Print Report

A1332 Distichlis spicata Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This wetland herbaceous alliance consists of playas and ephemeral streams with sparse to dense herbaceous cover dominated by Distichlis spicata on deep, saline, alkaline and fine-textured soils. This alliance occurs throughout much of the semi-arid and arid western U.S. in lowland sites such as playas, swales and terraces along washes that are seasonally, temporarily or intermittently flooded.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alkaline or saline wetland herbaceous alliance covers grasslands of playas and ephemeral streams. Cover may be a sparse or dense herbaceous layer dominated by Distichlis spicata, sometimes occurring in nearly pure stands, or with any of the following as a codominant: Carex filifolia, Hordeum jubatum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Pascopyrum smithii, Puccinellia nuttalliana, and/or Sporobolus airoides. Forb cover is generally low and may include Asteraceae spp., Helianthus spp., Salicornia rubra, Suaeda calceoliformis, and Triglochin maritima. Occasionally Suaeda may be the dominant species and Distichlis may be completely absent. This alliance occurs throughout much of the semi-arid and arid western U.S. on saline or alkaline soils in lowland sites such as playas, swales and terraces along washes that are seasonally, temporarily or intermittently flooded. Soils are deep, saline, alkaline and fine-textured. They generally have an impermeable layer and therefore are poorly drained. When the soil is dry, the surface usually has salt accumulations.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this alliance is the Distichlis spicata- or Suaeda calceoliformis-dominated herbaceous layer.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These are highly alkaline or saline sites.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer dominated by rhizomatous mid grasses less than 0.5 m tall.

Floristics: Cover is sparse to dense and is dominated by Distichlis spicata, occurring in nearly pure stands. Associates from sites with higher soil salinity may include the graminoid Puccinellia nuttalliana and the forbs Salicornia rubra, Triglochin maritima, and Suaeda calceoliformis (= Suaeda depressa). Species from sites with lower salinity include the graminoids Carex filifolia, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Hordeum jubatum, Pascopyrum smithii, and Sporobolus airoides, and the forbs Helianthus spp. and Asteraceae spp. (Ungar 1974c). Forb cover is generally low. Shrubs are rare but may include scattered Atriplex canescens and Sarcobatus vermiculatus.

Dynamics:  Stands have higher diversity and cover during wet years and near boundaries with other vegetation types. Higher soil salinity favors Distichlis spicata over less salt-tolerant species. However, very high salinity will dwarf the Distichlis spicata and reduce cover. Generally, vegetation height and cover and species diversity tend to vary inversely with salinity (Ungar 1967, Steinauer 1989). Associated species may be restricted by the level of salinity in the soil. This osmotic stress of growing in alkaline and saline soils is compensated by the accumulation of proline by some halophytic species including Distichlis spicata. This aids the plants'' water uptake by increasing the osmotic potential of the plant (Shupe et al. 1986). Vegetation forms zones at some saline sites, where species abundance is stratified by salt tolerance (Ungar et al. 1969, Shupe et al. 1986). In playas, the soil salinity at field capacity generally increases from the edge to the center allowing for several different vegetation stands to co-occur (Ungar 1967, 1970, Ungar et al. 1969). Microtopography can also affect vegetation structure. Where soil accumulates to form hummocks, less salt- and alkali-tolerant plants can occur (Ungar 1972, Johnson 1987).

Distichlis spicata is rhizomatous and tolerant of moderate grazing and its roots resist trampling. Although relatively unpalatable, it can provide valuable winter forage for livestock if needed. If grazed heavily, Distichlis spicata will decline and may be replaced by less desirable warm-season grasses such as Schedonnardus paniculatus (Costello 1944b). Weeds are generally not a problem because few grow well in saline soils.
Environmental Description:  Grasslands in this western alliance occur in lowland habitats such as playas, swales and terraces along washes that are intermittently flooded. The flooding is usually the result of highly localized thunderstorms which can flood one basin and leave the next dry. It also occurs along California coastal areas, and the Channel Islands, where it is sometimes found in a tidal wetland or riparian situation. Climate is semi-arid to arid. Soil texture ranges from clay loam to sandy clay (Redmann 1972, Johnston 1987). These soils are deep, saline and alkaline. They generally have an impermeable layer and therefore are poorly drained. When the soil is dry, the surface usually has salt accumulations.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs throughout much of the semi-arid and arid western U.S. It also occurs along California coastal areas, and the Channel Islands.

