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CEGL001180 Salix boothii / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

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

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is known from southern and central Idaho, western Montana, western Colorado, Utah, California, and Wyoming. Stands are found over a broad range of elevations from 1370-3050 m (4500-10,000 feet), in riparian areas on stream benches, meadows, and seeps located in narrow or broad valley bottoms. Soils are often organic. The vegetation has a 1- to 2-m tall-shrub layer that often forms extensive thickets, or willow carrs, on broad montane floodplains. The overstory of this shrubland association is dominated by Salix boothii. Salix geyeriana or Salix drummondiana may codominate. Salix wolfii, Lonicera involucrata, and/or Ribes inerme commonly form a low-shrub layer, generally tucked under the bases of the taller willows. The dense herbaceous understory is dominated by forbs. No one species in dominant or consistently present in all stands; however, when taken together, the total forb cover is greater than the total graminoid cover. Forb species typically include Heracleum maximum, Mertensia spp., Maianthemum stellatum, Symphyotrichum foliaceum, Aconitum columbianum, Cirsium arvense, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, Hydrophyllum fendleri, Urtica dioica, and Rudbeckia occidentalis. Although highly variable, graminoid cover is typically less than 20%. Graminoid species include Poa pratensis, Carex microptera, Calamagrostis canadensis, Agrostis gigantea, and Phleum pratense.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: The vegetation has a 1- to 2-m tall-shrub layer that often forms extensive thickets, or willow carrs, on broad montane floodplains. The overstory of this shrubland association is dominated by Salix boothii. Salix geyeriana or Salix drummondiana may codominate. Salix wolfii, Lonicera involucrata, and/or Ribes inerme commonly form a low-shrub layer. The dense herbaceous understory is dominated by forbs. No one species in dominant or consistently present in all stands; however, when taken together, the total forb cover is greater than the total graminoid cover. Forb species typically include Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Mertensia spp., Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Symphyotrichum foliaceum, Aconitum columbianum, Cirsium arvense, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, Hydrophyllum fendleri, Urtica dioica, and Rudbeckia occidentalis. Although highly variable, graminoid cover is typically less than 20%. Graminoid species include Poa pratensis, Carex microptera, Calamagrostis canadensis, Agrostis gigantea, and Phleum pratense.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands are found over a broad range of elevations from 1370-3050 m (4500-10,000 feet), and in riparian areas on stream benches, meadows, and seeps located in narrow or broad valley bottoms. Soils are often organic.
Geographic Range: This association is known from Colorado, Utah, Idaho, California, and possibly Wyoming.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, 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 A3769 Booth''s Willow - Geyer''s Willow - Yellow Willow Montane Wet Shrubland Alliance A3769 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL001180 Booth''s Willow / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland CEGL001180 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 Forb Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Salix boothii / Mesic Forb Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997b)
= Salix boothii / Mesic Forb Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix boothii/Mesic Forb (Kittel et al. 1999b)
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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