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.5. JUNCUS ROEMERIANUS TIDAL HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
Black Needlerush Tidal Herbaceous Alliance

Concept: Juncus roemerianus-dominated marshes with tidal hydrology. Associations in this alliance have a range of water chemistry, including saline, brackish, and (rarely) freshwater. This widely distributed salt marsh alliance occurs in association with low salt marshes or in brackish marshes, and is characterized by discrete, dense patches of vegetation usually strongly dominated by Juncus roemerianus with few other associates. Associates which occur at low cover may include Borrichia frutescens, Baccharis halimifolia, Spartina alterniflora, Distichlis spicata, Schoenoplectus robustus (= Scirpus robustus), Symphyotrichum tenuifolium (= Aster tenuifolius), and Symphyotrichum subulatum (= Aster subulatus). This community may occur as isolated patches within low salt marsh, or may dominate vast areas at the heads of tidal creeks that drain the marsh. Its hydrology is generally irregularly tidally flooded. Soils of this association are generally poorly to very poorly drained, often with standing water atop peat accumulations (averaging 15 cm in depth) which in turn overlie gleyed sands. Degree of tidal inundation and relative elevation control the distribution of salt marsh vegetation in general; Juncus roemerianus is typically found at lower elevation than the associated Spartina patens marshes or mixed marshes. Juncus roemerianus generally occurs on sandy substrates. The alliance may more rarely occur in freshwater, wind tidal situations. In these examples, Juncus roemerianus is the dominant, but other characteristic species may include Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens, Polygonum punctatum, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Asclepias lanceolata, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Eleocharis fallax, Boehmeria cylindrica, and others. This species composition is indicative of the freshwater marsh conditions, as they do not occur in more brackish and saline associations in the Juncus roemerianus alliance.

Comments: Few associations have been described; more may be necessary to accommodate variation in this wide-ranging alliance.

Range: This alliance occurs in the southeastern coastal plain from Maryland south to Florida and west to Louisiana and Texas.

States/Provinces: AL DE FL GA LA? MD MS NC SC TX VA

TNC Ecoregions: 30:P, 31:C, 41:P, 42:P, 53:C, 54:C, 55:C, 56:C, 57:C, 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 231Fb:CCC, 232Ad:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bx:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Cb:CCC, 232Ce:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Ci:CCC, 232Cj:CCC, 232Db:CCP, 232Dc:CCC, 232Dd:CCC, 232De:CCP, 232Eb:CCC, 232Ec:CC?, 232Ed:CCC, 232Gb:CCC, 255Da:CCP, 255Dc:CCC

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island, Fort Pulaski); USFS (Croatan); USFWS (Anahuac, Big Boggy, Bon Secour, Brazoria, McFaddin, San Bernard, Texas Point)

Synonymy: Tidal Marsh, in part (FNAI 1992a); Brackish Marsh, in part (Smith 1996a); Brackish Marsh, in part (Wieland 1994b); Brackish Marsh, in part (Schafale and Weakley 1990); Brackish Marsh, in part (Nelson 1986); Smooth Cordgrass Series, in part (Diamond 1993); Brackish Marsh (Wieland 1994a)

References: Bowman 2000, Cooper and Waits 1973, Diamond 1993, FNAI 1992a, Gosselink 1984, Harrison 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Montague and Wiegert 1990, Nelson 1986, Penfound 1952, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Smith 1996a, Tiner 1977, Wharton 1978, Wieland 1994a, Wieland 1994b

Authors: D.J. ALLARD, MOD. A.S. WE, JT, Southeast Identifier: A.1475

Concept: This broad-ranging Juncus roemerianus salt marsh community is characterized by discrete, dense patches usually strongly dominated by Juncus roemerianus with few other associates. As currently defined, this community occurs in a variety of settings in different marsh regions including both "high" and "low" marshes. For example, large expanses of this type are found in northwest Florida at or below the mean high water line. In other regions it may be found as isolated patches within high salt marsh, or may dominate vast areas at the heads of tidal creeks. In general, the prevalence of Juncus roemerianus in Florida indicates the prevalence of high marshes (above mean high water). Its hydrology is generally irregularly tidally flooded.

Comments: This community is common on the southeastern seaboard, but large undisturbed areas are of high conservation concern. Although this community exhibits little floristic variation across its range, the associated animal species may vary to a greater extent. Further analysis may suggest a further subdivision of this community; two variants are recognized in Virginia, one depauperate lunar tidal type and another more species diverse wind-tidal type. This community may not occur west of Texas. Juncus roemerianus was found to be lower in elevation than the associated Spartina patens type and mixed type (Cooper and Waits 1973).

Range: This community is widespread along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America ranging from Delaware south to Florida, and west to Texas.

States/Provinces: AL:S2S3, DE:S2S3, FL:S?, GA:S?, LA?, MD:S4, MS:S3, NC:S5, SC:S?, TX:S4, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 31:C, 53:C, 54:C, 55:C, 56:C, 57:C, 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 231Fb:CCC, 232Ad:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bx:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Cb:CCC, 232Ce:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Ci:CCC, 232Cj:CCC, 232Db:CCP, 232Dc:CCC, 232Dd:CCC, 232De:CCP, 232Eb:CCC, 232Ec:CC?, 232Ed:CCC, 232Gb:CCC, 255Da:CCP, 255Dc:CCC

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island, Fort Pulaski); USFS (Croatan); USFWS (Anahuac, Big Boggy, Bon Secour, Brazoria, McFaddin, San Bernard, Texas Point)

Synonymy: Brackish Marsh (Needlerush Subtype) (Schafale 2000), Saline Marsh (Wieland 1994a) B. in part, Brackish Marsh (Wieland 1994b) B. in part, Salt marsh community (Hill 1986) B. Assateague Island., Salt marsh (Higgins et al. 1971) B. Assateague Island., Spartina - Distichlis - Juncus associes (Penfound 1952) B, Juncus roemerianus association of the low marsh (Adams 1963) =. North Carolina., Juncus type (Cooper and Waits 1973) =. North Carolina., Irregularly flooded salt marsh (Jenkins 1974) =. Chesapeake Bay., Lower high marsh (Stalter 1973a) =. South Carolina., Needlerush - saltmeadow type (Nicholson and Van Deusen 1954) =. Maryland., Needlerush Marsh. [common name], Smooth Cordgrass Series (Diamond 1993) B

References: Adams 1963, Bowman 2000, Cooper and Waits 1973, Diamond 1993, Eleuterius and Caldwell 1984, Eleuterius and Eleuterius 1979, Fleming et al. 2001, Hackney and de la Cruz 1981, Hackney and de la Cruz 1982, Harrison 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Jenkins 1974, Kruczynski et al. 1978, Lynch 1941, Montague and Wiegert 1990, Nelson 1986, Nicholson and Van Deusen 1954, Peet et al. 2002, Penfound 1952, Schafale 2000, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Smith 1996a, Stalter 1973a, Stalter 1973b, Stout 1984, Wieland 1994a, Wieland 1994b, Wieland 2000b

Authors: R.E. Evans, SCS Confidence: 1 Identifier: CEGL004186 

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

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