SALT MARSH (VIRGINIAN SUBTYPE)

SALT MARSH (VIRGINIAN SUBTYPE) G5

Synonyms: Spartina alterniflora/(Ascophyllum nodosum) Acadian/Virginian Zone Herbaceous Vegetation (4192).

Concept: Subtype covers examples of the Virginiana Zone; from Cape Hatteras northward, which differ in the composition of their fauna and algal flora.
Distinguishing Features: The Virginiana Subtype is believed to differ from the Carolinian Subtype in the composition of the animal communities and algae. It has been suggested that the alga Ascophyllum nodosum is characteristic of the Virginian Zone and not the Caroliniana Zone. At present, the two subtypes should be distinguished by geographic location.

BRACKISH MARSH (SALT MEADOW CORDGRASS SUBTYPE) G4G5

Synonyms: Spartina patens-Distichlis spicata-Juncus roemerianus Herbaceous Vegetation (6245).

Concept: Type covers marshes that are salt influenced but to a lesser degree than Salt Marshes, due to regular or irregular flooding by brackish water or by irregular flooding by salt water mitigated by freshwater input. It includes marshes of estuarine areas at some distance from oceanic inlets, where the water is brackish, and also higher zones of Salt Marshes in areas with salt water.
Subtype covers examples dominated or codominated by Spartina patens. They most often occur as higher zones of Salt Marshes and are flooded with full strength salt water at less than daily intervals.
Distinguishing Features: Brackish Marshes are distinguished from Salt Marshes by having vegetation dominated by Spartina patens, Juncus roemerianus, or by having Spartina alterniflora in combination with less salt tolerant species such as Lilaeopsis chinensis. They are distinguished from Tidal Freshwater Marsh subtypes by lacking salt intolerant species. The Salt Meadow Cordgrass Subtype is distinguished from the other subtypes of Brackish Marsh by dominance of Spartina patens. It is distinguished from Maritime Dry Grassland and Maritime Wet Grassland, which may also be dominated by Spartina patens, by the absence of upland species and salt-intolerant species such as.... It also usually may be distinguished by the presence of some plant species shared with Salt Marshes, such as Distichlis spicata and Borrichia frutescens, which are absent in maritime grasslands.

BRACKISH MARSH (NEEDLERUSH SUBTYPE) G5

Synonyms: Juncus roemerianus Herbaceous Vegetation (4186).

Concept: Subtype covers examples dominated by Juncus roemerianus, often with few or no other vascular plant species present. This common subtype may occur either as an upper zone of Salt Marshes, in the headwaters of tidal creeks upstream from Salt Marshes, or in vast expanses in the brackish sounds.
Distinguishing Features: The Needlerush Subtype is distinguished from other subtypes by the dominance of Juncus roemerianus. It is distinguished from the Needlerush Subtype of Tidal Freshwater Marsh by the absence of less salt tolerant plant species such as Thelypteris palustris, Osmunda regalis, Sagittaria lancifolia, and Pontederia cordata.

BRACKISH MARSH (SMOOTH CORDGRASS SUBTYPE) G?

Synonyms: Spartina alterniflora-Lilaeopsis chinensis Herbaceous Vegetation (4193).

Concept: Subtype covers examples of regularly flooded brackish to oligohaline tidal rivers, dominated or codominated by Spartina alterniflora, and having plants intolerant of sea water salinity. This subtype is little known, but is reported on the estuarine Cape Fear River.
Distinguishing Features: The little known Smooth Cordgrass Subtype is distinguished from other Brackish Marsh subtypes by the presence of Spartina alterniflora and by occurrence in regularly flooded brackish areas. The presence of Lilaeopsis chinensis and other plant species intolerant of sea water salinity is indicative of this subtype.

TIDAL MUD FLAT

Synonyms: Isoetes riparia Provisional Sparse Vegetation (6058).

Concept: Type covers sparse vegetated tidal mud flats. Subtype covers mud flats with Isoetes riparia, which is generally sparse. The range and vegetation of this type are not well known.
Distinguishing Features: The Tidal Mud Flat type is distinguished from other tidal communities by predominance of small plants other than the characteristic dominants of the various marsh types. Vegetation is usually sparse.
Comments: Several subtypes are likely to be distinguished with further study. Sagittaria subulata-Limosella australis Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation is a northern equivalent of this type that ranges into Virginia.
SALT FLAT G5

Synonyms: Salicornia (virginica, bigelovii, maritima)-Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Vegetation (4308).

Concept: Type covers salt panne areas, where salt water is concentrated by evaporation between tides. Sparse to moderately dense vegetation is dominated by plants tolerant of hypersaline conditions, such as Salicornia spp. and Distichlis spicata.
Distinguishing Featues: Salt Flats are distinguished from Salt Marshes and all other communities by the predominance of the above species.

SALT SHRUB (HIGH SUBTYPE) G5

Synonyms: Baccharis halimifolia-Iva frutescens/Spartina patens Shrubland (3921). Baccharis halimifolia-Iva frutescens-Myrica cerifera-(Ilex vomitoria) Shrubland (3920).

Concept: Type covers areas on high edges of salt marshes, infrequently flooded with salt water and dominated by the most salt-tolerant shrubs. Subtype covers higher, less frequently flooded examples dominated by Baccharis halimifolia, Iva frutescens, and Myrica cerifera. Spartina patens is sometimes an important component.
Distinguishing Features: Salt Shrub is distinguished from all other community types by having vegetation dominated or codominated by Baccharis halimifolia, Iva frutescens, or Borrichia frutescens. When it has a substantial amount of Myrica cerifera, it is distinguishable from Maritime Shrub by the codominance of one of these species. The High Subtype is distinguished from the Low Subtype by the predominance of Baccharis halimifolia or Iva frutescens over Borrichia frutescens.
Comments: It is unclear how the two synonymized NVC associations relate and whether they are that distinctive.


SALT SHRUB (LOW SUBTYPE) G4

Synonyms: Borrichia frutesens/(Spartina patens-Juncus roemerianus) Shrubland (3924).

Concept: Subtype covers lower-lying, more frequently flooded examples dominated by Borrichia frutescens, often with a substantial component of brackish marsh graminoids.
Distinguishing Features: The Low Subtype is distinguished from the High Subtype by having Borrichia frutescens as the dominant shrub, with Baccharis halimifolia and Iva frutescens scarce and/or confined to higher microsites.

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