Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Common Reed Native Western Marsh

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: The association forms an open to continuous herb layer that ranges from 20 to 90% cover with native graminoid Phragmites australis ssp. americanus characteristically dominant in the herbaceous layer. Other herbaceous species are present and commonly include Carex spp., Distichlis spicata, Schoenoplectus spp., and Typha spp. Shrubs may form a sparse layer (0-7% cover) that can include Suaeda moquinii and Ericameria nauseosa. Emergent trees are sometimes present with low cover (to 2%) and include Populus fremontii, Prosopis glandulosa, and non-native Tamarix spp. The association is known to occur commonly yet scattered in the Colorado Desert, Mojave Desert, and southern Great Basin within alkaline seep, stream, and lacustrine areas, including in Owens Valley, Saline Valley, Saratoga Spring, and other various seeps such as near Shoshone in Death Valley National Park, California and likely occurs in the Colorado Plateau. In the Mojave Desert, it is also found at the edge of Soda Lake and along spring-fed washes in the Granite Mountains in the Mojave National Preserve, California, and along Las Vegas Wash, near Salt Spring, and along channels at the west end of the lake near Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, in Arizona and Nevada. It occurs at low elevations, ranging from approximately 150 to 500 m, and averages 351 m. Slopes are typically very gentle (1 to 2°), allowing water to flow slowly or pool in areas. It is found primarily in alkaline seeps, streambeds/channels, and lake edges at various aspects. Soils range from clay, silt, to sandy loam, and are usually derived from alluvium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Vegetation is dominated by Phragmites australis ssp. americanus usually with other native wetland species present.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Across the western U.S., Phragmites australis has various genetic strains, including native (Phragmites australis ssp. americanus), introduced (Phragmites australis ssp. australis, Phragmites australis ssp. berlandieri) and hybrid (Phragmites australis ssp. americanus x australis) lineages. Introduced populations of Phragmites australis are invasive in or near major urban centers and associated with anthropogenic disturbance in wetlands and rivers. Within the NPS lands in the Mojave Desert, most stands are native and limited to naturally occurring, unmanaged freshwater and alkaline wetland sites; however, both hybrid and native stands occur along Las Vegas Wash (Lambert et al. 2016). Much of the community classification work with Phragmites australis did not identify the taxon to subspecies. Lambert et al. (2016) indicate that the Phragmites australis in the Colorado Plateau is native Phragmites australis ssp. americanus so vegetation classification work there needs to be reviewed and possibly changed to this association. For more information on native Phragmites australis ssp. americanus Saltonstall, P.M. Peterson & Soreng, including field key for identification, see Saltonstall et al. (2004), or see Saltonstall (2002) for information on invasion by non-native genotypes of Phragmites australis into North America.

Native North Americans have historically used Phragmites australis, and its distribution has been related to concentrations of tribes using this plant across an extensive area of the southwestern United States, including many remote locations such as desert springs. However, reduction or fragmentation of native stands in riparian and wetland areas with Phragmites are likely to occur due to droughts and drier climates in the southwestern U.S. (Kiviat and Hamilton 2001).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available