Print Report
CEGL000228 Alnus incana / Glyceria striata Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gray Alder / Fowl Mannagrass Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association is a widespread community known from around the rim of the northwestern end of the Columbia Plateau in Washington, in the Blue Mountains of Oregon, and in northern Idaho but of limited extent in the Pacific Northwest. Stands occur in narrow to moderately wide floodplains on streambanks and around springs. Sites are usually very low-gradient and can be characterized as "stagnant"; soils can include silts and mucks. These shrublands are characterized by stands of medium-tall and tall deciduous shrubs and herbaceous undergrowth of wetland-indicator grasses and forbs. They have little to no overstory tree canopy, although individual Picea engelmannii, Abies grandis, Abies lasiocarpa, or Thuja plicata trees may be present. Total shrub cover usually exceeds 50% and is dominated by Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, the diagnostic shrub. Other shrubs include Cornus sericea, Symphoricarpos albus, and Ribes spp. The understory of undisturbed stands has an herbaceous layer with abundant cover of Glyceria striata and/or Cinna latifolia. These grasses are often accompanied by Calamagrostis canadensis or Elymus glaucus. Other common herbs include Geum macrophyllum, Galium triflorum, and Equisetum spp. Heavily disturbed stands have abundant non-native grasses.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Kovalchik (1993, 2001) described the Alnus incana / Glyceria elata association, using either Glyceria elata or Cinna latifolia as indicators; Crowe and Clausnitzer (1997) also described the Alnus incana / Glyceria elata association, using Glyceria elata as the indicator. None of these authors refer to citations south of the Blue Mountains of Oregon. All these authors refer to Glyceria striata as Glyceria elata. Where both species are recognized they are lumped into Glyceria elata.
This type has previously been included as part of ~Alnus incana / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland (CEGL001148)$$, which has more recently been defined to be more of an intermountain type. Alnus incana / Glyceria striata sites are wetter, often springs, found in more moist climatic regimes of maritime climatic influence. These two associations do grade into each other in some locations. The type discussed here is distinguished by >10% cover of Glyceria striata or Cinna latifolia.
This type has previously been included as part of ~Alnus incana / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland (CEGL001148)$$, which has more recently been defined to be more of an intermountain type. Alnus incana / Glyceria striata sites are wetter, often springs, found in more moist climatic regimes of maritime climatic influence. These two associations do grade into each other in some locations. The type discussed here is distinguished by >10% cover of Glyceria striata or Cinna latifolia.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These shrublands are characterized by stands of medium-tall and tall deciduous shrubs and herbaceous undergrowth of wetland-indicator grasses and forbs. They have little to no overstory tree canopy, although individual Picea engelmannii, Abies grandis, Abies lasiocarpa, or Thuja plicata trees may be present. Total shrub cover usually exceeds 50% and is dominated by Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, the diagnostic shrub. Other shrubs include Cornus sericea, Lonicera involucrata, Symphoricarpos albus, and Ribes spp. The understory of undisturbed stands has an herbaceous layer with abundant cover of Glyceria striata (= Glyceria elata) and/or Cinna latifolia. These grasses are often accompanied by Calamagrostis canadensis, Juncus ensifolius, and Elymus glaucus. Other common herbs include Nemophila breviflora, Geum macrophyllum, Galium triflorum, Senecio triangularis, Heracleum maximum, Galium triflorum, Valeriana sp., and Equisetum spp. Heavily disturbed stands have abundant non-native grasses.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur in narrow to moderately wide floodplains on streambanks and around springs. Sites are usually very low-gradient and can be characterized as "stagnant"; soils can include silts and mucks to sandy loams to organic fibric. It occurs at elevations between 533 and 2229 m (1750-7314 feet). Slopes are flat to 45%, and valleys are narrow, averaging 24.4-30.5 m (80-100 feet), to very wide (91.5 m [300 feet]). Stands occur on streambanks, floodplains, overflow swales, and springs.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is a widespread community in the Pacific Northwest, known from around the rim of the northwestern end of the Columbia Plateau in Washington, in the Blue Mountains of Oregon, and in northern Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683171
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M893 | 2.C.4.Nb.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group | G527 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A3771 Gray Alder - Green Alder Wet Shrubland Alliance | A3771 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL000228 Gray Alder / Fowl Mannagrass Wet Shrubland | CEGL000228 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alnus incana / Glyceria elata (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [Plot #13, p. 132.]
= Alnus incana / Glyceria elata Association (Kovalchik 2001)
= Alnus incana / Glyceria elata Association (Kovalchik 1993) [Plot #13.]
= Alnus incana / Glyceria striata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Alnus incana / Glyceria striata Wet Shrubland (DiPaolo et al. 2018)
< Alnus incana springs (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.73)]
>< Salix spp. / Mesic Forb (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [Plot #4, p. 116.]
= Alnus incana / Glyceria elata Association (Kovalchik 2001)
= Alnus incana / Glyceria elata Association (Kovalchik 1993) [Plot #13.]
= Alnus incana / Glyceria striata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Alnus incana / Glyceria striata Wet Shrubland (DiPaolo et al. 2018)
< Alnus incana springs (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.73)]
>< Salix spp. / Mesic Forb (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [Plot #4, p. 116.]
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Crowe, E. A., B. L. Kovalchik, and M. J. Kerr. 2004. Riparian and wetland vegetation of central and eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University, Portland. 473 pp. [http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/ publications.html]
- Crowe, E. A., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1997. Mid-montane wetland plant associations of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-22-97. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
- DiPaolo, D. A., D. C. Odion, K. M. Rolih, P. Adamus, and D. A. Sarr. 2018. Vegetation classification and mapping: Crater Lake National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/CRLA/NRR--2018/1663. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 550 pp.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1987. Riparian zone associations - Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema national forests. Technical Paper 279-87. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 171 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1993. Riparian plant associations on the national forests of eastern Washington - Draft version 1. USDA Forest Service, Colville National Forest, Colville, WA. 203 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 2001. Classification and management of aquatic, riparian and wetland sites on the national forests of eastern Washington. Part 1: The series descriptions. 429 pp. plus appendix. [http://www.reo.gov/col/wetland_classification/wetland_classification.pdf]
- Mackenzie, Will. Personal communication. British Columbia Ministry of Forestry Wetlands & Riparian Specialist, Smithers, BC, Canada.
- ORNHP [Oregon Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data files. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.