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G534 Western Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow Group

Type Concept Sentence: This wetland group consists of alkaline grasslands with and without an open shrub layer with dominant grasses that include Distichlis spicata, Muhlenbergia porteri, Panicum obtusum, Puccinellia nuttalliana, Scleropogon brevifolius, and/or Sporobolus airoides, and found in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain foothills.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow Group

Colloquial Name: Western Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This saline wet meadow group is found in the northern, southern and western Great Plains and in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Dominant grasses include Distichlis spicata, Muhlenbergia porteri, Panicum obtusum, Puccinellia nuttalliana, Scleropogon brevifolius, and/or Sporobolus airoides. Scattered shrubs may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Chrysothamnus spp., Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Stands occur in a wide variety of lowland sites, such as stream terraces, swales, interdune basins, and alluvial flats. This group has a high water table because of land position and impermeable subsurface horizons. Soils are moderately saline and usually alkaline. Soil surface textures are sandy to clayey. The soils morphology often includes a claypan, caliche layer or other subsurface horizon that impedes water movement. Soils are saline or alkaline, but salt crusts on the surface are absent. Although periodic flooding is rare, stands of this group receive more water than the surrounding uplands through runoff.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Moderately saline stands dominated by Sporobolus airoides, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and/or Puccinellia nuttalliana.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Recently split from a wider ranging group, this group is limited to the Great Plains.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Perennial grassland <1 m in height, shrubs and dwarf shrubs often present with generally <25% cover.

Floristics: Dominant grasses include Distichlis spicata, Muhlenbergia porteri, Panicum obtusum, Puccinellia nuttalliana, Scleropogon brevifolius, and/or Sporobolus airoides. Scattered shrubs may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Chrysothamnus spp., Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Other common grasses are Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides), Hordeum jubatum, Hordeum pusillum, Pascopyrum smithii, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Forbs and shrubs are typically sparse. Common forb associates are Chaetopappa ericoides, Grindelia squarrosa, Helianthus spp., Machaeranthera spp., Plantago spp., Ratibida spp., Sphaeralcea spp., Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), and Salicornia rubra (on more saline inclusions).

Dynamics:  Periodic subsurface irrigation is needed to maintain this group.
Environmental Description:  This group is not defined by a flood regime so much as that the soil often has a high water table because of land position and impermeable subsurface horizons. Soils are moderately saline and usually alkaline, but salt crusts on the surface are absent (Thilenius et al. 1995). Soil surface textures are sandy to clayey. The soils morphology often includes a claypan, caliche layer or other subsurface horizon that impedes water movement. Parent material is typically alluvium derived from limestone, shale, or sandstone.
Geographic Range: This group is found in the Great Plains, generally western portions, but ranges from north to south throughout.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, SK, TX, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.Na North American Great Plains Saline Marsh Division D033 2.C.5.Na
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Na.1 Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Macrogroup M077 2.C.5.Na.1
Group 2.C.5.Na.1.b Western Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow Group G534 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Alliance A3904 Alkali Sacaton Great Plains Marsh Alliance A3904 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Alliance A3905 Greasewood Great Plains Wet Shrubland Alliance A3905 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

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

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-03-15
  • 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]