Nations: CA,MX?,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, SK, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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 A1332 Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1332 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001770 Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow CEGL001770 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001771 Saltgrass - Mixed Herb Wet Meadow CEGL001771 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001772 Saltgrass - Clasping Pepperweed Wet Meadow CEGL001772 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001773 Saltgrass - (Nevada Bulrush) Alkaline Wet Meadow CEGL001773 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL003462 Saltgrass - Alkali Sea-heath - Marsh Jaumea Salt Marsh CEGL003462 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL005417 Pursh Seepweed Wet Meadow CEGL005417 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Concept Lineage: A.1332 & A.2689 with edits

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Distichlis spicata (Salt grass flats) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.200.00]
= Distichlis spicata Alkaline Flats Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
= Distichlis spicata Alliance (Salt grass flats) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
? Distichlis spicata Series (Johnston 1987)
= Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [41.200.00]
>< Alkali Meadow (#45310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern Coastal Salt Marsh (#52110) (Holland 1986b)
? Overland Flow # 36 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
? Salt Flat # 34 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
= Saltgrass Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Southern Coastal Salt Marsh (#52120) (Holland 1986b)
? Wet Meadow # 38 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz and J. Evens, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, K.A. Schulz, J. Evens

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-10-16
  • Baker, W. L. 1984a. A preliminary classification of the natural vegetation of Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 44(4):647-676.
  • Beatley, J. C. 1976. Vascular plants of the Nevada Test Site and central-southern Nevada: Ecological and geographic distributions. Technical Information Center, Energy Research and Development Administration. TID-26881. Prepared for Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research. 297 pp.
  • Bradley, W. G. 1970. The vegetation of Saratoga Springs, Death Valley National Monument. Southwest Naturalist 15:111-129.
  • Brotherson, J. D. 1987. Plant community zonation in response to soil gradients in a saline meadow near Utah Lake, Utah County, Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 47(2):322-333.
  • Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
  • Bunin, J. E. 1985. Vegetation of the City of Boulder, Colorado open space lands. Report prepared for the City of Boulder, Real Estate/Open Space, Boulder, CO. 114 pp.
  • CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
  • Copeland, W. N. 1979. Harney Lake RNA Guidebook, Supplement #9. USDA Forest Service Experiment Station, Portland, OR.
  • Costello, D. F. 1944b. Important species of the major forage types in Colorado and Wyoming. Ecological Monographs 14:107-134.
  • Crouch, G. L. 1961a. Wildlife populations and habitat conditions on grazed and ungrazed bottomlands in Logan County, Colorado. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • Daniels, F. P. 1911. The flora of Boulder, Colorado and vicinity. University of Missouri Studies, Science Series II(2):8-48.
  • Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
  • Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Ferren, W. R., and F. W. Davis. 1991. Biotic inventory and ecosystem characterization of Fish Slough in Inyo and Mono counties. Unpublished report. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
  • Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. General Technical Report PNW-8. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 417 pp.
  • Graham, E. H. 1937. Botanical studies in the Uinta Basin of Utah and Colorado. Annals of the Carnegie Museum 26:28-432.
  • Griffiths, D. 1902. Forage conditions in the northern border of the Great Basin. USDA Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 15.
  • Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
  • Hansen, P., K. Boggs, and R. Pfister. 1991. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. Unpublished draft version prepared for Montana Riparian Association, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 478 pp.
  • Henrickson, J. 1974. Saline habitats and halophytic vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert region. Pages 249-272 in: R. H. Wauer and D. H. Riskind, editors. Transactions of the symposium on the biological resources of the Chihuahuan Desert region, United States and Mexico. USDI National Park Service. Transactions of Proceedings Series No. 3. Washington, DC.
  • Hickson, D., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. Vegetation and land use classification and map of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Prepared for the Bay Delta Region, California Department of Fish and Game by the Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento. 152 pp. plus appendices.
  • Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
  • Hyder, D. N., R. E. Bement, E. E. Remmenga, and C. Terwilliger, Jr. 1966. Vegetation-soils and vegetation-grazing relations from frequency data. Journal of Range Management 19:11-17.
  • Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
  • Jones, G. P., and G. M. Walford. 1995. Major riparian vegetation types of eastern Wyoming. Submitted to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY. 245 pp.
  • Junak, S., D. A. Knapp, J. R. Haller, R. Philbrick, A. Schoenherr and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. The Channel Islands. Chapter 9 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California, third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., D. Schirokauer, J. Meinke, and P. van der Leeden. 2003b. Classification of the vegetation of Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation area, Samuel P. Taylor, Mount Tamalpais, and Tomales state parks, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, California. California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., S. San, and D. Hickson. 2005. Vegetation classification of Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, California. Unpublished report to the National Park Service. California Fish and Game and California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and J. Evens. 2006. Vegetation classification of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and environs in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California. A report submitted to National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch and The California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and M. Vaghti. 2000. Vegetation mapping of Suisun Marsh, Solano County, California. A report to the California Department of Water Resources. California Department of Fish and Game, California Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento, CA.
