Print Report
A3895 Schoenoplectus americanus - Schoenoplectus acutus - Schoenoplectus californicus Marsh Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance covers western freshwater marshes where the most abundant species are Schoenoplectus acutus, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus californicus, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, and/or Scirpus microcarpus. Stands are found throughout the central midwestern and western U.S. and Canada on sites flooded (on average ~1 m deep) for most of the growing season.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Hardstem Bulrush - California Bulrush Marsh Alliance
Colloquial Name: Western Emergent Bulrush Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance contains freshwater marshes dominated by one or two species of Schoenoplectus, Scirpus, and/or Bolboschoenus, such as Schoenoplectus acutus, Schoenoplectus americanus, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, and/or Scirpus microcarpus. Phragmites australis may be present. This alliance occurs throughout the central midwestern and western U.S. and Canada. Stands are flooded for most of the growing season up to 1.5 m deep and often drain completely in the winter, exposing bare ground.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands of emergent vegetation in shallow water (<2 m) dominated by Bolboschoenus, Scirpus spp. and/or Schoenoplectus spp.
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: Vegetation is characterized by medium to tall perennial graminoids which typically range from 1 m to over 2 m.
Floristics: The vegetation is moderately dense to dense. Stands are typically dominated by one or two species of Bolboschoenus, Schoenoplectus, and/or Scirpus, and often have several other species of graminoids and forbs that are much shorter in stature. Abundant species include Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus acutus (= Scirpus acutus), Schoenoplectus americanus, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (= Scirpus fluviatilis), Bolboschoenus maritimus (= Scirpus maritimus), Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus tabernaemontani), and/or Scirpus microcarpus. Lower stature (and generally less abundant) species may include Chenopodium incanum, Distichlis spicata (on drier margins), Monolepis nuttalliana, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Ruppia maritima, Suaeda calceoliformis, amongst many others. Species composition and abundance can vary from year to year depending mostly on water level fluctuations and degree of salinity (which is generally mild). Floating aquatic species may also be present, such as Lemna spp. and Utricularia macrorhiza.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands of this alliance are flooded for most or all of the growing season and can have water levels from completely drained (exposed soil) to approximately 1.5 m deep, but are usually is less than 1 m. Within a stand, water levels can vary by up to 1 m during the year. The water is fresh to mildly saline. Some species are quite tolerant of saline conditions, but generally the salinity is mild or if strong than only seasonally so. Soils are deep, poorly drained muck, peat, or mineral.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs throughout the central midwestern and western U.S. and Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899946
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Schoenoplectus acutus (Hardstem bulrush marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.122.00]
> Schoenoplectus acutus Alliance (Hardstem bulrush marsh) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Schoenoplectus americanus Alliance (American bulrush marsh) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Schoenoplectus americanus Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
>< Schoenoplectus californicus (California bulrush marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.114.00]
> Schoenoplectus californicus Alliance (California bulrush marsh ) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Scirpus acutus-Scirpus californicus Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
>< Scirpus microcarpus (Small-fruited bulrush marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.113.00]
> Schoenoplectus acutus Alliance (Hardstem bulrush marsh) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Schoenoplectus americanus Alliance (American bulrush marsh) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Schoenoplectus americanus Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
>< Schoenoplectus californicus (California bulrush marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.114.00]
> Schoenoplectus californicus Alliance (California bulrush marsh ) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Scirpus acutus-Scirpus californicus Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
>< Scirpus microcarpus (Small-fruited bulrush marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.113.00]
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