NVCS

A3899 Deschampsia cespitosa - Festuca rubra Brackish Salt Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of salt marshes dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa and/or Festuca rubra, that occur on high salt marshes with infrequent (less than daily) tidal flooding. It occur along the coast of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and southeastern Alaska.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tufted Hairgrass - Red Fescue Brackish Salt Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Tufted Hairgrass - Red Fescue Brackish Salt Marsh

Hierarchy Level: Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of high tidal salt marshes dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa and/or Festuca rubra with one or more other more salt-tolerant species. It occurs on high salt marshes with infrequent (less than daily) tidal flooding. These occur along the coast of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and southeastern Alaska.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Brackish salt marshes (high marshes, generally the driest margins) dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa and/or Festuca rubra.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Festuca rubra-dominated salt marshes are only described from one association in Washington that has considerable Deschampsia cespitosa, so it seems prudent to have a high marsh grassy alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: Perennial herbaceous graminoid usually <1 m in height.

Floristics: These dense herbaceous marshes are dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa and/or Festuca rubra, usually with one or more other more salt-tolerant species such as Argentina egedii, Carex lyngbyei, Distichlis spicata, Juncus balticus, and Sidalcea hendersonii.

Dynamics: No Data Available

Environmental Description: It occurs in high salt marshes with intermittent tidal flooding. Regular (daily) tidal flooding creates broad mudflats laced by tidal streams. High marshes are areas that experience tidal flooding less than daily, and have higher salt levels. Storm surges also bring saltwater to high marsh locations.

Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in estuaries along the coast of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and southeastern Alaska.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces: AK, BC?, OR, WA

Plot Analysis Summary: http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899950

Confidence Level: Low

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.5 Salt Marsh Formation	F035	2.C.5
Division	2.C.5.Nc Temperate & Boreal Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Division	D035	2.C.5.Nc
Macrogroup	2.C.5.Nc.1 North American Pacific Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup	M081	2.C.5.Nc.1
Group	2.C.5.Nc.1.a Lyngbye''s Sedge - Cosmopolitan Bulrush - Sea-milkwort Salt Marsh Group	G499	2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Alliance	A3899 Tufted Hairgrass - Red Fescue Brackish Salt Marsh Alliance	A3899	2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association	CEGL003357 Tufted Hairgrass - (Lyngbye''s Sedge, Saltgrass) Salt Marsh	CEGL003357	2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association	CEGL003383 Tufted Hairgrass - Pacific Silverweed Salt Marsh	CEGL003383	2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association	CEGL003384 Tufted Hairgrass - Henderson''s Checkerbloom Salt Marsh	CEGL003384	2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association	CEGL003424 Red Fescue - (Pacific Silverweed) Salt Marsh	CEGL003424	2.C.5.Nc.1.a

Concept Lineage: A.2623, A.2583

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: No Data Available

Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14

Christy, J. A., J. S. Kagan, and A. M. Wiedemann. 1998. Plant associations of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-09-98. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 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.