Print Report
CEGL000489 Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii - Symphoricarpos albus Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Birch / Lewis'' Mock Orange - Common Snowberry Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riparian shrubland or short woodland community is known from low elevations of 427 to 1037 m (1400-3400 feet) in the Columbia Plateau and adjacent foothills in Oregon and Washington. This association generally appears well below treeline and within steppe or shrub-steppe settings, and is usually found on upper stream terraces, although it can occur on toeslopes or in the active floodplain. Short Betula occidentalis trees or tall shrubs, 4 to 9 m (15-30 feet) tall, form a dense to open woody layer usually with Philadelphus lewisii and/or Symphoricarpos albus. The shrub layer sometimes contains high cover of Prunus virginiana, Ribes aureum, Clematis ligusticifolia, Rosa woodsii, Rosa nutkana, or Holodiscus discolor. Toxicodendron rydbergii is abundant on more moist sites. The sparse herbaceous layer can have Maianthemum stellatum in abundance.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: As recognized here, this includes Crowe et al.''s (2002) Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii and the Betula occidentalis / Symphoricarpos albus of Crawford (2001). This association differs from other Betula occidentalis types in having moderate to high relative cover of Symphoricarpos albus and more species indicative of fine-textured soils, such as Maianthemum stellatum.
In contrast, ~Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii Wet Shrubland (CEGL002668)$$ of the USNVC is associated with less stable fluvial surfaces, in warmer drier settings that are out of forested areas. It also occurs on rockier gravelly soils compared to sites supporting Symphoricarpos albus and is not particularly forb-rich. Flood regimes are more intermittent streams. ~Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii - Symphoricarpos albus Wet Shrubland (CEGL000489)$$ occurs in warmer, drier settings, both in landscape context and stream hydrology, and on higher stream terraces (less flood prone) than ~Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii Wet Shrubland (CEGL002668)$$. In addition, the soils are less gravelly or have more fine-textured components which support a different forb flora. These two types appear to be relatively distinct, although they likely form complex systems with ~Betula occidentalis / Cornus sericea Wet Shrubland (CEGL001161)$$ in the field.
In contrast, ~Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii Wet Shrubland (CEGL002668)$$ of the USNVC is associated with less stable fluvial surfaces, in warmer drier settings that are out of forested areas. It also occurs on rockier gravelly soils compared to sites supporting Symphoricarpos albus and is not particularly forb-rich. Flood regimes are more intermittent streams. ~Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii - Symphoricarpos albus Wet Shrubland (CEGL000489)$$ occurs in warmer, drier settings, both in landscape context and stream hydrology, and on higher stream terraces (less flood prone) than ~Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii Wet Shrubland (CEGL002668)$$. In addition, the soils are less gravelly or have more fine-textured components which support a different forb flora. These two types appear to be relatively distinct, although they likely form complex systems with ~Betula occidentalis / Cornus sericea Wet Shrubland (CEGL001161)$$ in the field.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Short Betula occidentalis trees or tall shrubs, 4 to 9 m (15-30 feet) tall, form a dense to open woody layer usually with Philadelphus lewisii and/or Symphoricarpos albus. The shrub layer sometimes contains high cover of Prunus virginiana, Ribes aureum, Clematis ligusticifolia, Rosa woodsii, Rosa nutkana, or Holodiscus discolor. Toxicodendron rydbergii is abundant on more moist sites. The sparse herbaceous layer can have Maianthemum stellatum in abundance.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This riparian shrubland or short woodland community is known from low elevations of 427 to 1037 m (1400-3400 feet) in the Columbia Plateau and adjacent foothills in Oregon and Washington. This association generally appears well below treeline and within steppe or shrub-steppe settings, and is usually found on upper stream terraces, although it can occur on toeslopes or in the active floodplain.
Geographic Range: This association is found in scattered locations at low to moderate elevations of the Columbia Plateau in Oregon and Washington, and the foothills of the Blue Mountains of Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683933
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2
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 | A3772 Water Birch Wet Shrubland Alliance | A3772 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL000489 Water Birch / Lewis'' Mock Orange - Common Snowberry Wet Shrubland | CEGL000489 | 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: = Betula occidentalis - Philadelphus lewisii - Amelanchier alnifolia - Symporicarpos albus Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii (Crowe et al. 2002)
= Betula occidentalis / Symphoricarpos albus (Crawford 2001)
= Betula occidentalis / Philadelphus lewisii (Crowe et al. 2002)
= Betula occidentalis / Symphoricarpos albus (Crawford 2001)
- Crawford, R. C. 2001. Initial riparian and wetland classification and characterization of the Columbia Basin in Washington. Prepared for Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management, Spokane District. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. 83 pp.
- 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., B. Kovalchik, M. J. Kerr, J. Titus, and J. S. Kagan. 2002. Riparian and wetland plant communities of eastern Oregon. Draft report. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland, OR.
- Jankovsky-Jones, M., C. J. Murphy, and C. L. Coulter. 2001. Riparian and wetland plant associations of southwestern Idaho in the Lower Snake River District, Bureau of Land Management. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise.
- 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.
- 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.