Freshwater marshes (see also Freshwater tidal wetlands) occur in depressions and around the edges of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams where surface water is present for all or most of the growing season and the soil is perennially wet (freshwater tidal marshes that are treated separately in the following section). They are characterized by emergent herbaceous vegetation, usually graminoids such as spikerush (Eleocharis spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), bulrushes (Schoenoplectus spp.), bur-reed (Sparganium spp.), cattails (Typha spp.), and various grasses. Broadleaved herbs and shrubs may also be present. They are particularly well known as breeding or foraging sites for birds. Freshwater marshes are found throughout the state, but many thousands of acres have been diked, drained, and farmed.
Habitat: Edges of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, or larger expanses in basins and flats
Water regime: Perennially to seasonally flooded
Water chemistry: Fresh or slightly alkaline
Ecoregion*: BM = Blue Mountains, BR = Northern Basin and Range, CB = Columbia Basin, CR = Coast Range, EC = East Cascades, KM = Klamath Mountains, WC = West Cascades, WV = Willamette Valley | ||||
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Scientific & Common Name | Global & State Rank | Ecoregion* | ||
Alopecurus aequalis Marsh [Provisional] Short-awn foxtail (Christy 2016: 12) |
G4S3 | BR | ||
Athyrium filix-femina-Scirpus microcarpus Marsh [Provisional] Lady fern (Christy 2004: 67) |
G4S3 | CR | ||
Bidens cernua Marsh [Provisional] Nodding beggars-tick marsh (Murray 2000: 12; Christy 2004: 69) |
G4S3 | WV | ||
Bidens frondosa Marsh [Provisional] Leafy beggars-tick (Christy 2004: 70) |
G4S4 | WV | ||
Calamagrostis nutkaensis - Carex spp. - Juncus spp. Grassland Pacific reedgrass - sedge - rush (Christy 2004: 74; NS) |
G2S1 | CR | ||
Carex interrupta Marsh [Provisional] Green-fruited sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 94) |
G3S2 | EC | ||
Carex leporinella Marsh [Provisional] Sierra hair-sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 100; Wells 2006: 136) |
G4S4 | BM | ||
Carex obnupta Wet Meadow Slough sedge (Murray 2000: 16; Christy 2004: 96; NS) |
G4S4 | CR, WV | ||
Carex utriculata Wet Meadow Southern beaked sedge (Murray 2000: 16; Christy 2004: 100; Crowe et al. 2004: 120; Wells 2006: 127; McCain et al. 2014: 91; NS) |
G5S4 | CR, EC, WC | ||
Carex vesicaria Wet Meadow Inflated sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 123; Wells 2006: 129; NS) |
G4S4 | BM, BR, CR, EC | ||
Eleocharis acicularis Marsh Needle sedge (Christy 2004: 111; Crowe et al. 2004: 74; NS) |
G4S4 | EC, WC | ||
Eleocharis bella Mudflat [Provisional] Delicate spikerush (Crowe et al. 2004: 75) |
G3S1 | BM | ||
Eleocharis obtusa Mudflat [Provisional] Blunt spikerush (Christy 2004: 112) |
G4S3 | WV | ||
Eleocharis palustris Marsh Creeping spikerush (Murray 2000: 17; Christy 2004: 113; Crowe et al. 2004: 66; Christy 2014: 33; NS) |
G5S5 | BM, BR, CB, CR, EC, KM, WV | ||
Equisetum fluviatile Marsh Water horsetail (NS) |
G4S3 | CR, EC, WC | ||
Eragrostis hypnoides - Gnaphalium palustre Mudflat Creeping lovegrass - lowland cudweed (Christy 2004: 118; NVC) |
G2S1 | WV | ||
Euthamia occidentalis Mudflat Western goldenrod (Christy 2004: 119; NS) |
