Print Report

CEGL001146 Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gray Alder / Field Horsetail Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These seasonally flooded, tall shrublands have been reported from montane sites in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and may occur in California and Idaho. They have been described from frequently flooded streambanks, swales, floodplains, and shores of lakes and ponds. Soils range from shallow loamy sand, loam or silt over alluvial gravel or cobbles, to organic loam, peat and muck. Vegetation is dominated by a moderate to dense canopy (>40% cover) of the deciduous, broad-leaved tall shrub Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia. Other shrubs may include scattered Salix, Betula, Cornus, or Ribes spp. Equisetum arvense often forms a thick carpet beneath young to mature alder shrubs. Mesic forbs or other graminoids are typically sparse but may include Calamagrostis canadensis, Glyceria striata, Asteraceae spp., Galium boreale, or Geum macrophyllum. This shrubland can be distinguished from other Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia-dominated shrublands by the presence of at least 25% cover of Equisetum arvense.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is characterized by a moderate to dense canopy (>40% cover) dominated by the deciduous, broad-leaved tall shrub Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, with Equisetum arvense forming a thick herbaceous layer. Other shrubs may include scattered Salix spp. (Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia), Salix exigua, Salix geyeriana, Salix lucida ssp. caudata, and Salix monticola), Acer glabrum, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Lonicera involucrata, or Ribes inerme. Occasionally scattered trees of Picea pungens, Pinus contorta, or Populus angustifolia may be present. Mesic forbs or graminoids are typically sparse but may include Aconitum columbianum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Cardamine cordifolia, Carex disperma, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Chamerion angustifolium, Cinna latifolia, Galium boreale, Geum macrophyllum, Glyceria striata (= Glyceria elata), Heracleum maximum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Maianthemum stellatum, Pyrola asarifolia ssp. asarifolia, Pyrola chlorantha, Rudbeckia laciniata, Saxifraga odontoloma, Senecio triangularis, Saxifraga odontoloma, Swertia perennis, and introduced species Agrostis stolonifera, Poa pratensis, and Taraxacum officinale (Hess 1981, Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). This shrubland can be distinguished from other Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia-dominated shrublands by the presence of at least 25% cover of Equisetum arvense.

Dynamics:  Both Alnus incana and Equisetum arvense are considered long-lived, early-seral species and are among the first species to establish on flood-scoured streambanks (Hess 1981, Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). Alnus incana appears to be shade-intolerant and is common on the edges of taller upland vegetation forming stringers along the channel. Alnus incana communities appear to be maintained by frequent flooding, and as stands mature Salix or other species begin to dominate (Padgett et al. 1989).
Environmental Description:  This minor riparian shrubland association has been reported from montane sites in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and may occur in California and Idaho. Elevation ranges between 2100 and 3000 m (6800-10,000 feet) in Colorado to 1800-2500 m (5900-8200 feet) in Utah and 730-1525 m (2400-5000 feet) in eastern Washington. Stands occur on frequently flooded streambanks, swales, floodplains, and shores of lakes and ponds that are saturated most of the growing season. Soils are typically shallow and coarse-textured but range from well-drained loamy sand to poorly drained silt or silty clay over alluvial gravel or cobbles, to organic loam, peat and muck (Hess 1981, Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1997b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). Water tables appear to be shallow, with mottling near the soil surface (Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b).
Geographic Range: This minor riparian shrubland association has been reported from montane sites in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and may occur in British Columbia, California and Idaho.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  BC?, CA?, CO, ID, OR, UT, WA, WY


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 CEGL001146 Gray Alder / Field Horsetail Wet Shrubland CEGL001146 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 - Salix drummondiana / Equisetum arvense Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [(p.138)]
= Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.120)]
= Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense Community Type (Walford et al. 2001)
= Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
< Alnus incana / Bench Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995) [Includes stands with sparse herbaceous layer codominated by Equisetum arvense.]
= Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia - Equisetum arvense Habitat Type/Plant Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia / Equisetum arvense Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia / Equisetum arvense Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia / Equisetum arvense Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Alnus tenuifolia / Equisetum arvense Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Alnus tenuifolia / Equisetum arvense Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-27-05
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