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Spartina pectinata Western Wet Meadow | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Spartina pectinata Western Wet Meadow
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This association is common in wetlands and riparian areas of the Great Plains from eastern Montana south to Wyoming and Colorado, west to eastern Oregon and Washington, and occurs in small, scattered areas along rivers in the Colorado Plateau. Elevation ranges from 716-1770 m (2350-5800 feet). On large river floodplains, this type occurs as distinct patches and is distinguished from adjacent riparian types by micro-topography and degree of soil saturation. Substrates are usually poorly to moderately well-drained, finer textured soils, but vary to coarser textures. Stands generally occur as distinct patches in a matrix of other tallgrass and wetland associations, separated by differences in micro-topography and degree of soil saturation. This is a dense to moderately dense, tallgrass wet meadow that is characterized by being composed almost entirely of <i>Spartina pectinata</i>. Other herbaceous species such as <i>Andropogon gerardii, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Equisetum hyemale, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Panicum virgatum</i>, and <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i> may be present but contribute low cover. However, <i>Schoenoplectus pungens</i> may codominate some stands. Scattered woody species may also be present such as <i>Amorpha fruticosa, Chrysothamnus linifolius, Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni, Salix exigua</i>, and the invasive exotic <i>Tamarix ramosissima</i>. The invasive thistle <i>Cirsium arvense</i> may be abundant in some stands. Historic sources cite large stands in mudflats along the Missouri and Platte rivers. Large stands have been observed south of Denver that are now threatened by housing and golf course developments. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30385-{0A7B5CF1-5E88-4ADC-BB0C-6ADAF2A4225D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 1
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 07-Feb-2007 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683115 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001476
  Translated: Prairie Cordgrass Western Wet Meadow
  Scientific: Spartina pectinata Western Wet Meadow
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL001476
(similar) Spartina pectinata Western Herbaceous Vegetation
(similar) Spartina pectinata Western Herbaceous Vegetation