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CEGL002659 Salix monticola / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Park Willow / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is known only from Colorado and Wyoming but may occur in the mountains of New Mexico and Utah. It dominates broad, swift mountain streams with active floodplains at 2000-3350 m (6600-11,000 feet) elevation. Stands usually occur 0.5 m (2 feet) above the bankfull channel up to 15 m (50 feet) away from the stream edge in both narrow and wide valleys (20-120 m [65-400 feet] wide). The soils are fine-textured loams, and the ground surface is usually undulating due to past flooding or beaver activity. Salix monticola is either the dominant or most abundant species in a variable canopy (15-80% total cover). Other shrubs present at higher elevations include Salix planifolia (10-40% cover), Salix geyeriana (2-20% cover), and Salix brachycarpa. Species present at lower elevations include Salix irrorata, Salix lucida ssp. caudata, Alnus incana, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. The herbaceous undergrowth is diverse, with a variety of graminoid and forb species. This association is distinguished from ~Salix monticola / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland (CEGL002658)$$ 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: Classification is based on 14 quantitative plots in the Gunnison and South Platte river basins as well as the San Juan National Forest in Colorado.

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

Floristics: This shrubland association is characterized by a tall (1.5-2.5 m [5-8 feet]), moderately open to dense, deciduous willow canopy with an herbaceous understory that is typically dominated by mixed mesic graminoids. Salix monticola is either the dominant or most abundant species in a variable canopy (7-90% total cover). Other shrubs present at higher elevations include Salix planifolia (2-40% cover), Salix geyeriana (1-30% cover), and Salix brachycarpa (1-5% cover). Species present at lower elevations include Salix irrorata (45% cover), Salix lucida ssp. caudata (= Salix lasiandra ssp. caudata) (1-25% cover), Alnus incana (2-20% cover), Ribes aureum, Ribes inerme, Rubus idaeus, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda). The herbaceous undergrowth is diverse, with a variety of graminoid (grass and grass-like) and forb species. This association is distinguished from ~Salix monticola / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland (CEGL002658)$$ by having a higher cover of graminoid species, including Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata, Carex aquatilis, Carex canescens, Carex microptera, Carex vesicaria, Deschampsia cespitosa, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Juncus effusus, and introduced species Poa pratensis and Phleum pratense (Kittel et al. 1997b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). Some common forb species are Achillea millefolium, Cardamine cordifolia, Conioselinum scopulorum, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum pratense, Dodecatheon pulchellum, Fragaria spp., Heracleum maximum, Mertensia ciliata, and introduced Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium repens. Stands with predominantly non-native graminoid species in the undergrowth are considered grazing-induced.

Dynamics:  This shrubland association appears to be a stable, long-lived community. Stands with an abundance of Poa pratensis or Agrostis stolonifera may be a grazing-induced disclimax. Stands with abundant Salix planifolia may indicate a transition between higher elevational sites dominated by Salix planifolia and lower elevational sites where Salix monticola is more abundant.
Environmental Description:  This plant association occurs along streams in narrow to wide (to 120 m), low-gradient (<3.5%) valley bottoms with active floodplains and broad, swift-moving streams and in narrow canyon bottoms in the foothills to upper subalpine zones of Colorado at elevations ranging from 2000-3350 m (6600-11,000 feet). Stands usually occur more than 0.5 m (2 feet) above the bankfull channel along the stream edge or away from the channel up to 15 m (50 feet). The ground surface is usually undulating due to past flooding or beaver activity. Streams can be fairly steep and narrow with cobble beds (Rosgen''s Channel Type: A4, F4), moderately wide and sinuous with cobble beds (Rosgen''s Channel Type: B3), or broad, meandering rivers with a developed floodplain (Rosgen''s Channel Type: C4). Some stands also occur along channels that are braided due to beaver activity (Rosgen''s Channel Type: D6) (Rosgen 1996). The alluvial soils are fine-textured clay loams and sandy clay loams of varying depths of 10-45 cm (4-18 inches). Mottling and gleyed layers often occur within 12 cm (5 inches) of the ground surface (Kittel et al. 1997b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b).
Geographic Range: This riparian shrubland association is known only from the southern Rocky Mountain of Colorado and Wyoming but may occur in the mountains of New Mexico and Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM?, 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 A0981 Park Willow Wet Shrubland Alliance A0981 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL002659 Park Willow / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland CEGL002659 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 monticola - Salix planifolia / Mesic forb (Kittel et al. 1995)
= Salix monticola / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix monticola / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Salix monticola/Mesic graminoid (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Mountain willow/Mesic Graminoids (Salix monticola/Mesic Graminoids) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Rocky Mountain willow/Mesic Graminoids (Salix monticola/Mesic Graminoids) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
Concept Author(s): R.J. Rondeau

Author of Description: R.J. Rondeau, G. Kittel and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-25-05
  • CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
  • Carsey, K., D. Cooper, K. Decker, D. Culver, and G. Kittel. 2003b. Statewide wetlands classification and characterization: Wetland plant associations of Colorado. Prepared for Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Denver, by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 79 pp. [http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/documents/2003/wetland_classification_final_report_2003.pdf]
  • Carsey, K., G. Kittel, K. Decker, D. J. Cooper, and D. Culver. 2003a. Field guide to the wetland and riparian plant associations of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, A. McMullen, and J. Sanderson. 1999b. A classification of riparian and wetland plant associations of Colorado: A user''s guide to the classification project. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO. 70 pp. plus appendices.
  • Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, and J. Sanderson. 1999a. A classification of the riparian plant associations of the Rio Grande and Closed Basin watersheds, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, and M. Damm. 1997a. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the South Platte Basin (and part of Republican River Basin), Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, and S. Kettler. 1995. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the Gunnison River Basin, Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins. 114 pp.
  • Owns, T., project coordinator, et al. 2004. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. 390 pp.
  • Richard, C., G. Kittel, and S. Kettler. 1996. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the San Juan National Forest. Draft 1 report. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
  • WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.