Name:
Spartina pectinata Temporarily Flooded Herbaceous Alliance
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This alliance is found primarily in central North America. This description is based on this alliance as it occurs in the Midwest. The vegetation of this alliance is characterized by dense stands of graminoids 1-2 m tall with scattered to very infrequent woody plants. The most abundant species are Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex atherodes, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex sartwellii, and Spartina pectinata. In some stands, Spartina pectinata can form virtual monocultures. Other common graminoids include Andropogon gerardii, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Panicum virgatum, Poa palustris (in the western part of this alliance's range), and Sorghastrum nutans. Forbs are abundant and include Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (= Aster novae-angliae), Helianthus grosseserratus, Lythrum alatum, Pycnanthemum virginianum, and Thalictrum dasycarpum. Shrubs and small trees are infrequent in the south and west but are often present in the north and east. Among these Cornus spp., Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Salix spp. are typical. This alliance occurs in the Southeast only as small disjunct occurrences in Oklahoma, the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Kentucky, and possibly extending a short distance into adjacent Tennessee. Associates in Kentucky and Tennessee occurrences may include Helianthus angustifolius, Viola sagittata, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Andropogon gerardii, Dichanthelium scoparium, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Tripsacum dactyloides, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (= Baptisia leucantha), Crotalaria sagittalis, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Agalinis fasciculata, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus mollis, Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa), Spiranthes cernua, Rhexia mariana, Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia subtomentosa, and Viola sagittata. In Kentucky, this vegetation is at present probably seasonally saturated; it was presumably formerly seasonally flooded. In Oklahoma, this alliance contains Spartina pectinata with Eleocharis montevidensis and Carex spp. Stands of this wide-ranging alliance are found on level to gently sloping sites with sand, loam, or clay soils. They occur near lakes or rivers or in depressions. All sites are typically flooded for part of the winter and spring. In the east, stands can experience droughty conditions in the summer and fall (Comer et al. 1995) while in the south and central portion of this alliance's range they can remain saturated for much of the growing season.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18027.SPARTINAPECTINA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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