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A1389 Spartina bakeri Coastal Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of seasonally flooded coastal interdunal swales of the Florida peninsula dominated by Spartina bakeri often with Muhlenbergia filipes (which may be codominant), Andropogon glomeratus, Aristida sp., Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Eupatorium mikanioides, Phyla nodiflora, Pluchea rosea, Rhynchospora colorata, Sabatia stellaris, Sagittaria lancifolia, and Setaria magna.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Cordgrass Coastal Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Sand Cordgrass Coastal Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of seasonally flooded graminoid wetlands with substantial cover of or dominated by Spartina bakeri. Seasonally flooded coastal interdunal swales of the Florida peninsula dominated by Spartina bakeri may also contain Muhlenbergia filipes (which may be codominant), Andropogon glomeratus, Aristida sp., Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Eupatorium mikanioides, Phyla nodiflora, Pluchea rosea, Rhynchospora colorata, Sabatia stellaris, Sagittaria lancifolia, and Setaria magna. Additional herbaceous species in South Carolina Spartina bakeri ponds may include Cyperus odoratus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Juncus effusus, Juncus roemerianus, Panicum virgatum, Saccharum giganteum, and Woodwardia virginica. Hibiscus grandiflorus is reported from some associations. These areas are not tidally flooded, but are apparently maintained as marsh by occasional flooding by brackish water during severe storm tides in hurricane events. These storm flooding events maintain brackish soil conditions.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Coastal seasonally flooded, non-tidal marsh dominated by Spartina bakeri.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Coastal marsh dominated by Spartina bakeri. These areas are not tidally flooded but are apparently maintained as marsh by occasional flooding by brackish water during severe storm tides (in hurricane events). These storm flooding events maintain brackish soil conditions.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are depression marshes dominated by graminoid herbs, especially Spartina bakeri. Other graminoid and forb species are present.

Floristics: This alliance consists of seasonally flooded wetlands dominated by Spartina bakeri, or at least with substantial cover of it. Seasonally flooded coastal interdunal swales of the Florida peninsula dominated by Spartina bakeri may also contain Muhlenbergia filipes (which may be codominant), Andropogon glomeratus, Aristida sp., Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Eupatorium mikanioides, Phyla nodiflora, Pluchea rosea, Rhynchospora colorata, Sabatia stellaris, Sagittaria lancifolia, and Setaria magna. Additional herbaceous species in South Carolina Spartina bakeri ponds may include Cyperus odoratus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Juncus effusus, Juncus roemerianus, Panicum virgatum, Saccharum giganteum, and Woodwardia virginica. Hibiscus grandiflorus is reported from some associations.

Dynamics:  This alliance consists of seasonally flooded wetlands and seasonally flooded coastal interdunal swales. These areas are not tidally flooded, but are apparently maintained as marsh by occasional flooding by brackish water during severe storm tides in hurricane events. These storm flooding events maintain brackish soil conditions.
Environmental Description:  This alliance consists of seasonally flooded wetlands and seasonally flooded coastal interdunal swales. These areas are not tidally flooded, but are apparently maintained as marsh by occasional flooding by brackish water during severe storm tides in hurricane events. These storm flooding events maintain brackish soil conditions.
Geographic Range: Southeastern coastal areas, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  FL, GA, SC


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.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.c Marsh Fimbry - Spikerush species - Southern Umbrella-sedge Coastal Interdunal Marsh & Prairie Group G777 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Alliance A1389 Sand Cordgrass Coastal Marsh Alliance A1389 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Association CEGL004511 Sand Cordgrass - Gulf Hairawn Muhly - Bushy Bluestem - Star-rush Whitetop Marsh CEGL004511 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Association CEGL007713 Sand Cordgrass - Virginia Chainfern - Sugarcane Plumegrass Marsh CEGL007713 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Concept Lineage: (verbatim from A.1389, with minor edits Dec. 2013)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Coastal Interdunal Swale (FNAI 1992a)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman and A.S. Weakley

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992a. Natural communities. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 6 pp.
  • 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.
  • Laessle, A. M. 1942. Plant communities of the Welaka area. University of Florida Biological Sciences Series No. 4. 143 pp.
  • Wolfe, S. H., editor. 1990. An ecological characterization of the Florida Springs Coast: Pithlachascotee to Waccasassa rivers. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(21). Slidell, LA. 323 pp.