Name:
Phragmites australis ssp. americanus Native Western Marsh
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The association forms an open to continuous herb layer that ranges from 20 to 90% cover with native graminoid <i>Phragmites australis ssp. americanus</i> characteristically dominant in the herbaceous layer. Other herbaceous species are present and commonly include <i>Carex</i> spp., <i>Distichlis spicata, Schoenoplectus</i> spp., and <i>Typha</i> spp. Shrubs may form a sparse layer (0-7% cover) that can include <i>Suaeda moquinii</i> and <i>Ericameria nauseosa</i>. Emergent trees are sometimes present with low cover (to 2%) and include <i>Populus fremontii, Prosopis glandulosa</i>, and non-native <i>Tamarix</i> spp. The association is known to occur commonly yet scattered in the Colorado Desert, Mojave Desert, and southern Great Basin within alkaline seep, stream, and lacustrine areas, including in Owens Valley, Saline Valley, Saratoga Spring, and other various seeps such as near Shoshone in Death Valley National Park, California and likely occurs in the Colorado Plateau. In the Mojave Desert, it is also found at the edge of Soda Lake and along spring-fed washes in the Granite Mountains in the Mojave National Preserve, California, and along Las Vegas Wash, near Salt Spring, and along channels at the west end of the lake near Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, in Arizona and Nevada. It occurs at low elevations, ranging from approximately 150 to 500 m, and averages 351 m. Slopes are typically very gentle (1 to 2°), allowing water to flow slowly or pool in areas. It is found primarily in alkaline seeps, streambeds/channels, and lake edges at various aspects. Soils range from clay, silt, to sandy loam, and are usually derived from alluvium.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35286-{183A52DE-49C7-4F81-8ED8-D56952B91BFD}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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