G3S3 | WV | ||
Glyceria borealis Wet Meadow Northern mannagrass (Crowe et al. 2004: 64; NS) |
G4S4 | BR | ||
Glyceria grandis Wet Meadow Reed mannagrass (NS) |
G2S2 | BR | ||
Glyceria striata Herbaceous Vegetation Fowl mannagrass (Murray 2000: 19; Christy 2004: 120; Crowe et al. 2004: 147; NS) |
G3S3 | BM, EC, WV | ||
Hippuris vulgaris Aquatic Vegetation Common mare's tail (Christy 2004: 121; NS) |
G5S3 | BM, BR, CR, EC, WV | ||
Hydrocotyl ranunculoides Marsh [Provisional] Floating water-pennywort (Christy 2004: 122) |
G5S3 | CR | ||
Juncus effusus Pacific Coast Marsh Pacific rush marsh (Titus 1996-1998: 1; Murray 2000: 21; Christy 2004: 125) |
G5S3 | CR, KM, WV | ||
Juncus ensifolius Marsh [Provisional] Dagger-leaf rush (Titus 1996-1998: 4) |
G4S4 | KM | ||
Juncus nevadensis Marsh [Provisional] Sierra rush (Christy 2004: 126; Crowe et al. 2004: 131) |
G4S4 | EC | ||
Lilaeopsis occidentalis Marsh [Provisional] Lilaeopsis (Christy 2004: 128) |
G3S3 | CR, WV | ||
Ludwigia palustris - Persicaria hydropiperoides Aquatic Vegetation Water purslane - waterpepper (Christy 2004: 129; NS) |
G3S3 | CR, KM, WV | ||
Lysichiton americanus - (Athyrium filix-femina) Marsh [Provisional] Skunk cabbage (Diaz & Mellen 1996: 167; Murray 2000: 22) |
G4S4 | WV | ||
Myriophyllum hippuroides Marsh [Provisional] Western water-milfoil bed (Kunze 1994: 47, 57) |
G3S2 | WV | ||
Nuphar polysepala Aquatic Vegetation Yellow pond-lily (Murray 2000: 23; Christy 2004: 132; Crowe et al. 2004: 62;Wells 2006: 156; Odion et al. 2013: 64; NS) |
G5S5 | BM, BR, CR, EC, WC, WV | ||
Oenanthe sarmentosa Marsh Water-parsley (Murray 2000: 23; Christy 2004: 133; McCain 2004: 192; NS) |
G4S4 | CR, WV | ||
Paspalum distichum Marsh Knotgrass (Christy 2004: 134; NS) |
G5S3 | CR, WV | ||
Persicaria amphibia Marsh [Provisional] Water smartweed (Christy 2004: 135) |
G5S3 | BR, WV | ||
Persicaria lapathifolia Marsh [Provisional] Curltop ladysthumb (Christy 2014: 41) |
G3S2 | BR | ||
Potentilla rivalis Marsh [Provisional] Brook cinquefoil (Christy 2014: 45) |
G3S2 | BR | ||
Ranunculus flammula Aquatic Vegetation [Provisional] Creeping buttercup (Christy 2004: 138) |
G5S3 | CR, WC | ||
Sagittaria latifolia Aquatic Vegetation Wapato (Christy 2004: 139; NS) |
G3S2 | WV | ||
Schoenoplectus acutus Marsh Hardstem bulrush (Christy 2004: 141; Crowe et al. 2004: 70; NS) |
G5S5 | BM, BR, CB, CR, EC, KM, WV | ||
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Temperate Marsh Softstem bulrush (Crowe et al. 2004: 70; NS) |
G5S5 | BM, BR, CB, CR, EC, KM, WC, WV | ||
Scirpus microcarpus Marsh Small-fruited bulrush (Murray 2000: 25; Christy 2004: 142; Crowe et al. 2004: 134; Wells 2006: 133; NS) |
G4S4 | BM, CB, CR, EC, KM, WC, WV | ||
Sparganium angustifolium Aquatic Vegetation Narrowleaf bur-reed (Murray 2000: 26; Christy 2004: 144; Crowe et al. 2004: 58; Wells 2006: 156; NS) |
G4S3 | CR, WV | ||
Sparganium eurycarpum Aquatic Vegetation Broadfruited bur-reed (Christy 2004: 145; Christy 2014: 47; NS) |
G4S3 | BR, CB, WV | ||
Torreyochloa pallida var. pauciflora Marsh [Provisional] Weak mannagrass (Murray 2000: 27; Christy 2004: 146; Crowe et al. 2004: 65) |
G2S3 | BM, CR, EC, WV | ||
Typha (latifolia, angustifolia) Western Marsh Cattail (broadleaf cattail, narrowleaf cattail) (Murray 2000: 29; Christy 2004: 149; Crowe et al. 2004: 56; Wells 2006: 157; NS) |
G5S5 | CR |