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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 />

Local Description Authors: K. D. Patterson.<br />

Plots: COLO.115, COLO.116.<br />

Colonial National Historical Park Inventory Notes: Information not available.<br />

GLOBAL INFORMATION<br />

USNVC CLASSIFICATION<br />

Physiognomic Class Herbaceous <strong>Vegetation</strong> (V)<br />

Physiognomic Subclass Perennial graminoid vegetation (V.A.)<br />

Physiognomic Group Temperate or subpolar grassl<strong>and</strong> (V.A.5.)<br />

Physiognomic Subgroup Natural/Semi-natural temperate or subpolar grassl<strong>and</strong> (V.A.5.N.)<br />

Formation Tidal temperate or subpolar grassl<strong>and</strong> (V.A.5.N.n.)<br />

Alliance Schoenoplectus americanus Tidal Herbaceous Alliance (A.2007)<br />

Alliance (English name) Chairmaker's Bulrush Tidal Herbaceous Alliance<br />

Association Schoenoplectus americanus - Spartina patens Herbaceous <strong>Vegetation</strong><br />

Association (English name) Chairmaker's Bulrush - Saltmeadow Cordgrass Herbaceous <strong>Vegetation</strong><br />

Ecological System(s): Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Brackish Tidal Marsh (CES203.894).<br />

GLOBAL DESCRIPTION<br />

Concept Summary: This brackish marsh occurs in wet depressions at the upper reaches of<br />

irregularly flooded tidal marshes of the mid-Atlantic coast. It occurs at the ecotone between low<br />

<strong>and</strong> high salt marsh zones. It is irregularly flooded, occurring just above the zone of regular tidal<br />

flooding, but is more frequently flooded than Spartina patens (saltmeadow cordgrass)-dominated<br />

high marsh. This community is dominated by colonies of Schoenoplectus americanus<br />

(chairmaker's bulrush), which often accounts for 40-75% of the total vegetation cover or<br />

codominant with Spartina patens (saltmeadow cordgrass) at some sites. Associated species can<br />

include Pluchea odorata (sweetscent), Juncus roemerianus (needlegrass rush), Spartina<br />

alterniflora (smooth cordgrass), Spartina cynosuroides (big cordgrass), Distichlis spicata (inl<strong>and</strong><br />

saltgrass), <strong>and</strong> Limonium carolinianum (Carolina sealavender) plus Typha spp. (cattails) <strong>and</strong><br />

Phragmites australis (common reed). This community often grades into Spartina patens<br />

(saltmeadow cordgrass)- or Juncus roemerianus (needlegrass rush)-dominated high marsh<br />

l<strong>and</strong>ward or Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass)- or Spartina cynosuroides (big cordgrass)dominated<br />

low marsh seaward. This association is best developed where the elevation gradient<br />

across the marsh is more gradual, allowing for greater diversity of physical conditions of<br />

duration <strong>and</strong> frequency of flooding.<br />

Environmental Description: This association occurs in wet depressions of high salt marshes<br />

<strong>and</strong> in the ecotone between low <strong>and</strong> high salt marsh zones. It is irregularly flooded, occurring<br />

just above the zone of regular tidal flooding, but is more frequently flooded than Spartina patens<br />

(saltmeadow cordgrass)-dominated high marsh. This association is best developed where the<br />

elevation gradient across the marsh is more gradual, allowing for greater diversity of physical<br />

conditions of duration <strong>and</strong> frequency of flooding.<br />

<strong>Vegetation</strong> Description: This community is dominated by colonies of Schoenoplectus<br />

americanus (chairmaker's bulrush), which often accounts for 40-75% of the total vegetation<br />

cover or codominant with Spartina patens (saltmeadow cordgrass) at some sites. Associated<br />

species can include Pluchea odorata (sweetscent), Juncus roemerianus (needlegrass rush),<br />

Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. moscheutos (crimsoneyed rosemallow), Spartina alterniflora (smooth<br />

cordgrass), Spartina cynosuroides (big cordgrass), Distichlis spicata (inl<strong>and</strong> saltgrass),<br />

Limonium carolinianum (Carolina sealavender), <strong>and</strong> Typha spp. (cattails) Phragmites australis<br />

(common reed) also occurs in this vegetation. This community often grades into vegetation<br />

dominated by Spartina patens (saltmeadow cordgrass) or Juncus roemerianus (needlegrass rush)<br />

291

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