides (= Elymus triticoides), Muhlenbergia spp., Poa secunda, Puccinellia lemmonii, Salicornia spp., Schoenoplectus americanus, Bolboschoenus maritimus (= Schoenoplectus maritimus), and Triglochin maritima.

Dynamics:  Playas are shallow, seasonal wetlands that lie in the lowest point of a closed watershed. Their basins are lined with clay soils, which collect and hold water from rainfall and runoff events. Water evaporates, leaving high salt concentrations in the soils. Some playas will only flood with water during years with high precipitation, sometimes only once or twice in a decade. Others will have standing water every spring, except in the driest of years. During flooded years, some salt-tolerant marsh plant species may grow, such as cattails (Typha spp.) or bulrush (Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus spp.) (Knight 1994).
Environmental Description:  Climate: Cold desert. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group is found on barren and sparsely vegetated playas (generally <10% plant cover). Salt crusts are common throughout, with small saltgrass beds in depressions and sparse shrubs around the margins. The flats are intermittently, seasonally to semipermanently flooded, usually retaining water into the growing season and drying completely only in drought years. Many are associated with hot and cold springs, located in basins with internal drainage. Soils are alkaline to saline clays with hardpans. Seasonal drying exposes mudflats colonized by annual wetland vegetation. Water is prevented from percolating through the soil by an impermeable soil subhorizon and is left to evaporate. Soil salinity varies greatly with soil moisture and greatly affects species composition. During exceptionally wet years, increased precipitation can dilute soil salt concentrations which may allow less salt-tolerant species to become established or more abundant. Some stands occur on floodplains, along the margins of perennial lakes, and in alkaline closed basins, with extremely low-gradient shorelines. Environmental information compiled from individual associations and Knight (1994).
Geographic Range: This group is found throughout the intermountain western U.S.

Nations: CA,MX,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AZ, BC?, CA, CO, ID, KS, MT, MXCOA, NM, NV, OR, SK, TX, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group G538 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A1329 Basin Wildrye - Beardless Wildrye Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1329 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A1332 Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1332 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A1334 Alkali Sacaton - Scratchgrass - Alkali Cordgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1334 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A3930 Common Spikerush - Beaked Spikerush Alkaline-Saline Marsh Alliance A3930 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A3932 Foxtail Barley Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A3932 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A4164 California Sawgrass Alkaline Seep Alliance A4164 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Concept Lineage: G672 covered by G537 & G538 (GK 4-9-14).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al.

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: J. Kagan and P. Comer

Version Date: 12-02-15
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
  • Knight, D. H. 1994. Mountains and plains: Ecology of Wyoming landscapes. Yale University Press, New Haven, MA. 338 pp.
  • Rodriguez, D., K. G. Sikes, T. Keeler-Wolf, G. Kittel, J. Curtis, C. Curley, and J. Evens. 2017. Vegetation classification of Channel Islands National Park. Report to the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
  • Stout, D., J. Buck-Diaz, S. Taylor, and J. M. Evens. 2013. Vegetation mapping and accuracy assessment report for Carrizo Plain National Monument. California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA. 71 pp.