Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
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<strong>USGS</strong>-NPS <strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Mapping</strong> Program<br />
Colonial National Historical Park<br />
companion species. Other woody species include Persea palustris (swamp bay), Magnolia<br />
virginiana (sweetbay), Salix caroliniana (coastal plain willow), Vaccinium formosum (southern<br />
blueberry), Smilax walteri (coral greenbrier), <strong>and</strong> saplings of Acer rubrum (red maple), Pinus<br />
taeda (loblolly pine), Taxodium distichum (bald cypress), <strong>and</strong> Liquidambar styraciflua<br />
(sweetgum). Herbaceous composition is diverse <strong>and</strong> varied, with many species 'recruited' from<br />
adjacent marshes <strong>and</strong> swamps. Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens (eastern marsh fern) is highly<br />
characteristic <strong>and</strong> appears to reach its nodal distribution in this l<strong>and</strong>scape in this community.<br />
Other important species can include Juncus roemerianus (needlegrass rush), Cladium mariscus<br />
ssp. jamaicense (Jamaica swamp sawgrass), <strong>and</strong> Decodon verticillatus (swamp loosestrife).<br />
Murdannia keisak (wartremoving herb) is an aggressive alien weed.<br />
In Maryl<strong>and</strong>, these tidal oligohaline shrubl<strong>and</strong>s are characterized by a low (0.5-6 m tall), open<br />
(40-60% cover) to moderately dense (60-80% cover) shrub canopy dominated by Morella<br />
cerifera (wax myrtle) with Rosa palustris (swamp rose) as a frequent associate. Morella cerifera<br />
(wax myrtle) is most constant <strong>and</strong> typically occupies 25 to 50% of the shrub stratum. In general,<br />
Rosa palustris (swamp rose) is slightly less abundant (10-25% mean cover) than Morella<br />
cerifera (wax myrtle); however, it can occasionally be dominant (>75% cover) in some st<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
Other less frequent taxa in the shrub stratum include Acer rubrum (red maple), Viburnum<br />
recognitum (southern arrowwood), Baccharis halimifolia (eastern baccharis), <strong>and</strong> dense vine<br />
growth of Toxicodendron radicans (eastern poison ivy) <strong>and</strong> Mikania sc<strong>and</strong>ens (climbing<br />
hempvine). St<strong>and</strong>s along ecotones or in less frequently flooded situations may contain emergent<br />
individuals of Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), Fraxinus<br />
pennsylvanica (green ash), Fraxinus profunda (pumpkin ash), Nyssa biflora (swamp tupelo), <strong>and</strong><br />
Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar) in a scattered <strong>and</strong> very sparse (0-5%<br />
cover) overstory. Species richness in the herbaceous layer is very high <strong>and</strong> indicative of slight<br />
oligohaline conditions, species recruitment from adjacent communities, <strong>and</strong> considerable<br />
microtopographic variation. Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis (royal fern) is consistent <strong>and</strong><br />
dominant in the herbaceous layer, with Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens (eastern marsh fern)<br />
in close association although not as abundant. Associated species include species characteristic<br />
of freshwater marshes, such as Leersia oryzoides (rice cutgrass), Polygonum punctatum (dotted<br />
smartweed), <strong>and</strong> Pelt<strong>and</strong>ra virginica (green arrow arum), <strong>and</strong> species more tolerant of<br />
mesohaline conditions, such as Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. moscheutos (crimsoneyed rosemallow)<br />
<strong>and</strong> Carex hormathodes (marsh straw sedge). Other characteristic herbs include Apios americana<br />
(groundnut), Cuscuta gronovii (scaldweed), Sium suave (hemlock waterparsnip), Polygonum<br />
arifolium (halberdleaf tearthumb), Ptilimnium capillaceum (herbwilliam), Cinna arundinacea<br />
(sweet woodreed), Thalictrum pubescens (king of the meadow), Typha latifolia (broadleaf<br />
cattail), Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock), <strong>and</strong> Boehmeria cylindrica (smallspike false<br />
nettle).<br />
Most Abundant Species:<br />
Stratum Lifeform Species<br />
Tall shrub/sapling Broad-leaved deciduous shrub Rosa palustris (swamp rose),<br />
Salix caroliniana (coastal plain willow)<br />
Tall shrub/sapling Broad-leaved evergreen shrub Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)<br />
Characteristic Species: Morella cerifera (wax myrtle), Rosa palustris (swamp rose), Salix<br />
caroliniana (coastal plain willow), Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens (eastern marsh fern),<br />
Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans (eastern poison ivy).<br />
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