Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

V. HERBACEOUS VEGETATION
V.B.2.N.g. Tidal temperate perennial forb vegetation
V.B.2.N.g.6. AMARANTHUS CANNABINUS TIDAL HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
Water-hemp Tidal Herbaceous Alliance

Concept: This alliance occupies a mid-tidal position on sandy intertidal rivershores of meso-oligohaline waters. It is dominated by Amaranthus cannabinus, which can be mixed with Zizania aquatica, Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Bidens spp., and numerous small rosette plants. More data are needed to fully characterize this alliance.

Range: This alliance is found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

States/Provinces: CT DE MA MD ME NJ NY RI

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 61:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 212Cb:PPP, 212Db:PPP, 212Dc:PPP, 221Aa:CCP, 221Ab:CCP, 221Ac:CCP, 221Ad:CCP, 221Ae:CCP, 221Aj:CCP, 221Ak:CCP, 221Ba:CC?, 221Da:C??, 221Dc:C??, 232Aa:CCP, 232Ac:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bz:CC?, 232Ch:CCP, 232Ci:CCP, M212Eb:PPP

Synonymy: Estuarine Intertidal: Freshwater Tidal Marsh (Swain and Kearsley 2001)

References: Sneddon et al. 1996, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: ECS, JT, East Identifier: A.1706

Concept: This brackish marsh vegetation occupies a mid-tidal position on sandy intertidal rivershores along the north and mid-Atlantic coast where floodwaters are oligohaline to mesohaline. Amaranthus cannabinus is dominant and can be mixed with Bidens spp., Polygonum punctatum, Sagittaria latifolia, Zizania aquatica, and Schoenoplectus pungens. This association occurs on wave- and ice-scoured riverbanks or other brackish marsh habitat with coarse substrate and where tidal flooding freely drains. Species composition and abundance can change dramatically from year to year.

Comments: This association is dominated by annuals whereas Spartina alterniflora - Amaranthus cannabinus Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006417) contains perennials with Spartina alterniflora as a strong component. However, the types may reflect seasonal variation within freshwater tidal marsh systems and be similar enough to warrant merging.

Range: This association occurs along tidal rivers from Maine to Virginia.

States/Provinces: CT:S?, DE:S?, MA:S1, MD:S?, ME:S2, NJ:S2S3, NY:S2, RI:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 61:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 221A:CC, 221B:CC, 232Ac:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232C:CP

Synonymy: Freshwater tidal marsh complex, midtidal zone (Breden 1989), FW Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984). formerly Southern New England FW Tidal.

References: Bowman 2000, Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, Caldwell 1990, Edinger et al. 2002, Enser 1999, Gawler 2001, Gawler 2002, Metzler and Barrett 2001, Rawinski 1984, Reschke 1990, Swain and Kearsley 2000, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: S.L. Neid, ECS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL006080

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report V.B. Perennial forb vegetation

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