Name:
Spartina patens - Schoenoplectus pungens - Solidago sempervirens Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This community is an upland dune grassland or overwash area of Atlantic barrier islands on embryo dunes or back sides of beaches forming from wave-deposited sand during spring tides or storms. This vegetation sometimes arises when overwash sand is deposited on interdunal swales, resulting in the occasional presence of wetland indicators. This association ranges from Massachusetts to North Carolina.. Sand movement, plant burial, and dune formation rates are not so high as to form <i>Ammophila breviligulata</i>-dominated primary dunes, but can be found as a fringe around the outer edge of those dunes. <i>Spartina patens</i> is dominant, ranging from quite sparse (25% cover) to dense, and can be monotypic in early-successional expressions. Where it forms over buried interdunal swales, remnant individuals of <i>Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens)</i> may be present. <i>Solidago sempervirens</i> is a common associate. Less common associates can include <i>Cyperus grayi, Cenchrus tribuloides, Setaria parviflora, Festuca rubra, Schizachyrium littorale, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium)</i>, and occasional scattered individuals of <i>Toxicodendron radicans</i> and seedlings of <i>Baccharis halimifolia</i>. Bare sand is often visible through the vegetation, and there is no soil profile development. <i>Ammophila breviligulata</i> and, at the southern end of the range, <i>Uniola paniculata, Panicum amarum var. amarum</i>, or <i>Panicum amarum var. amarulum</i> may invade from the surrounding dunes. On the Virginia Eastern Shore, a somewhat xerophytic variant of this community occurs on low, narrow, relatively stable backdune ridges between interdune swales, dominated by <i>Spartina patens</i> but supporting a number of drought-tolerant associates such as <i>Triplasis purpurea, Oenothera humifusa, Opuntia </i><i>humifusa, Physalis walteri, Cirsium horridulum var. horridulum</i>, and <i>Eragrostis spectabilis</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31214.CEGL004097
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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