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: Hamilton, 2004: Found frequently on North Beach 2001-2004 with scattered populations elsewhere on Assateague Island/ Lea, Chris April, 2000:Hill reported this annual species of wash flats from North Beach. In a search of most of the National Seashore for Amaranthus pumilus (which occupies essentially the same habitat), Maryland Natural Heritage Program staff found one individual in 1993 (Becker, 1996). An estimated 5,000 - 10,000 individuals were seen by Lea in wash flats on the North End in 1997. In 1998, following two significant storms during which significant sediment turnover occurred, no plants were seen at that location, although five were found in a wash about 1 km to the south, and isolated plants were seen and locations documented by Hamilton between the developed zone and the Maryland-Virginia line. In 1999, scattered plants were seen in several parts of the island. Next to Amaranthus pumilus, this species is probably the most rare (on a global scale) vascular plant to occur on Assateague, having a global rank of G3 (uncommon throughout range) assigned by The Nature Conservancy. It ranges from Massachusetts to Georgia, primarily on barrier islands and spits and is especially rare south of New York. In Maryland, it is essentially restricted to Assateague Island. Numbers of visible plants of this species may vary widely at a given location from year to year. Because of its relative global rarity and the fact that it occupies habitat similar to that of Amaranthus pumilus, a federally listed species that is currently censused by the National Park Service, it is recommended that populations be annually censused in conjunction with A. pumilus searches/censuses. As for A. pumilus and other rare wash flat species such as piping plovers, conservation measures on Assateague for this species should be maximized by insuring that natural overwash events, which create new habitat, occur unimpeded by human activities. Should the restoration of the North End of Assateague Island (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1997) be effected, the possible effects of sediment additions on the species' success should be evaluated. No rank change by Maryland Heritage Biodiversity Conservation Program is recommended./ Hill, 1986: Native. Annual. July-Oct. Washes, disturbed sands, dunegrass swales. Infrequent to rare, seen primarily in the North Beach area. Considered to be infrequent in MD according to the MNHP. Also known from Tom's Cove, VA., K. Prus s.n.. 8/19/73 (Visitor's Center Herbarium). (Higgins #162). MD & VA./, Park Species Data Source: Lea, Chris (2000)