Print Report

A4080 Oenanthe sarmentosa Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance contains freshwater to slightly brackish marshes dominated by the low trailing forb Oenanthe sarmentosa that occur in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Parsley Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Water Parsley Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This herbaceous alliance consists of wetlands dominated by Oenanthe sarmentosa, which generally occur along the coast or near bays and estuaries and along inlets in freshwater to slightly brackish and sometimes tidal communities of California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. It also grows in openings of conifer swamps. Soils are saturated, often mucky. It is generally found in very fertile soils where light is abundant. Stands may have standing water throughout the summer, and is therefore a type of emergent marsh.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands dominated with at least 50% relative cover of Oenanthe sarmentosa.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is little sampled and poorly understood across its range.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Emergent herbaceous marsh.

Floristics: Oenanthe sarmentosa is dominant or codominant in the herbaceous layer with Agrostis stolonifera, Argentina egedii, Eleocharis macrostachya, Epilobium ciliatum, Galium triflorum, Holcus lanatus, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Lemna minuta (= Lemna minuscula), Schedonorus arundinaceus (= Festuca arundinacea), Rumex conglomeratus, Schoenoplectus pungens, and Typha latifolia.

Dynamics:  None known.
Environmental Description:  These freshwater to brackish marshes occur at low and intermediate elevations, in tidal marshes or in well-lit openings of treed swamps, often with standing water throughout the season. Soils are mucky and fertile.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in 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: G4

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.4 Vancouverian Lowland Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M073 2.C.4.Nb.4
Group 2.C.4.Nb.4.b Bering''s Tufted Hairgrass - Pacific Silverweed - Slough Sedge Vancouverian Freshwater Coastal Marsh & Wet Meadow Group G517 2.C.4.Nb.4.b
Alliance A4080 Water Parsley Wet Meadow Alliance A4080 2.C.4.Nb.4.b
Association CEGL003319 Water Parsley Marsh CEGL003319 2.C.4.Nb.4.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Oenanthe sarmentosa (Water-parsley marsh) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.119.00]
= Oenanthe sarmentosa Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [52.119.00]
>< Coastal Brackish Marsh (#52200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh (#52410) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): J.O. Sawyer, T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens (2009)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • Boss, T. R. 1983. Vegetation ecology and net primary productivity of selected freshwater wetlands in Oregon. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 236 pp.
  • CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
  • 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.
  • Frenkel, R. E., T. R. Boss, and S. R. Schuller. 1978. Transition zone vegetation between intertidal marsh and upland in Oregon and Washington. Grant R804963-01. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR. 320 pp.
  • Frenkel, R. E., and J. C. Morlan. 1990. Restoration of the Salmon River salt marshes: Retrospect and prospect. Oregon State University. Report to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon. 142 pp.
  • 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.
  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
  • Mitchell, D. L. 1981. Salt marsh reestablishment following dike breaching in the Salmon River estuary, Oregon. Ph.D. dissertation. Oregon State University, Corvallis. 171 pp.
  • Pickart, A. J. 2006. Vegetation of diked herbaceous wetlands of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Classification, description, and ecology. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Arcata, CA.
  • 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.
  • Taylor, A. H. 1980. Plant communities and elevation in the diked portion of Joe Ney Slough: A baseline assessment of a marsh restoration project in Coos Bay, Oregon. M.S. thesis. Oregon State University, Corvallis. 105 pp.
  • Taylor, A. H., and R. E. Frenkel. 1979. Ecological inventory of Joe Ney Slough marsh restoration site. Part 2. Tideland mitigation requirements in the Oregon estuarine resources planning goal: a study of the proposed North Bend, Oregon airport extension. Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. 123 pp.
  • Titus, J. H., J. A. Christy, D. Vander Schaaf, J. S. Kagan, and E. R. Alverson. 1996. Native wetland, riparian, and upland plant communities and their biota in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Report to the Environmental Protection Agency, Region X, Seattle, WA. Willamette Basin Geographic Initiative. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.