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A3485 Schoenoplectus americanus Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This herbaceous wetland, found in the southern Great Plains and west into the southern Rocky Mountains, is composed of wetlands dominated by Schoenoplectus americanus.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chairmaker''s Bulrush Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Great Plains Chairmaker''s Bulrush Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance, found in the southern Great Plains and west into the southern Rocky Mountains, is composed of wetlands dominated by Schoenoplectus americanus. This alliance is not well understood across its range. In cienegas in Trans-Pecos Texas (and possibly also in southern New Mexico), Schoenoplectus americanus typically dominates the stands, though Flaveria chlorifolia or Helianthus paradoxus may be locally dominant. Other species include Samolus ebracteatus ssp. cuneatus, Limonium limbatum, and Distichlis spicata. Elsewhere in Texas it occurs in permanent springs where species may include Eleocharis macrostachya, Fuirena simplex, Paspalum distichum, Potamogeton illinoensis, Schoenoplectus americanus, and, in outer zones, Andropogon gerardii. Schoenoplectus americanus-dominated marshes occur throughout Oklahoma, but are most common in the central and western portions of the state and in the panhandle. Further study is needed to characterize this alliance.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by herbaceous wetlands in the western and southern Great Plains and adjacent Rocky Mountains dominated by Schoenoplectus americanus, though Flaveria chlorifolia or Helianthus paradoxus may be locally dominant.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is not well understood and is defined by stands dominated by Schoenoplectus americanus. Other differential characteristics are not well understood.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by rhizomatous, perennial graminoids that can attain heights that range from 5-15 dm. There is typically only one stratum that defines this alliance.

Floristics: Plant associations within this alliance are classified as semipermanently flooded temperate grasslands. They are dominated by Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus) that forms a dense mat with up to 100% cover and can dwarf smaller plants. Typical herbaceous associates can include Berula erecta, Carex spp., Eleocharis palustris, Equisetum laevigatum, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, and Typha latifolia (Johnson et al. 1987). In cienegas in Trans-Pecos Texas (and possibly also in southern New Mexico), Schoenoplectus americanus typically dominates the stands, though Flaveria chlorifolia or Helianthus paradoxus may be locally dominant. Other species include Samolus ebracteatus ssp. cuneatus, Limonium limbatum, and Distichlis spicata. Most examples of this alliance have been heavily altered hydrologically by use of water for irrigation. Elsewhere in Texas it occurs in permanent springs, where species may include Eleocharis macrostachya, Fuirena simplex, Paspalum distichum, Potamogeton illinoensis, Schoenoplectus americanus, and, in outer zones, Andropogon gerardii (Diamond 1993). Finally, Schoenoplectus americanus-dominated marshes occur throughout Oklahoma, but are most common in the central and western portions of the state, and in the panhandle (Hoagland 1996).

Dynamics:  Ungar (1972) states that the Schoenoplectus americanus associations are a result of poor aeration in standing water which eliminates non-emergent vegetation.
Environmental Description:  Soils are constantly wet, anaerobic, non-saline and non-alkaline. Sites supporting these associations have extremely high water-holding capacity of the soil, likely due to the high organic content and the extensive root and rhizome systems, which makes the soil surface highly absorptive (Ungar 1965).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the southern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains from Colorado and Oklahoma south through Texas and New Mexico. It extends north into the plains and mountains of Wyoming, as well.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM, OK, TX, 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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.5 Prairie Cordgrass - Cattail species - Bulrush species Great Plains Marsh, Wet Meadow, Shrubland & Playa Macrogroup M071 2.C.4.Nd.5
Group 2.C.4.Nd.5.a Cattail species - Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Common Rivergrass Great Plains Freshwater Marsh Group G325 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Alliance A3485 Chairmaker''s Bulrush Marsh Alliance A3485 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Association CEGL001586 Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Spikerush species Marsh CEGL001586 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Association CEGL002226 Chairmaker''s Bulrush Great Plains Marsh CEGL002226 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Association CEGL004144 Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Sedge species Marsh CEGL004144 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Concept Lineage: All associations come from old A.1432. Equals the Great Plains portion of old A.1432.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Scirpus americanus herbaceous alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
>< Scirpus spp. Series (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): J. Drake, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
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