Print Report

A3539 Equisetum arvense - Equisetum hyemale - Equisetum variegatum Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This herbaceous wetland alliance consists of stands dominated or codominated by Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, or Equisetum variegatum occurring along streambanks, wet meadows and ditches within coastal California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Field Horsetail - Scouringrush Horsetail - Variegated Scouring-rush Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Vancouverian Horsetail Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is an herbaceous wetland characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer of Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, or Equisetum variegatum. Other obligate or facultative wetland plants may be present in low cover, but the dominance of Equisetum spp. is diagnostic of this type. Introduced graminoids, such as the perennial Poa pratensis or the annual Bromus diandrus, are known to codominate some stands. Sites include streambanks, wet meadows and ditches. Substrates are generally thin organic over alluvium. This community is typically flooded much of the growing season. The water table is high even when surface water is absent. This wetland alliance occurs in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia, Canada.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands occurring at lowlands along the coast and within the maritime-influenced climate, dominated by Equisetum spp.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Widespread and disturbance-driven stands of Equisetum spp. are being limited to regional alliances to account for floristic and climate variation.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Herbaceous, low-statured, open to dense stands, usually less than 1 m in height.

Floristics: This alliance is characterized by stands dominated or codominated by Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, or Equisetum variegatum. Other obligate or facultative wetland plants may be present in low cover, but the dominance of Equisetum spp. is diagnostic of this type. Introduced graminoids, such as the perennial Poa pratensis or the annual Bromus diandrus, are known to codominate some stands.

Dynamics:  Stands of Equisetum are very tolerant of extreme variations in water depth and high rates of sedimentation and can colonize exposed mineral or peat soils. It has been used to revegetate drawdown zones of receding reservoirs (MacKenzie and Moran 2004).
Environmental Description:  Sites include streambanks, wet meadows and ditches. Substrates are generally organic alluvium. This community is typically flooded much of the growing season. The water table is high even when surface water is absent.
Geographic Range: This wetland alliance occurs in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia, Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, CA, OR, WA


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.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G521 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3539 Field Horsetail - Scouringrush Horsetail - Variegated Scouring-rush Wet Meadow Alliance A3539 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL002241 Smooth Horsetail Wet Meadow CEGL002241 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL002760 Scouringrush Horsetail Wet Meadow CEGL002760 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL003314 Field Horsetail Wet Meadow CEGL003314 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL005148 (Field Horsetail, Variegated Scouring-rush) Wet Meadow CEGL005148 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.3539

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Equisetum (arvense, variegatum, hyemale) Provisional Alliance (Horsetail and scouring-rush marshes) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz and J. Coles, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • 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]
  • 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.
  • MacKenzie, W. H., and J. R. Moran. 2004. Wetlands of British Columbia: A guide to identification. Land Management Handbook No. 52. Research Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lands, Victoria, BC. 287 pp.