Print Report

CEGL001181 Salix boothii / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Booth''s Willow / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian community is currently known from Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. This cold-deciduous shrubland occurs between 2045 and 2990 m (6700-9800 feet) in elevation. It occurs mostly on moist stream terraces, streambanks, gently sloping wide floodplains or sideslope seeps, and can be associated with beaver ponds. The local microtopography is highly variable, from smooth to very hummocky. Soil textures range from clay and fine loams to sandy-skeletal, usually over coarse alluvium. Water tables range from the surface to 80 cm (31 inches), and signs of mottling are common. Some stands receive runoff and seepage from irrigated pastures. These tall mesic shrublands are dominated by Salix boothii. Other willows are often present, but in lower amounts, and include Salix geyeriana, Salix wolfii, Salix lucida, Salix lutea, Salix drummondiana, and rarely Salix monticola. Ribes inerme and Lonicera involucrata may also be present. The herbaceous undergrowth is dominated by graminoids. No single graminoid species is consistently dominant or present in all stands, and typically, no single species can be said to dominate any one stand. Common graminoid species include Agrostis gigantea, Poa palustris, Phleum pratense, Deschampsia cespitosa, Carex hoodii, Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Carex praticola, Carex microptera, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Glyceria striata. Forbs are usually present, and may be diverse, but are never as abundant as the graminoid cover. Forb species include Fragaria virginiana, Potentilla pulcherrima x hippiana, Symphyotrichum foliaceum, Mentha arvensis, Vicia americana, Veronica americana, Mimulus guttatus, Ranunculus cymbalaria, and Epilobium spp. This association is distinguished from ~Salix boothii / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland (CEGL001180)$$ by having a higher cover of graminoid species. Stands with predominantly non-native graminoid species in the undergrowth are considered grazing-induced.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Hansen et al. (1995) lumped Salix boothii communities into the Salix geyeriana types due to similarities in environmental settings and management concerns. Both communities contain stands where Salix boothii is the dominant shrub. Differences in the understory composition are dependent on the specific substrate and moisture regime.

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

Floristics: These tall mesic shrublands are dominated by Salix boothii. Other willows are often present but in lower amounts. Other willow species include Salix geyeriana, Salix wolfii, Salix lucida, Salix lutea, Salix drummondiana, and Salix monticola. Ribes inerme and Lonicera involucrata may also be present. The herbaceous undergrowth is dominated by graminoids. No single graminoid species is consistently dominant or present in all stands, and typically, no single species can be said to dominate any one stand. Common graminoid species include Agrostis gigantea, Poa palustris, Phleum pratense, Deschampsia cespitosa, Carex hoodii, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex praegracilis, Carex praticola, Carex microptera, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Glyceria striata. Forbs are usually present, and may be diverse, but are never as abundant as the graminoid cover. Forb species include Fragaria virginiana, Potentilla pulcherrima x hippiana, Symphyotrichum foliaceum, Mentha arvensis, Vicia americana, Veronica americana, Mimulus guttatus, Ranunculus cymbalaria, and Epilobium spp.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This cold-deciduous shrubland occurs between 2045 and 2990 m (6700-9800 feet) in elevation. It occurs mostly on moist stream terraces, streambanks, gently sloping wide floodplains or sideslope seeps, and can be associated with beaver ponds. The local micro-topography is highly variable, from smooth to very hummocky. Soil textures range from clay and fine-loams to sandy-skeletal, usually over coarse alluvium. Water tables range from the surface to 80 cm (31 inches), and signs of mottling are common. Some stands received runoff and seepage from irrigated pastures.
Geographic Range: This riparian community is currently known from Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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 A3769 Booth''s Willow - Geyer''s Willow - Yellow Willow Montane Wet Shrubland Alliance A3769 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL001181 Booth''s Willow / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland CEGL001181 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: = Salix boothii / Mesic Graminoid (Padgett et al. 1988b)
< Salix boothii / Mesic Graminoid Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [Includes stands where Salix drummondiana may be dominant, but Salix boothii is present in all stands.]
= Salix boothii / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
< Salix geyeriana Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [Includes stands dominated by Salix boothii with no Salix geyeriana present that would fit within the Salix boothii / Mesic Graminoid concept.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: J. Thompson, J. Stevens, G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-09-05
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