Print Report

A3847 Phragmites australis ssp. australis - Arundo donax - Typha angustifolia Ruderal Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This common reed marsh alliance is dominated by introduced Phragmites australis ssp. australis, Arundo donax, Typha angustifolia or other invasive wetland graminoid species, and is found across the west-temperate regions of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: European Common Reed - Giant Reed - Narrowleaf Cattail Ruderal Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Western Ruderal Common Reed Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This common reed-dominated marsh alliance is found across the west-temperate regions of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Phragmites australis ssp. australis, Arundo donax, or Typha angustifolia will often invade into existing natural or semi-natural communities present on the site, and once established, this alliance is usually strongly dominated with few or no other vascular plants present. Stands occur in semipermanently flooded marshes, ditches, impoundments, etc. that have often been disturbed by human activity.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands strongly dominated by non-native Phragmites australis ssp. australis, Arundo donax, or Typha angustifolia.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is limited to western North America and is intended to cover the non-native stands of introduced Phragmites australis ssp. australis, Arundo donax, or Typha angustifolia. Compare with similar monotypic stands in Great Plains and eastern U.S. alliances.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tall perennial graminoid herbaceous that is <3 m in height.

Floristics: Stands are monocultures of introduced Phragmites australis ssp. australis, Arundo donax, or Typha angustifolia. Some stands may have minor cover of associates such as Agrostis stolonifera, Carex spp., Conyza canadensis, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Iva axillaris, Mentha arvensis, Schoenoplectus acutus (= Scirpus acutus), and Typha spp. Other species present may include Ambrosia psilostachya, Anemopsis californica, Baccharis douglasii, Distichlis spicata, Juncus arcticus, Juncus cooperi, Lepidium latifolium, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus californicus, and Xanthium strumarium.

Dynamics:  Stands are generally a product of human-induced disturbance, either through direct habitat manipulation or through passive introduction of reproductive material to naturally disturbed substrates (Marks et al. 1994).
Environmental Description:  This alliance is found in non-tidal marshes with semipermanently or, rarely, seasonally flooded hydrology, either in depressions or along rivers with seasonal fluctuation in water level throughout the western United States and adjacent Canada and Mexico. This includes semipermanently flooded marshes, ditches, impoundments, etc.
Geographic Range: West-temperate regions of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Nations: CA,MX,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MB, MT, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXNLE, MXTAM, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, SK, TX, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.90 Western North American Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M301 2.C.4.Nb.90
Group 2.C.4.Nb.90.a Kentucky Bluegrass - Canadian Horseweed - Canada Thistle Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group G524 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Alliance A3847 European Common Reed - Giant Reed - Narrowleaf Cattail Ruderal Marsh Alliance A3847 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL001475 European Common Reed Western Ruderal Wet Meadow CEGL001475 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL004101 Giant Reed Riverbank Ruderal Wet Meadow CEGL004101 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Concept Lineage: A.1431 split

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Arundo donax (Giant reed breaks) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.080.00]
> Arundo donax Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
> Arundo donax Semi-Natural Stands (Giant reed breaks) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Phragmites australis (Common reed marshes) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.061.00]
= Phragmites australis Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-23-19
  • 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]
  • Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • 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.
  • Hickson, D., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. Vegetation and land use classification and map of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Prepared for the Bay Delta Region, California Department of Fish and Game by the Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento. 152 pp. plus appendices.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and J. Evens. 2006. Vegetation classification of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and environs in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California. A report submitted to National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch and The California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and M. Vaghti. 2000. Vegetation mapping of Suisun Marsh, Solano County, California. A report to the California Department of Water Resources. California Department of Fish and Game, California Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento, CA.
  • Marks, M., B. Lapin, and J. Randall. 1994. Phragmites australis (P. communis): Threats, management, and monitoring. Natural Areas Journal 14(4):285-294.
  • Niering, W. A., and R. S. Warren. 1977. Our dynamic tidal marshes: Vegetation changes as revealed by peat analysis. The Connecticut Arboretum Bulletin 22.
  • Overholt, W. A., R. Diaz, M. Hanson, and D. Williams. 2015. Phragmites in Florida. ENY-860. Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Revised March 2015 (Original publication date August 2011). [https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN89800.pdf]
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
  • Sproul, F., T. Keeler-Wolf, P. Gordon-Reedy, J. Dunn, A. Klein, and K. Harper. 2011. Vegetation classification manual for western San Diego County. AECOM, California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Area Governments.
  • Swearingen, J., and K. Saltonstall. 2010. Phragmites field guide: Distinguishing native and exotic forms of common reed (Phragmites australis) in the United States. Plant Conservation Alliance, Weeds Gone Wild. [http://www.nps.gov/plants / alien/pubs/index.htm]
  • Swearingen, J., and K. Saltonstall. 2012. Phragmites field guide: Distinguishing native and exotic forms of common reed (Phragmites australis) in the United States. TN Plant Materials No. 56. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Boise, ID. 23 pp. [http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/idpmctn11494.pdf]
  • VegCAMP and AIS [Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2013. 2012 California desert vegetation map and accuracy assessment in support of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Unpublished report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Renewable Energy Program and the California Energy Commission. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.