Tidal Marshes
1) Inundated by twice daily tides to monthly lunar tides.
2) Exposed to varying salt concentrations in water column (0 to 35ppt).
3) Few vascular plant able to tolerate these stresses! The Cordgrasses (Spartina)
1) Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alternifolia).
2) Saltmeadow Hay (Spartina patens).
3) Tall Cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides).
Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alternifolia)
- aka Salt Cordgrass - high salinity tolerance (5 to 40psu)
- high inundation tolerance (semi-diurnal inundation)
- long lived perennial w/ rhizomatous root system
Salt Marsh Soil Ontogeny
MSLTime 1 Salt Marsh Soil Ontogeny
Time 1
MSLTime 2 MSLTime 1 Salt Marsh Soil Ontogeny
MSLTime 3 MSLTime 2 MSLTime 1 Salt Marsh Soil Ontogeny
MSLTime N
MSLTime 3
MSLTime 2
MSLTime 1 Salt Marsh Soil Ontogeny
MSLTime N
MSLTime 3
MSLTime 2
MSLTime 1 Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass)
Summary Duration Perennial Growth Habit Graminoid U.S. Nativity Native to U.S. Federal T/E Status National Wetland Indicator OBL
Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring and Summer
Seeds, seedlings, transplants, and rhizomes.
Saltmeadow Cordgrass (Spartina patens)
- high salinity tolerance (0 to 30psu)
- low inundation tolerance (weekly or twice monthly)
- longlived perennial w/ rhizomatous root system Saltmeadow Cordgrass (Spartina patens)
Summary Duration Perennial Growth Habit Graminoid
U.S. Nativity Native to U.S.
National Wetland Indicator FAC, OBL
Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring and Summer After Harvest Regrowth Rate Slow
Seeds, seedlings, transplants, and rhizomes. Salt grass (Distichlis spicata)
- high salinity tolerance (5 to 40psu)
- medium inundation tolerance (semi- diurnal)
- longlived perennial w/ rhizomatous root system Salt grass (Distichlis spicata) Salt grass (Distichlis spicata)
Summary Duration Perennial Growth Habit Graminoid U.S. Nativity Native to U.S. Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator FAC+, FACW+
Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring, Summer, Fall
Seeds, seedlings, transplants, and rhizomes. Bac. Iva Groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia)
- medium salinity tolerance (0 to 15psu)
- low inundation tolerance (weekly of semi-monthly)
- woody shrub Groundsel tree Salt bush Groundsel tree Its a relative of ragweed! Wax myrtle (Morella spp.)
M. cerifera M. pensylvanica
Morella cerifera: lves 8cm long X 2cm wide.
Morella pensylvanica: lves 6mm long X 2cm wide. Morella spp.
Morella cerifera: fruit 2.5-3.5mm in diameter. Morella pensylvanica: fruit 4.5-7 mm in diameter. Morella spp.
Summary Duration Perennial Growth Habit Tree, Subshrub, Shrub U.S. Nativity Native to U.S. Federal T/E Status National Wetland Indicator
Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring and Summer
Seeds, cuttings and seedlings Freshwater Species Yellow pond lily (Nuphar lutea) Yellow pond lily (Nuphar lutea) Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica)
Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica)
Summary Duration Perennial Growth Habit Forb/herb U.S. Nativity Native to U.S. Federal T/E Status National Wetland Indicator OBL
Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring
Seeds, tubers, and seedlings Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata)
Summary
Duration Perennial
Growth Habit Forb/herb
U.S. Nativity Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator OBL
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period Spring
Seeds, seedlings, basal shoots, and rhizomes. Duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia)
Sagittaria latifolia Sagittaria latifolia Duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia) Duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia)
Summary Duration Perennial Growth Habit Forb/herb U.S. Nativity Native to U.S. Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator OBL
Morphology/Physiology Active Growth Period Spring
Seed, seedlings, and tubers. Freshwater Species Polygonum spp. (knotweeds & smartweeds, 23 spp.)
P. pennsylvaticum
P. punctatum Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) Smartweeds (Polygonum spp.)
P. punctatum
P. pensylvanicum Polygonum spp.
Summary
Duration Annual, Perennial
Growth Habit Forb/herb
U.S. Nativity Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator FACW, OBL
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period Summer
Seeds and seedlings. Beggarticks (Bidens, 11 spp.) Beggarticks (Bidens)
Beggartick (Bidens spp.)
Summary
Duration Annual, Perennial
Growth Habit Forb/herb
U.S. Nativity Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator OBL
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period Spring, Summer, Fall Three square and bullrushes
Schoenoplectus (9) Scirpus (11) spp. Scirpus ancistrochaetus Scirpus atrovirens Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus Scirpus cyperinus Schoenoplectus americanus Scirpus divaricatus Schoenoplectus etuberculatus Scirpus expansus Schoenoplectus pungens Scirpus flaccidifolius Schoenoplectus purshianus Scirpus georgianus Schoenoplectus smithii var. levisetus Scirpus hattorianus Schoenoplectus subterminalis Scirpus lineatus Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Scirpus pendulus Schoenoplectus torreyi Scirpus polyphyllus Three square and bullrushes
Schoenoplectus americanus Scirpus cyperinus Three square and bullrushes
Schoenoplectus americanus Scirpus cyperinus Three square and bullrushes (Schoenoplectus and Scirpus spp.) Three square and bullrushes Three square and bullrushes (Schoenoplectus and Scirpus spp.)
Summary
Duration Perennial
Growth Habit Graminoid
U.S. Nativity Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator FACW+, OBL
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period Spring
Seeds, seedlings, and (some species) rhizomes Rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) Rose mallow (H. moscheutos)
(Althaea officinalis)
Althaea officinalis originally used to make marshmellows Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Freshwater Trees
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) Dr. James E. Perry Email: [email protected]