Print Report
A3930 Eleocharis palustris - Eleocharis rostellata Alkaline-Saline Marsh Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is characterized by a sparse to dense herbaceous layer that is dominated or codominated by Eleocharis palustris, a facultative wetland species, or Eleocharis rostellata. Other salt-tolerant species may also be present to codominant, such as Carex aquatilis, Distichlis spicata, Glaux maritima, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Muhlenbergia asperifolia. Stands occur adjacent to salt waterbodies or on the margins of high-evaporation playas of central Intermountain West basins. Surface water, if present, is highly saline and may or may not be present during the entire growing season.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Spikerush - Beaked Spikerush Alkaline-Saline Marsh Alliance
Colloquial Name: Common Spikerush Alkaline-Saline Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This herbaceous wetland alliance occurs in shallow, mostly still water. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to dense herbaceous layer that is dominated or codominated by Eleocharis palustris, a facultative wetland species, or Eleocharis rostellata. Other salt-tolerant species may also be present to codominant, such as Carex aquatilis, Distichlis spicata, Glaux maritima, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Muhlenbergia asperifolia. Stands occur adjacent to salt waterbodies or on the margins of high-evaporation playas. Surface water, if present, is highly saline and may or may not be present during the entire growing season. Known locations are near the Great Salt Lake, playas, and springs of the central Intermountain West.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Highly saline wetlands (perennial or ephemeral) dominated by Eleocharis palustris.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These are very salty conditions, and much more than the mild alkalinity freshwater Eleocharis palustris associations experience near the end of the growing season as water sources dwindle.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by a rhizomatous perennial that dominates the graminoid stratum (up to 70% cover). The forb layer is sparse (0-20%) and contains both aquatic and terrestrial species.
Floristics: Eleocharis palustris or Eleocharis rostellata dominates the graminoid stratum. Other salt-tolerant species may also be present to codominant, such as Carex aquatilis, Distichlis spicata, Glaux maritima, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Muhlenbergia asperifolia. Cover ranges from sparse to quite dense (10-80%).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These conspicuous, common emergent communities occur in shallow, mostly still water. Stands occur on a variety of landforms, including lake margins, stream terraces, floodplains, gravel bars, and wet basins (cienegas) or meadows. Soil reaction is alkaline (Hansen et al. 1988). All sites are saturated throughout much of the growing season.
Geographic Range: This alliances is found in the central Intermountain West basins of Utah, Wyoming and possibly Nevada.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: BC?, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV?, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899981
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.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division | D036 | 2.C.5.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup | M082 | 2.C.5.Nd.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group | G538 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Alliance | A3930 Common Spikerush - Beaked Spikerush Alkaline-Saline Marsh Alliance | A3930 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL001834 Common Spikerush - Saltgrass Marsh | CEGL001834 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL001835 Common Spikerush - Baltic Rush Marsh | CEGL001835 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003428 Beaked Spikerush Marsh | CEGL003428 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
Concept Lineage: A.1422, in part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Carex spp. Series (Johnston 1987)
= Eleocharis (palustris, rostellata) Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Eleocharis rostellata - Schoenus nigricans community (Sada and Cooper 2012)
? Montane, Plains, and Great Basin Marshlands (Brown 1982a)
= Eleocharis (palustris, rostellata) Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Eleocharis rostellata - Schoenus nigricans community (Sada and Cooper 2012)
? Montane, Plains, and Great Basin Marshlands (Brown 1982a)
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