NPSpecies

See Comments; Data Source: Lea, Chris (2000)

See Comments; Data Source: Lea, Chris (2000)

See Comments; Data Source: Lea, Chris (2000)

Park Species Detail: Lea, Chris April, 2000:Although ranked S3 (S3=Rare to uncommon; usually between 20 and 100 populations or occurrences; may have fewer occurrences, but with a large number of individuals in some populations; may be susceptible to large-scale disturbances)by the most recent state rankings (Maryland Natural Heritage Program, 1994), this species of coastal salt marshes and wash flats, is apparently very rare at Assateague. Hill's (1986) assessment of this species and of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort appear to have been reversed, as his collections (in the Assateague herbarium) from Fox Hills Levels and cited under S. maritima were actually collected as S. linearis, and the specimens appear to be S. linearis. Only two individuals of S. linearis were seen during this study, both in 1999 from the bay side of the North End. Like Amaranthus pumilus, Polygonum glaucum, Sesuvium maritimum, and Atriplex arenaria, this annual species evidently relies on natural disturbances, including storm overwash, to persist. Conservation measures and concerns are as those for the former species. In Maryland, S. linearis may occur along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline and salt marshes of Maryland; it was observed on the Chesapeake Bay shoreline in Northampton County, Virginia by Lea in 1995. Based on Assateague populations alone, the rank of this species in Maryland would be S1(S1=Extremely rare; usually 5 or fewer populations or occurrences in the state; or may be a few remaining individuals; often especially vulnerable to extirpation). S. maritima, a purported non-native species with shorter, thicker, more glaucous leaves, which is somewhat pubescent is somewhat frequent on Assateague in salt marshes, and was collected from the National Seashore for the first time during this study./ Lea, Chris (2003)Suaeda linearis (Ell.) Moq. TALL SEA-BLITE. Chenopodiaceae. Suaeda linearis is a Watchlist(uncommon) species (Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Division 2001). Present in MD end (Lea,2003) Native. Annual herb. Aug-Oct. Wash and salt pan. Infrequent to rare, but probably widely distributed. Hill's specimens at Assateague are correctly labeled as this species (see above comments), but he subsequently attributed these to S. maritima (Hill 1986), apparently in a transcription error. Collector ID#'s Hill 15580, 16015./ Hamilton, 2004: Voucher specimens probable at MARY and CNWR./ Hill, 1986: Native. Annual succulent herb. Aug.-Oct. Salt pans and washes, salt marsh. Infrequent on the island, seen only at Fox Hill levels. Infrequent in MD overall. See Vegetation Mapping Report. (Higgins #178). 15580, 16015. B25-36. Reported by Harvill 1967). VA only?/ (referring to Suaeda maritima) = Hill, 1986: Native. Annual succulent herb. Aug.-Oct. Salt pans and washes, salt marsh. Infrequent, seen only at Fox Hills levels. Considered to be rare in the region by the MNHP. Reported by Higgins as S. linearis (Ell.) Moq., her identification recently corrected by H. Wilson of Texas A&M University. (Higgins #178). MD only., Park Species Data Source: Lea, Chris (2000)