Characteristic plants of the higher marsh 

 are the perennial glasswort (Salicornia 

 subterminalis), shoregrass (Monanthochloe 

 littoralis), alkali heath, sea lavender, and 

 Atriplex watsonii. All of these species are 

 perennials that reproduce vegetatively. Only 

 during the rainy spring of 1983 was there 

 conspicuous seedling establishment. 



The endangered salt marsh bird's beak 

 (Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus; 

 Figure 3.3) occurs in the higher marsh. 

 Because it is an annual, it is evident only for a 

 short time during the spring and summer 

 growing season, and because the plants are 

 small, it is easiest to spot when in bloom 

 (April-June). This annual plant apparently 

 survives the warm dry summer by being 

 hemiparasitic. Its roots develop haustoria 



that penetrate a variety of other species to 

 gain water and nutrients. Subpopulations of 

 bird's beak sometimes disappear for a year or 

 more. Openings in the canopy allow seedling 

 establishment (Vanderweir 1983, Fink and 

 Zedler 1989), and the digging activities of 

 small mammals may be an important part of 

 the plant's ecology. However, too much 

 disturbance (e.g., repeated trampling) 

 destroys its habitat. Requirements of this 

 endangered plant are discussed more fully in 

 Section 3.9.1. 



Intermediate elevations of the salt marsh 

 are much more frequently wetted by the tides. 

 Higher inundation tolerance is required of 

 both the plants and infauna. The dominant 

 plant is the perennial pickleweed (Salicornia 

 virginica; Figure 3.6), which has the 



Figure 3.6. Vegetation of the mid-elevation marsh with sea lavender (left), arrow grass (fore- 

 ground), sea-blite (background), perennial pickleweed (right), and Jaumea (lower right, in 

 flower). Mclntire collection, © 1986 by Zedler. 



32 



