Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

Distichlis spicata - Puccinellia lemmonii - Salicornia spp. Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group | NatureServe Biotics 2019
  click to update datacart
Name: Distichlis spicata - Puccinellia lemmonii - Salicornia spp. Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This group is found in the intermountain western U.S. Associations are composed of densely vegetated seasonal wetlands, saltwater emergent marshes to barren and sparsely vegetated playas (generally &lt;10% plant cover). Characteristic species may include <i>Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex</i> spp., <i>Distichlis spicata, Grayia spinosa, Leymus cinereus, Leymus triticoides, Muhlenbergia</i> spp., <i>Poa secunda, Puccinellia lemmonii, Salicornia</i> spp., <i>Sarcobatus vermiculatus</i>, and <i>Triglochin maritima</i>. Soils and standing water (if present) are alkaline. Salt crusts are common where there are actively drying ponds, that can have saltgrass beds in depressions and sparse shrubs around the margins. Playa flats are intermittently, seasonally to semipermanently flooded, usually retaining water into the growing season and drying completely only in drought years. Many are associated with hot and cold springs, located in basins with internal drainage. Soils are alkaline to saline clays with hardpans. Seasonal drying exposes mudflats colonized by annual wetland vegetation. Water is prevented from percolating through the soil by an impermeable soil subhorizon and is left to evaporate. Soil salinity varies greatly with soil moisture and greatly affects species composition. During exceptionally wet years, increased precipitation can dilute soil salt concentrations which may allow less salt-tolerant species to become established or more abundant. Some stands occur on floodplains, along the margins of perennial lakes, and in alkaline closed basins, with extremely low-gradient shorelines. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40217-{F7B6F7A8-6E97-4572-9672-72037AC9ED6A}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 02-Dec-2015 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.848861 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: G538
  Scientific: Distichlis spicata - Puccinellia lemmonii - Salicornia spp. Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group