Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

V. HERBACEOUS VEGETATION
V.A.5.N.n. Tidal temperate or subpolar grassland
V.A.5.N.n.10. SPARTINA CYNOSUROIDES TIDAL HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
Giant Cordgrass Tidal Herbaceous Alliance

Concept: This alliance occurs as narrow, almost pure, stands of Spartina cynosuroides along tidal creeks and sloughs or on levees of oligohaline tidal marshes. Some Spartina cynosuroides communities are nearly monospecific, while others have a diverse component of other graminoids and forbs. Associated plants include Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Schoenoplectus robustus (= Scirpus robustus), Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus validus), Pontederia cordata, Peltandra virginica, Typha domingensis, and Typha angustifolia, among others. Communities in this alliance occur mainly in the mid-Atlantic states with the northern extent of distribution being southern New England.

Comments: There may be several associations, determined by salinity.

Range: Communities in this alliance occur mainly in the mid-Atlantic states with the northern extent of distribution being southern New England. It is found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

States/Provinces: DE GA MD NC NJ SC VA

TNC Ecoregions: 52:P, 56:C, 57:C, 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 221A:??, 232Ab:CCP, 232Ac:CCP, 232Ad:CCC, 232Br:CCP, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bx:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Cb:CCP, 232Ce:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Ci:CCC

Federal Lands: NPS (Fort Pulaski)

Synonymy:  Tidal Freshwater Marsh, Oligohaline Variant (Schafale and Weakley 1990); Brackish Marsh, in part (Schafale and Weakley 1990); Brackish Marsh, in part (Nelson 1986); Brackish Marsh, in part (Wharton 1978); Big Cordgrass Community Type (Odum et al. 1984)

References:  Fleming 1998, Nelson 1986, Odum 1988, Odum and Smith 1981, Odum et al. 1984, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Wharton 1978

Authors:  ECS, JT, Southeast Identifier: A.1480 

Concept: This community includes narrow, almost pure stands of  Spartina cynosuroides along tidal creeks and sloughs or on levees of oligohaline tidal marshes along the mid- to north Atlantic coast. Some Spartina cynosuroides communities are nearly monospecific, while others have a diverse component of other graminoids and forbs. Where mixed, associated plants include Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Schoenoplectus robustus (= Scirpus robustus), Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus olneyi), Kosteletzkya virginica, Hibiscus moscheutos, Amaranthus cannabinus, Panicum virgatum, and Polygonum punctatum. Where more saline, Spartina alterniflora and  Iva frutescens can become more frequent. Where less saline, associates can include  Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus validus), Pontederia cordata, Peltandra virginica, Leersia oryzoides, Mikania scandens, Rumex verticillatus, Echinochloa walteri, Polygonum hydropiperoides, and Typha angustifolia  (or Typha domingensis in the south), among others. In more disturbed areas, this association can be displaced by  Phragmites australis.

Comments:  Spartina cynosuroides - Panicum virgatum - Phyla lanceolata  Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL007741) is similar in terms of dominant and codominant species, however, associated species differ somewhat and CEGL007741 occurs in wind-tidal situations in North Carolina and Virginia. North of New Jersey, Spartina cynosuroides is a component of brackish high marsh associations, but does not tend to dominate.

Range: This association occurs along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Georgia.

States/Provinces: DE:S3?, GA:S?, MD:S4?, NC:S3,S5, NJ:S3, SC:S?, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 56:C, 57:C, 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CCP, 232Ac:CCP, 232Ad:CCC, 232Br:CCP, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bx:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Cb:CCP, 232Ce:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Ci:CCC

Federal Lands: NPS (Fort Pulaski)

Synonymy: Brackish Marsh (Wharton 1978) B. in part, Big Cordgrass Community Type (Odum et al. 1984), Brackish tidal marsh complex (Breden 1989). in part, Tidal Freshwater Marsh (Giant Cordgrass Subtype) (Schafale 2000)

References: Bowman 2000, Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, Fleming 2001, Fleming and Moorhead 1998, Fleming et al. 2001, Harrison 2001, Nelson 1986, Odum 1988, Odum and Smith 1981, Odum et al. 1984, Schafale 2000, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Wharton 1978

Authors: S.L. Neid, SCS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL004195
 

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report V.A. Perennial graminoid vegetation

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