Print Report
A3649 Morella cerifera - Persea palustris - Salix caroliniana Maritime Scrub Swamp Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes coastal wet shrublands with variable hydrology, ranging from seasonally flooded and oligohaline tidal, dominated by Morella cerifera. This vegetation occurs on wetland flats, interdune swales, along tidal creeks, and sometimes adjacent to salt marshes. Associated shrubs may include Baccharis halimifolia, Acer rubrum, Vaccinium formosum, Rosa palustris, and Ilex opaca var. opaca. This shrubland vegetation can form vast thickets in some cases; there may be inclusions of small wetland graminoid-dominated areas.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Morella cerifera - Persea palustris - Salix caroliniana Maritime Scrub Swamp Alliance
Colloquial Name: Mid-Atlantic Maritime Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance of wetland dune swales and other wetland shrubland situations is dominated by Morella cerifera. Associated shrubs may include Baccharis halimifolia, Acer rubrum, Vaccinium formosum, Rosa palustris, and Ilex opaca var. opaca. This shrubland vegetation can form vast thickets in some cases; there may be inclusions of small wetland graminoid-dominated areas. Vines may be frequent and can include Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Smilax spp., Vitis spp., and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Associated herbaceous species can include Boehmeria cylindrica, Calystegia sepium, Carex albolutescens, Carex hormathodes, Chasmanthium laxum, Festuca rubra, Galium obtusum, Hydrocotyle spp., Polygonum pensylvanicum, Eleocharis fallax, Kosteletzkya virginica, Hibiscus moscheutos, Typha angustifolia, Polygonum punctatum, Cyperus filicinus, Panicum virgatum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Amaranthus cannabinus, Pluchea odorata, Lythrum lineare, Asclepias incarnata, Ptilimnium capillaceum, and Carex hormathodes. One association on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is dominated by Cornus foemina, in association with Morella cerifera. This vegetation occurs in coastal regions from southern New Jersey to South Carolina, and perhaps discontinuously to Georgia and Florida, on wetland flats, interdune swales, along tidal creeks, and sometimes adjacent to salt marshes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Morella cerifera dominant in coastal wetlands, especially barrier islands.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance contains Morella cerifera-dominated shrublands formerly recognized within seasonally flooded as well as tidally flooded formations. ~Morella cerifera / Spartina patens Wet Shrubland (CEGL003839)$$ is noted to occur as far south as Florida and Georgia. The range of this type should be reconsidered.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This vegetation is a tall broad-leaved evergreen shrub swamp.
Floristics: Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) is usually dominant. Associated shrubs may include Baccharis halimifolia, Acer rubrum, Vaccinium formosum, Rosa palustris, Ilex opaca, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola, and Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica). This shrubland vegetation can form vast thickets in some cases; there may be inclusions of small wetland graminoid-dominated areas. Vines may be frequent and can include Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Smilax spp., Vitis spp., and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Associated herbaceous species can include Boehmeria cylindrica, Calystegia sepium, Carex albolutescens, Carex hormathodes, Chasmanthium laxum, Festuca rubra, Galium obtusum, Hydrocotyle spp., Juncus dichotomus, Juncus scirpoides, Leersia virginica, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Panicum spp., Polygonum pensylvanicum, and Woodwardia areolata (in the northern part of the range); and Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Fimbristylis castanea, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Juncus roemerianus, Muhlenbergia filipes, as well as Spartina patens and Sabatia stellaris (in southern examples).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This vegetation occupies low areas that intersect the groundwater, or may receive tidal flooding where it occurs near tidal creeks and salt marshes. Soils are deep sands of stabilized dunes, with limited if any horizon development. An overlying layer of ''muck'' is reported in northern examples. In general, this vegetation is limited to freshwater.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in coastal regions from southern New Jersey to South Carolina, and perhaps discontinuously to Georgia and Florida.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, NJ, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899707
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This wetland alliance was removed from G493, an upland group. A.1010, A.1906
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Coastal Interdunal Swale (FNAI 1992a)
>< Shrub succession community (Hill 1986)
>< mesic shrub zone (Higgins et al. 1971)
>< swamp thicket (Klotz 1986)
>< thicket community (Boule 1979)
>< Shrub succession community (Hill 1986)
>< mesic shrub zone (Higgins et al. 1971)
>< swamp thicket (Klotz 1986)
>< thicket community (Boule 1979)
- Boule, M. E. 1979. The vegetation of Fisherman Island, Virginia. Castanea 44:98-108.
- 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.
- Higgins, E. A. T., R. D. Rappleye, and R. G. Brown. 1971. The flora and ecology of Assateague Island. University of Maryland Experiment Station Bulletin A-172. 70 pp.
- Hill, S. R. 1986. An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Assateague Island (Maryland and Virginia). Castanea 5:265-305.
- Klotz, L. H. 1986. The vascular flora of Wallops Island and Wallops Mainland, Virginia. Castanea 51:306-326.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.