Print Report

A3902 Sarcocornia pacifica - Spartina foliosa - Glaux maritima Salt Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of tidal salt marshes dominated by Salicornia depressa, Spartina foliosa, and/or Glaux maritima that occur on regularly flooded ("low marsh") areas of estuaries of the Pacific coast of North America.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pacific Swampfire - California Cordgrass - Sea-milkwort Salt Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Pacific Salt Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of herbaceous tidal salt marshes dominated by Salicornia depressa, Spartina foliosa, and/or Glaux maritima. Associate species include Distichlis spicata, Jaumea carnosa, Salicornia bigelovii, Suaeda californica, and/or Triglochin maritima. These are tidally inundated salt marshes with high salinity and daily flooding, which comprises the "low marsh" of estuaries. It is found along the coast of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Tidal salt marshes dominated or codominated by Salicornia depressa, Spartina foliosa, and/or Glaux maritima.

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: Graminoid- or forb-dominated vegetation <1 m in height.

Floristics: These herbaceous tidal salt marshes are dominated by Salicornia depressa (= Salicornia virginica), Spartina foliosa, and/or Glaux maritima. Associate species include Distichlis spicata, Frankenia salina, Jaumea carnosa, Salicornia bigelovii, Suaeda californica, and/or Triglochin maritima. Younger marshes tend to have lower species diversity.

Dynamics:  Stands are critical habitat for several rare and listed salt marsh species such as the salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), Castilleja ambigua ssp. humboldtiensis, and Cordylanthus mollis ssp. mollis (Sawyer et al. 2009).
Environmental Description:  These are tidally inundated salt marshes with high salinity and daily flooding, which comprises the "low marsh" of estuaries, as well as diked, non-tidal salt marshes in central California.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found along the coast of California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, CA, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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 A3902 Pacific Swampfire - California Cordgrass - Sea-milkwort Salt Marsh Alliance A3902 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL002885 Virginia Glasswort - Alkali Sea-heath - California Sea-blite Salt Marsh CEGL002885 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL002920 Virginia Glasswort / Algae Salt Marsh CEGL002920 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL002923 Virginia Glasswort - Black Mustard Salt Marsh CEGL002923 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL003123 (Dwarf Saltwort, Virginia Glasswort) Tidal Salt Marsh CEGL003123 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL003286 Sea-milkwort Salt Marsh CEGL003286 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL003366 Virginia Glasswort - Saltgrass - Seaside Arrow-grass - (Marsh Jaumea) Salt Marsh CEGL003366 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL003381 Seaside Arrow-grass - (Virginia Glasswort) Salt Marsh CEGL003381 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL003466 Virginia Glasswort - Saltgrass - Marsh Jaumea Tidal Salt Marsh CEGL003466 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL003471 California Cordgrass Salt Marsh CEGL003471 2.C.5.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: A.2618 & others

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Salicornia pacifica (= Salicornia depressa) Herbaceous Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
> Sarcocornia pacifica (Salicornia depressa) (Pickleweed mats) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.215.00]
> Spartina foliosa (California cordgrass marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.020.00]
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, T. Keeler-Wolf, and M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Atwater, B. F., S. G. Conrad, J. N. Dowden, C. W. Hedel, R. L. MacDonald, and W. Savage. 1979. History, landforms and vegetation of the estuary’s tidal marshes. Pages 347-400 in: T. J. Conomas, editor. San Francisco Bay: The urbanized estuary. American Association of Advanced Science, Pacific Division, San Francisco, 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.
  • Rodriguez, D., K. G. Sikes, T. Keeler-Wolf, G. Kittel, J. Curtis, C. Curley, and J. Evens. 2017. Vegetation classification of Channel Islands National Park. Report to the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • 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.
  • 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.