Print Report

A4177 Eleocharis macrostachya Vernal Pool Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Eleocharis macrostachya is dominant or codominant in the herbaceous layer. This alliance occurs along lakeshores, streambeds, natural and artificial ponds, and in swales, vernal pools, pastures, and ditches. Soils are alluvial and often highly organic; they are flooded part of the growing season with alkaline, brackish, or freshwater.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pale Spikerush Vernal Pool Alliance

Colloquial Name: Pale Spikerush Vernal Pool

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of open to continuous cover of herbs <1 m in height. Eleocharis macrostachya is dominant or codominant in the herbaceous layer with Agrostis stolonifera, Argentina egedii, Arnica chamissonis, Carex spp., Damasonium californicum, Deschampsia danthonioides, Eleocharis acicularis, Eryngium alismifolium, Eryngium aristulatum, Eryngium castrense, Eryngium vaseyi, Isoetes howellii, Juncus arcticus, Juncus nevadensis, Lasthenia glaberrima, Lemna minuta, Lolium perenne, Marsilea vestita, Perideridia parishii, Polygonum spp., Ranunculus aquatilis, Ranunculus muricatus, and Trifolium wormskioldii. This alliance occurs along lakeshores, streambeds, natural and artificial ponds, and in swales, vernal pools, pastures, and ditches. Soils are alluvial and often highly organic; they are flooded part of the growing season with alkaline, brackish, or freshwater.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Eleocharis macrostachya >30% relative cover in the herbaceous layer (Potter 2005), >70% relative cover in the herbaceous layer (Pickart 2006), or often >50% relative cover in the herbaceous layer, but >30% relative cover with non-natives such as Cynodon dactylon, or Lolium perenne (Klein et al. 2007).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance (A4177) should be compared to ~Eleocharis palustris - Eleocharis macrostachya Marsh Alliance (A3891)$$ as they may overlap in concept.

Eleocharis macrostachya, often thought of as a vernal pool plant, grows in many habitats that are seasonally flooded. Habitats include brackish marshes, ponds and vernal pools, shallow lakes, streamsides, and wet meadows. Similarly, the alliance exists throughout much of the western United States and central Great Plains at elevations from sea level to alpine in shallow wetlands with slowed water or in ponds (Smith et al. 2002, Kittel et al. 2012a).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  Fluvial processes rather than fire primarily disturb the alliance. As with Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis macrostachya is top-killed by fire when actively growing, yet it survives as rhizomes and establishes from seed after fires (Hauser 2006).
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout California and likely is widespread in the western U.S.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.3 Winged Water-starwort - Elegant Calicoflower - California Eryngo Western North American Vernal Pool Macrogroup M074 2.C.4.Nb.3
Group 2.C.4.Nb.3.a Californian Vernal Pool Group G530 2.C.4.Nb.3.a
Alliance A4177 Pale Spikerush Vernal Pool Alliance A4177 2.C.4.Nb.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eleocharis macrostachya (Pale spike rush marshes) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.230.00]
>< Coastal Brackish Marsh (#52200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Freshwater Seep (#45400) (Holland 1986b)
>< Santa Rosa Plateau Vernal Pool Habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Spikerush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Wet Montane Meadow (#45110) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): J.O. Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.J. Russo after Sawyer et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-23-15
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