Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

III. SHRUBLAND
III.A.2.N.l. Tidal broad-leaved evergreen temperate shrubland
A.806—MORELLA CERIFERA - ROSA PALUSTRIS TIDAL SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
Wax-myrtle - Swamp Rose Tidal Shrubland Alliance

Summary: Tidally flooded shrublands of the middle Atlantic Coastal Plain, occurring in association with freshwater tidal marshes and tidally flooded forests. Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera) is the characteristic dominant species, with Rosa palustris and Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans as characteristic and constant companion species. Other woody species include Persea palustris, Magnolia virginiana, Salix caroliniana, Vaccinium formosum, Smilax walteri, Smilax walteri, and saplings of Acer rubrum, Pinus taeda, Taxodium distichum, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Herbaceous composition is diverse and varied, with many species 'recruited' from adjacent marshes and swamps. Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens is highly characteristic and appears to reach its nodal distribution in this landscape in this community. Other important species can include Juncus roemerianus, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, and Decodon verticillatus. Murdannia keisak is an aggressive alien weed in these communities. Farther south, in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain, this alliance occurs on flats adjacent to tidal reaches of rivers. Examples receive seepage from adjacent uplands, maintaining a saturated condition, and also may receive tidal inundation in very rare storm tide events. Scattered trees of Pinus taeda and Sabal palmetto may be present. Morella cerifera and Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans dominate the dense shrub stratum, and Baccharis angustifolia can be a major component. Spartina bakeri is the dominant herb; other herbs include Juncus roemerianus, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Cynanchum angustifolium, and Ipomoea sagittata. Occurrences can exceed 50 acres in size. This latter, more southerly example of this alliance is placed here for now; the hydrology is ambiguous.

Environment: Tidally flooded shrublands of the middle Atlantic Coastal Plain, occurring in association with freshwater tidal marshes and tidally flooded forests. Farther south, in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain, this alliance occurs on flats adjacent to tidal reaches of rivers. Examples receive seepage from adjacent uplands, maintaining a saturated condition, and also may receive tidal inundation in very rare storm tide events.

Physiognomy: Vegetation: Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera) is the characteristic dominant species, with Rosa palustris and Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans as characteristic and constant companion species. Other woody species include Persea palustris, Magnolia virginiana, Salix caroliniana, Vaccinium formosum, Smilax walteri, Smilax walteri, and saplings of Acer rubrum, Pinus taeda, Taxodium distichum, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Herbaceous composition is diverse and varied, with many species 'recruited' from adjacent marshes and swamps. Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens is highly characteristic and appears to reach its nodal distribution in this landscape in this community. Other important species can include Juncus roemerianus, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, and Decodon verticillatus. Murdannia keisak is an aggressive alien weed in these communities. Farther south, scattered trees of Pinus taeda and Sabal palmetto may be present. Morella cerifera and Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans dominate the dense shrub stratum, and Baccharis angustifolia can be a major component. Spartina bakeri is the dominant herb; other herbs include Juncus roemerianus, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Cynanchum angustifolium, and Ipomoea sagittata.

Range: This alliance is found in Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

States/Provinces: GA MD NC SC VA

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

USFS Ecoregions: 232Cb:CC?, 232Ce:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Ci:CCC

References: Fleming 1998

Authors: G.P. FLEMING/A.S. WEAKLEY

Summary: This shrub community of the central Atlantic Coastal Plain occurs in ecotonal sites between tidal marshes and tidal swamps in fresh to oligohaline portions of coastal rivers and embayments. It occupies soupy peats. It is a natural community, but likely has a long-term and complicated successional relationship with other (primarily marsh communities) in the landscape in which it occurs, related to hydrology and fire. Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera) is the characteristic dominant species (with 25-75% cover), with Rosa palustris, Salix caroliniana, and Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans as characteristic and constant companion species. Other woody species include Persea palustris, Magnolia virginiana, Salix caroliniana, Vaccinium formosum, Smilax walteri, and saplings of Acer rubrum, Pinus taeda, Taxodium distichum, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Herbaceous composition is diverse and varied, with many species 'recruited' from adjacent marshes and swamps. Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens is highly characteristic and appears to reach its nodal distribution in this landscape in this community. Other important species can include Juncus roemerianus, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, and Decodon verticillatus. Murdannia keisak is an aggressive alien weed.

Environment: This shrub community occurs in ecotonal sites between tidal marshes and tidal swamps. It occupies soupy peats. According to Fleming et al. (2001), this community is part of a large group of tidal shrublands which occupy tidally flooded and wind-tidally flooded areas of freshwater to oligohaline rivers and embayments.

Vegetation: Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera) is the characteristic dominant species (with 25-75% cover), with Rosa palustris, Salix caroliniana, and Toxicodendron radicans ssp.radicans as characteristic and constant companion species. Other woody species include Persea palustris, Magnolia virginiana, Salix caroliniana, Vaccinium formosum, Smilax walteri, and saplings of Acer rubrum, Pinus taeda, Taxodium distichum, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Herbaceous composition is diverse and varied, with many species 'recruited' from adjacent marshes and swamps. Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens is highly characteristic and appears to reach its nodal distribution in this landscape in this community. Other important species can include Juncus roemerianus, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, and Decodon verticillatus. Murdannia keisak is an aggressive alien weed.

Dynamics: This is a natural community, but likely has a long-term and complicated successional relationship with other (primarily marsh communities) in the landscape in which it occurs, related to hydrology and fire.

Range:

States/Provinces: MD:S3S4, NC:S?, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 57:C, 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Bx:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Ci:CCC

Synonymy: Myrica cerifera - Salix caroliniana / Thelypteris palustris ssp. pubescens Tidally Flooded Shrubland (Fleming 1998)

References: Coulling 2002, Fleming 1998, Fleming et al. 2001, Harrison 2003

Authors: Fleming 1998, Harrison 2003 Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL004656

Summary: This oligohaline tidal shrubland of brackish tidal waters occurs in Maryland on firm, partially decomposed peat lacking pronounced hummock-hollow microtopography. This vegetation forms linear stands along tidal channels between freshwater tidal marshes and adjacent swamp forests. The shrub canopy is relatively open to moderately dense, and is dominated by Morella cerifera. Baccharis halimifolia is a common associate; others include Acer rubrum and Toxicodendron radicans. The herbaceous layer is relatively diverse and characterized by Eleocharis fallax, Kosteletzkya virginica, Hibiscus moscheutos, Typha angustifolia, Polygonum punctatum, Cyperus filicinus, Panicum virgatum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Amaranthus cannabinus, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Pluchea purpurascens, Spartina alterniflora, Lythrum lineare, Asclepias incarnata, Ptilimnium capillaceum, and Carex hormathodes.

Range: This vegetation occurs on tidal rivers of the central Atlantic coast.

States/Provinces: DE:SP, MD:S3, VA:SP

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Bx:CCC

Authors: J.Harrison / L. Sneddon

References: Harrison 2003 Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006846

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report Shrubland

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