  • Kittel, G. M., and N. D. Lederer. 1993. A preliminary classification of the riparian vegetation of the Yampa and San Miguel/Dolores river basins. Unpublished report prepared for Colorado Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency by The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Field Office, Boulder.
  • Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, N. Lederer, and D. Randolph. 1994. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the White and Colorado River basins, Colorado. Final report submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Boulder. 166 pp.
  • Klipple, G. E., and D. F. Costello. 1960. Vegetation and cattle responses to different intensities of grazing on short-grass ranges of the central Great Plains. Technical Bulletin 1216. USDA Forest Service. 82 pp.
  • Macdonald, K. B. 1977. Plant and animal communities of Pacific North American salt marshes. Pages 167-191 in: V. J. Chapman, editor. Ecosystems of the world. 1. Wet coastal ecosystems. Elsevier Scientific Publications Company, New York.
  • Odion, D. C., R. M. Callaway, W. R. Ferren, and F. W. Davis. 1992. Vegetation of Fish Slough, an Owens Valley wetland ecosystem. Pages 171-196 in: C.A. Hall and B. Widawski, editors. The history of water: Eastern Sierra Nevada, Owens Valley, White-Inyo Mountains. White Mountains Research Station Symposium 4. University of California, White Mountain Research Station, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Osborn, L. W. 1974. Soil-plant relationships in a saltgrass meadow. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 41 pp.
  • Peinado, M., F. Alcaraz, J. Delgadillo, M. De La Cruz, J. Alvarez, and J. L. Aguirre. 1994b. The coastal salt marshes of California and Baja California: Phytosociological typology and zonation. Vegetatio 110:55-66.
  • Pickart, A. J. 2006. Vegetation of diked herbaceous wetlands of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Classification, description, and ecology. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Arcata, CA.
  • Ralston, G. L. 1969. Plant zonation on dune sands of Washoe Lake, Washoe County, Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno.
  • Ramaley, F. 1942. Vegetation of the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. University of Colorado Studies, Series D, 1:231-277.
  • Redmann, R. E. 1972. Plant communities and soils of an eastern North Dakota prairie. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 99(2):65-76.
  • 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.
  • Rogers, C. M. 1953. The vegetation of the Mesa de Maya region of Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Lloydia 16(4):257-290.
  • Saul, S. 1974. A report on the proposed Harney Lake Research Natural Area. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Burns, OR. 16 pp.
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
  • Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
  • Shanks, D. L. 1977. Aerial photo densitometry for rangeland planning and evaluation. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 66 pp.
  • Shupe, J. B., J. D. Brotherson, and S. R. Rushforth. 1986. Patterns of vegetation surrounding springs in Goshen Bay, Utah County, Utah, U.S.A. Hydrobiologia 139:97-107.
  • Soil Conservation Service. 1978. Range site descriptions for Colorado. Technical Guide, Section II-E. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Colorado State Office, Denver.
  • Soil Conservation Service. No date. Range site descriptions of vegetation in Colorado. Unpublished report series MLRA dating from 1975 to 1989. Soil Conservation Service, Colorado Field Office, Denver.
  • Solomeshch, A., and M. Barbour. 2006. Defining restoration targets for Great Valley Grassland State Park. Grasslands 16:1, 12-17.
  • Sproul, F., T. Keeler-Wolf, P. Gordon-Reedy, J. Dunn, A. Klein, and K. Harper. 2011. Vegetation classification manual for western San Diego County. AECOM, California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Area Governments.
  • Stearns-Roger, Inc. 1978. Rawhide Energy Project. Transmission system, ecological investigations. Volume II. Technical baseline report to Platte River Power Authority. 51 pp.
  • Steinauer, G. 1989. Characterization of the natural communities of Nebraska. Appendix D, pages 103-114 in: M. Clausen, M. Fritz, and G. Steinauer. The Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, two year progress report. Unpublished document. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Natural Heritage Program, Lincoln, NE.
  • Thorne, R. F. 1976. The vascular plant communities of California. Pages 1-31 in: J. Latting, editor. Plant communities of southern California. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento.
  • Tuhy, J. S., and S. Jensen. 1982. Riparian classification for the Upper Salmon and Middle Fork Salmon River drainages, Idaho. Unpublished report prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region by White Horse Associates, Smithfield, UT. 183 pp.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1967. Vegetation-soil relationships on saline soils in northern Kansas. The American Midland Naturalist 78(1):98-121.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1968. Species-soil relationships on the Great Salt Plains of northern Oklahoma. The American Midland Naturalist 80(2):392-407.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1970. Species-soil relationships on sulfate dominated soils of South Dakota. The American Midland Naturalist 83(2):343-357.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1972. The vegetation of inland saline marshes of North America, north of Mexico. Basic Problems and Methods in Phytosociology 14:397-411.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1974b. The effect of soil factors on the distribution of halophytic species at South Park, Colorado. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 55(2):31-32 (Abstract).
  • Ungar, I. A. 1974c. Halophyte communities of Park County, Colorado. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 101:145-152.
  • Ungar, I. A., W. Hogan, and M. McClennand. 1969. Plant communities of saline soils at Lincoln, Nebraska. The American Midland Naturalist 82(2):564-577.
  • VegCAMP and AIS [Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2013. 2012 California desert vegetation map and accuracy assessment in support of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Unpublished report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Renewable Energy Program and the California Energy Commission. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.
  • Vestal, A. G. 1914. Prairie vegetation of a mountain-front area in Colorado. Botanical Gazette 58(5):377-400.
  • Weaver, J. E., and F. W. Albertson. 1956. Grasslands of the Great Plains: Their nature and use. Johnsen Publishing Co., Lincoln, NE. 395 pp.
  • Zedler, J. B., C. S. Nordby, and B. E. Kus. 1992. The ecology of Tijuana estuary, California: A national estuarine research reserve. Unpublished report. NOAA, Office of Coastal Resources Management, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, Washington, DC.