Print Report

A1369 Cladium mariscus Floodplain Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of floodplain and riparian marshes dominated by Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense in warm temperate regions of the southeastern United States. Other typical species include Morella cerifera, Persea palustris, Toxicodendron radicans, and Woodwardia virginica.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Sawgrass Floodplain Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Sawgrass Floodplain Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of floodplain and riparian marshes dominated by Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense in warm temperate regions of the southeastern United States. Other typical species include Morella cerifera, Persea palustris, Toxicodendron radicans, and Woodwardia virginica. Some areas of this alliance are now often being invaded by the alien tree Triadica sebifera.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Floodplain and riparian marshes dominated by Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense in warm temperate regions of the southeastern United States, such as the St Johns River in eastern Florida.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense can also occur in basin marshes, but is not characteristic of them. The basin marsh vegetation has been put in another new alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Examples of this alliance are open, herbaceous graminoid marshes or prairies, sometimes with scattered emergent trees.

Floristics: This alliance is dominated by Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense. Other typical species include Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Persea palustris, Toxicodendron radicans, and Woodwardia virginica. Some areas of this alliance are now often being invaded by the alien tree Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum).

Dynamics:  In central and southern Florida, there is more rain in the summer and the cooler months are drier. Due to the climate, the floodplains may be more flooded in the summer than the winter, which restricts the growth of trees. Also the season and duration of flooding are variable from year to year, in part due to tropical storms, including hurricanes. These floodplain and riparian marshes have been subject to wildland fire, which limits trees.
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance occur in floodplains and riparian areas with fluctuating hydrology, including spring-run streams and freshwater marshes of the St. Johns River and other rivers in the Florida peninsula.
Geographic Range: Southeastern Coastal Plain, most common in the Florida Peninsula but also occurs in Georgia and Alabama.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA


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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Ne Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D322 2.C.4.Ne
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Ne.2 Beaksedge species - Spikerush species - Panicgrass species Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Prairie & Marsh Macrogroup M067 2.C.4.Ne.2
Group 2.C.4.Ne.2.a Pickerelweed - Maidencane River & Basin Freshwater Marsh & Wet Meadow Group G188 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Alliance A1369 Swamp Sawgrass Floodplain Marsh Alliance A1369 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Association CEGL003940 Swamp Sawgrass Marsh CEGL003940 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Association CEGL004949 Swamp Sawgrass - Virginia Chainfern Marsh CEGL004949 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Association CEGL008591 Swamp Sawgrass - Southern Cattail - Carolina Fimbry - Herb-of-Grace Marsh CEGL008591 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Concept Lineage: The association list is the same as old alliance A.1369. (text from A.1369, with edits)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < saw grass marsh (Kushlan 1990)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • 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.
  • Kushlan, J. A. 1990. Freshwater marshes. Pages 324-363 in: R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.