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A1987 Sagittaria lancifolia Gulf Coast Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are Gulf Coast Sagittaria lancifolia marshes, containing other wetland plants, which occur in the marshlands of southern Louisiana and coastal Alabama and Texas.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bull-tongue Arrowhead Gulf Coast Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Gulf Coast Arrowhead Tidal Freshwater Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This Gulf Coast Sagittaria lancifolia marsh contains other wetland plants. They occur in the marshlands of southern Louisiana and coastal Alabama and Texas. They may also contain Colocasia esculenta (exotic), Sesbania vesicaria, Ludwigia spp., Lythrum lineare, Phragmites australis ssp. berlandieri, Sagittaria latifolia, Sagittaria platyphylla, Solidago sempervirens, Typha spp., and Vigna luteola.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These Gulf Coast Sagittaria lancifolia marshes, which contain other wetland plants, occur in the marshlands of southern Louisiana, and coastal Alabama and Texas.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is limited to the marshlands of southern Louisiana, the Texas coast, and Mobile Bay, Alabama.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are tidal fresh to oligohaline marshes dominated by a mixture of broad-leaved monocots (e.g., Sagittaria spp.) with other wetland forbs and possibly shrubs (at low cover).

Floristics: These marshes are primarily dominated by Sagittaria lancifolia, but may also contain Colocasia esculenta (exotic), Sesbania vesicaria (= Glottidium vesicarium), Ludwigia spp., Lythrum lineare, Phragmites australis, Sagittaria latifolia, Sagittaria platyphylla, Solidago sempervirens, Typha spp., and Vigna luteola.

Dynamics:  These marshes occur in shallow freshwater with little variation in water level.
Environmental Description:  These are tidal fresh to oligohaline marshes.
Geographic Range: As far as presently known, these Gulf Coast Sagittaria lancifolia marshes are limited to the marshlands of southern Louisiana, the Texas coast, and Mobile Bay, Alabama. They could be possible in Mississippi, but have not been documented from there.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, LA, TX


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.1 Annual Wild Rice - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Pickerelweed Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Macrogroup M066 2.C.4.Ne.1
Group 2.C.4.Ne.1.b <i>Zizaniopsis milacea - Spartina patens - Panicum hemotimon</i> Freshwater Tidal Marsh Group G913 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Alliance A1987 Bull-tongue Arrowhead Gulf Coast Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance A1987 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007886 Beaked Spikerush - Bull-tongue Arrowhead Oligohaline Tidal Marsh CEGL007886 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007889 Bull-tongue Arrowhead Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Tidal Marsh CEGL007889 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007890 Broadleaf Arrowhead - Delta Arrowhead - (Coco Yam) Deltaic Tidal Marsh CEGL007890 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007891 Subtropical Common Reed - (Delta Arrowhead, Hairy-pod Cowpea) Tidal Marsh CEGL007891 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007893 Baldwin''s Spikerush - (Floating Marsh-pennywort, Many-flower Marsh-pennywort) Tidal Marsh CEGL007893 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007894 Bull-tongue Arrowhead - Cattail species - Seedbox species Tidal Marsh CEGL007894 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL008447 Bull-tongue Arrowhead - Bagpod - Seaside Goldenrod - Saltmarsh Loosestrife Tidal Marsh CEGL008447 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Concept Lineage: This new alliance combines associations from three old alliances: A.1477 (1/3), A.1588 (1/2), and A.1987 (3/3).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fresh Bulltongue (Visser et al. 2000)
>< Intermediate Marsh (Smith 1999)
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant information developed and compiled by L.M. Smith and A.S. Weakley.

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.
  • Odum, W. E., T. J. Smith, III, J. K. Hoover, and C. C. McIvor. 1984. The ecology of tidal freshwater marshes of the United States east coast: A community profile. FWS/OBS-83/17. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, DC. 176 pp.
  • Smith, L. 1999. Coastal marsh types currently recognized in Louisiana and relationships with existing types in ICEC-TNC. Draft report. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 20 pp.
  • Visser, J. M., C. E. Sasser, R. H. Chabreck, and R. G. Linscombe. 1998. Marsh vegetation types of the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain. Estuaries 21(48):818-828.
  • Visser, J. M., C. E. Sasser, R. H. Chabreck, and R. G. Linscombe. 2000. Marsh vegetation types of the Chenier Plain, Louisiana, USA. Estuaries 23(3):318-327.
  • Visser, J. M., and C. E. Sasser. 1998. 1997 Coastal vegetation analysis. Unpublished report to Greg Steyer, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA. Draft report November 20, 1998. 47 pp.