Biological Flora of Coastal Wetlands: Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela

Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela¼Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth is a temperate zone rhizomatous grass that often is a dominant species in coastal brackish marshes on the Gulf coast and Atlantic coasts of the United States where salinity ranges from 0 to 10 psu. Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela ¼ Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth is usually absent where salinity values are .12 psu. Sporobolus cynosuroides occurs in coastal habitats characterized by infrequent tidal flooding and moderate nutrient levels. Also known as big cordgrass, it may account for net productivity in high marshes that rivals productivity of Sporobolus alterniflorus ¼ Spartina alterniflora the dominant species in saline low marsh environments. Sporobolus cynosuroides and a limited number of cohorts are threatened by climate change and rising sea levels. This species provides important ecological services. In addition, S. cynosurodes provides cover and nutrition for wildlife, and has fair forage potential for livestock

Biological Flora of Coastal Freshwater and Brackish Marshes: Cladium jamaicense Crantz

Cladium jamaicense Crantz, also known as sawgrass, has a broad distributional range from the Atlantic coast of Virginia to Florida, to southern Texas, the Caribbean, and along the Atlantic coast of Mexico to Central America, and to Brazil. Cladium jamaicense typically occurs in oligotrophic sloughs and fresh and brackish marshes where optimal salinity values range from 0 to 3.5 ppt. This species is a long-lived perennial with a highly developed rhizome system with rhizomes up to 20 cm long and 2.5 to 10 mm in diameter. Asexual reproduction is common. Its fibrous root system comprises short dauciform roots characterized by a dense number of long root hairs. Culms are 1.0 to 3.0 m tall. Leaf blades are coarse, flat, or broadly involute; leaf margins and the abaxial midvein have sharp, hacksaw-like teeth. Typha domingensis (cattail) is C. jamaicense’s most important competitor, especially in sites that have been enhanced with phosphorus. Restoration of sawgrass marshes requires managing long-term changes in ecosystem functions and hydrological management strategies

Rare and endangered plants at Gateway National Recreation Area: a case for protection of urban natural areas

The diversity of native plant species in urban environments is usually overlooked when biodiversity levels are considered. Inventories of native plants reveal many to be rare species surviving the harsh conditions encountered in urban ecosystems. Knowledge of their existence and an inventory of their distribution will assist in maintaining these populations. Protection strategies for rare plant species are outlined for urban National Parks

Biological Flora of the Tropical and Subtropical Intertidal Zone: Literature Review for Rhizophora mangle L.

Rhizophora mangle L. is a tropical and subtropical mangrove species that occurs as a dominant tree species in the intertidal zone of low-energy shorelines. Rhizophora mangle plays an important role in coastal zones as habitat for a wide range of organisms of intertidal food webs, as a natural barrier to coastal erosion, and as carbon sequestration. A review of mangrove literature has been performed, but a review specifically on red mangroves has not. The approach was to cover a broad range of topics with a focus on topics that have seen significant work since the 1970s. This review includes a brief introduction to red mangroves and then focuses on the following topics: biogeography, habitats and zonation, geomorphological interactions, taxonomy, histology, anatomy, physiological ecology, productivity, biomass, litter, reproduction, population biology, plant communities, interactions with other species, impacts of storms, reforestation, remote sensing, modelling, and economic importance

The Biological Flora of Coastal Dunes and Wetlands: Avicennia germinans (L.) L.

Avicennia germinans (L.) L. is a pantropical, subtropical, and occasionally warm-temperate mangrove species that occurs on shorelines that have a broad horizontal tidal range. Also known as black mangrove, stands typically develop under anoxic, water-logged conditions in substrates of silt or clay. Black mangrove can tolerate salinity values ranging from 0 to 90 parts per thousand. Salt is excreted from salt glands on both leaf epidermal surfaces, and aerosol salt spray and salt crystals are frequently observed on the upper leaf epidermis. Avicennia germinans is viviparous. The embryos have no dormancy requirements, and there is no seed bank. This mangrove species has the northernmost distributional range of any mangrove species in North America. It occurs in Louisiana and northern Florida. Color-infrared photography and airborne video imagery techniques have been used successfully to map stands of black mangrove on subtropical coastal shorelines. Reforestation efforts using seedlings and saplings have been successful in several areas of the tropics and subtropics. Avicennia germinans stands play an important role in ecosystem functions as a natural barrier to coastal erosion caused by tropical storms, as habitat for a wide range of organisms in intertidal food chains, and as a carbon repository

The Vegetation History of Hempstead Plains, New York

Hempstead Plains, once encompassing 24,282 hectares, originally extended from western Suffolk County, to eastern Queens County, Long Island, New York. Hicks (1892), Harper (1918), Ferguson (1925), Cain et al. (1937), and Seyfert (1972), contended that Hempstead Plains was always devoid of arboreous growth, though Bailey (1949) maintained that shrubs and trees grew on the Plains. Those who have made important vegetation studies of the Plains included Hicks (1892), Harper (1918), Ferguson (1925), Conard (1935), Seyfert (1972), and Stalter and Lamont (1987). Stalter and Lamont (1987) studied a 8.5 ha remnant in the vicinity of Mitchell Field and found little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius Michx.) and broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus L.) to be the dominant species. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], and bird-foot violet (Viola pedata L.) are remnants of the prairie flora that dominated Hempstead Plains years ago. Invasion of alien species such as crabgrasses (Digitaria spp.), foxtail grass (Setaria faberi Herrm.), and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) on disturbed sites reflects the changing character of the Hempstead Plains flora. The small size of the Mitchell Field site, disturbance by vehicles and dumping may hasten the very slow process of old field succession at Mitchell Field

Hicks (1892)

Abstract. Hempstead Plains, once encompassing 24,282 hectares, originally extended from western Suffolk County, to eastern Queens County, Long Island, New York. Hicks (1892)

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON PINUS GLABRA WALTER (PINACEAE)

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