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A3893 Hippuris vulgaris - Ruppia spp. - Sparganium spp. Aquatic Vegetation Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of aquatic plant communities dominated by Hippuris vulgaris, Ruppia cirrhosa, Ruppia maritima, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium eurycarpum, and/or Stuckenia filiformis in any combination. These associations are floating aquatic that are rooted in mud but require a water column for support. Sites are non-tidal, freshwater to slightly brackish, seasonally or permanently flooded marshes, shallow lakes and ponds.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Mare''s-tail - Widgeonweed species - Bur-reed species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mare''s-tail - Widgeonweed - Bur-reed Aquatic Vegetation

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of aquatic communities in shallow water where Hippuris vulgaris, Ruppia cirrhosa, Ruppia maritima, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium eurycarpum, and/or Stuckenia filiformis or any combination of these herbs are dominant. Sites are non-tidal, freshwater to slightly brackish, seasonally or permanently flooded marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. This alliance is restricted to freshwater to brackish non-tidal marshes within low-lying areas of high evaporation where elevations range from sea level to 3700 m. This alliance likely occurs in many parts of lowland and montane elevations of western North America.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Floating vegetation mats up to 0.6 m thick (below the water surface) are rooted in the mud of the pond floor and supported by the water column.

Floristics: This alliance encompasses ponds with floating communities of aquatic species dominated by Hippuris vulgaris, Ruppia cirrhosa, Ruppia maritima, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium eurycarpum, and/or Stuckenia filiformis. Other species present may include Ceratophyllum spp., Myriophyllum spp., Najas guadalupensis, Potamogeton foliosus, Utricularia macrorhiza, and Zannichellia palustris. Floating vegetation mats are rarely over 0.6 m thick and may be much less depending on the depth of the pond. Stunted individuals may be less than 10 cm tall.

Dynamics:  This alliance requires extended periods of flooding by fresh or alkaline/saline water. Seasonal flooding is most frequent from late November through June, either from rain or snowmelt.
Environmental Description:  This alliance is found in seasonally to permanently shallow ponds with fresh to hypersaline water, occurring on tidal flats, in alkali marshes, mountain parks and meadows, stream oxbows, and glacial basins. Elevations range from sea level to 3170 m.
Geographic Range: This alliance likely occurs in many parts of lowland and montane elevations of western North America. It is known from California, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC, CA, CO, ID, NV?, OR, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class C05 5
Subclass 5.B Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass S13 5.B
Formation 5.B.2 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation F057 5.B.2
Division 5.B.2.Na North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division D049 5.B.2.Na
Macrogroup 5.B.2.Na.2 Rocky Mountain Pond-lily - Pacific Mosquito Fern - Western Waterweed Western North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup M109 5.B.2.Na.2
Group 5.B.2.Na.2.a Pond-lily species - Pondweed species - Duckweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group G544 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Alliance A3893 Common Mare''s-tail - Widgeonweed species - Bur-reed species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A3893 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL001990 Narrowleaf Bur-reed Aquatic Vegetation CEGL001990 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL002008 Fineleaf Pondweed Aquatic Vegetation CEGL002008 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL003119 (Spiral Ditchgrass, Widgeongrass) Aquatic Vegetation CEGL003119 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL003315 Common Mare''s-tail Aquatic Vegetation CEGL003315 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL003323 Broadfruit Bur-reed Aquatic Vegetation CEGL003323 5.B.2.Na.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Ruppia (cirrhosa, maritima) (Ditch-grass or widgeon-grass mats) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.202.00]
> Ruppia (cirrhosa, maritima) Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [52.202.00]
> Sparganium (angustifolium) (Mats of bur-reed leaves) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.010.00]
> Sparganium (angustifolium) Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [52.010.00]
>< Alkali Seep (#45320) (Holland 1986b)
>< Cismontane Alkali Marsh (#52310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Coastal Brackish Marsh (#52200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Transmontane Alkali Marsh (#52320) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, M. Schindel, K. Schulz, M. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
  • Clements, F. E. 1904. Formation and succession herbaria. University of Nebraska, University Studies IV(4):329-355.
  • Cooper, D. J. 1986a. Ecological studies of wetland vegetation, Cross Creek Valley, Holy Cross Wilderness Area, Sawatch Range, Colorado. Holy Cross Wilderness Defense Fund, Technical Report No. 2. 24 pp.
  • Cooper, D. J. 1986b. Community structure and classification of Rocky Mountain wetland ecosystems. Pages 66-147 in: J. T. Windell, et al. An ecological characterization of Rocky Mountain montane and subalpine wetlands. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Report 86(11). 298 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.
  • Fuller, G. D. 1930. A comparison of certain Rocky Mountain grasslands with the prairie of Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Science 8:121-130.
  • Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
  • Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
  • Ramaley, F. 1919a. The role of sedges in some Colorado plant communities. American Journal of Botany 6:120-130.
  • Ramaley, F., and W. W. Robbins. 1909. Studies in lake and streamside vegetation. I. Redrock Lake near Ward, Colorado. University of Colorado Studies 6:133-168.
  • Robbins, W. W. 1918. Successions of vegetation in Boulder Park, Colorado. Botanical Gazette 65(6):493-525.
  • 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.
  • Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.