NPSpecies

See Comments; Data Source: Lea, 2000

See Comments; Data Source: Lea, 2000

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

Park Species Detail: Lea, Chris April, 2000: Hill (1986) reported this southern coastal species, an annual of wash flats and saline "pans," with Assateague Island the only known Maryland location, to be frequent at Fox Hill Levels. It was not found there, and the existence of grown plants has probably been eliminated by competition with perennial species during natural succession. Large numbers (dozens to over one hundred) have been observed in 1997 and 1998 on the North End. This species has habitat somewhat similar to that of Amaranthus pumilus and Polygonum glaucum, but seems to prefer lower, moister (somewhat saline) flats that may be suboptimal for the two former species. It may be the most sensitive of the wash flat species to elevation changes. It can be found in small numbers on bay side beaches, as well as on larger wash flats. Numbers of plants are likely to be naturally fairly variable from year to year. Because it occupies habitat similar to Amaranthus pumilus, a federally listed species now 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 the Maryland Heritage Biodiversity Conservation Program is recommended./ Hamilton, 2004: Voucher specimens probable at MARY and CNWR./ Hill, 1986: Native. Annual, succulent. July-Oct. Salt pans and washes, salt marsh, beach. Infrequent overall, but frequent at Fox Hills levels salt pans. Considered rare by the MNHP. (Higgins #184). MD & VA., Park Species Data Source: Lea, 2000