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The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Community Groups
SECOND APPROXIMATION (Version 2.5)

Information current as of February, 2012

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Salt Flats
Also known as "salt pannes," Salt Flats represent communities of regularly to irregularly tidal, sparsely to sometimes densely vegetated depressions and flats. Tidal salt flats occur on the Atlantic coast from Maine to North Carolina. Typically occurring as small patches within a matrix of mesohaline or polyhaline marsh, these habitats accumulate salt through evaporation of diurnal flooding inputs. Hyperhaline salt flats often contain large areas of barren, compacted peat and support only a scattering of saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) and the most salt-tolerant perennial and annual, succulent halophytes: glassworts (Sarcocornia perennis, Salicornia virginica, and Salicornia bigelovii), saltmarsh sand-spurry (Spergularia salina), tall sea-blite (Suaeda linearis), and sea-lavender (Limonium carolinianum). Occasional occurrences contain dense stands of mixed glassworts. Stunted saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) usually forms a narrow ecotone between the flat and surrounding marsh. Several algae are also characteristic associates. In Virginia, salt flat communities are best represented on the Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton Counties), where they occur frequently within the very large, Atlantic shore salt marshes.

References: Clovis (1968), Coulling (2002), Levy (1983), The Nature Conservancy (1997).

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Click on the images below to open a larger image in a separate window.

	Dwarf shrubland of jointed glasswort (Salicornia virginica) in a salt panne on Hog Island, Northampton County. Photo: Chris Clampitt / © DCR Natural Heritage.
	A remarkable Eastern Shore salt flat containing a 4-ha (10-acre), dense monoculture of glassworts (Salicornia virginica and S. bigelovii). Near Steelman's Landing, east of Townsend, Northampton County. Photo: Tom Rawinski / © DCR Natural Heritage.

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REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY TYPES:
Although salt flats are widespread and locally extensive on the Eastern Shore, only seven stands have been quantitatively sampled (map). Additional data collection is needed to document the range of compositional variation in the group. Click on any highlighted CEGL code below to view the global USNVC description provided by NatureServe Explorer.

• (Salicornia virginica, Salicornia bigelovii, Sarcocornia perennis) Herbaceous Vegetation
  Glasswort Salt Flat
  USNVC: = CEGL004308
  Global/State Ranks: G5/S3
  
  

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