The Alaska Vegetation Classification - Alaska Geobotany Center ...

lll.D.I.b. Common MarestailFigure 78-A freshwater aquatic commonmarestail community of Hippuris vulgarisin a shallow pond in arctic AlaskaDescription-These aquatic communities are dominated by common marestail(Hippuris vulgaris) (fig. 78). This species may occur in pure, usually small, standsor may be associated with other aquatic species, commonly Sparganiumspp. andMyriophyllum spicatum. Emergent plants are absent or rare.Distribution and site characteristics-Common marestail communities occurthroughout the State in shallow freshwater pools and flooded depressions, usually in5 to 30 centimeters (2 to 12 in) 01 water. In some localities, the water occasionallydries to leave the marestail in wet mud for a few days or even weeks of the growingseason. The substrate is mineral soil or organic-rich muck. Marestail stands areusually small in area but quite common.Successional status-Like most aquatic communities, these are early successionaland probably will be replaced by wet sedge meadows or sedge bogs as the organicsubstrate builds up.Closely related types-These communities are similar to other aquatic communitiesbut have common marestail as a dominant component. They are especially similar tofour-leaf marestail communities (which grow in brackish ponds) but are dominated bycommon marestail instead of tour-leaf marestail.Some marshes (Scripus spp., Equisetum fluviatile, and Arctophila fulva communities)and wet sedge meadows have abundant marestail. Emergents are common in allthose communities but are absent or nearly so from common marestail communities.Photographs-Figure 78, this publication.Primary references-Ritchie and others 1981, Webber and others 1978.Communities-Hippuris vulgaris (Potter 1972, Racine 1976, Ritchie and others1981). Hippuris vulgar;s-Potamogefongramineus (Webber and others 1978). Hippurisvulgaris-Sparganium hyperboreum (Hulten 1966, Porsild 1939, Streveler and others1973). Hippuris vulgaris-Potentilla palusfris (Spetzman 1959).205