Print Report
CEGL008562 Salix interior Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: Riparian shrublands dominated by Salix interior widespread in the Central Lowlands, (, the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain, and Appalachian Mountains.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sandbar Willow Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Sandbar Willow Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This willow shrubland community is found scattered along rivers and streams at lower elevations in parts of the Central Lowlands, the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain, and the Appalachians. This type represents an early-successional stage of temporarily flooded riparian vegetation that occurs most commonly on alluvial sands. The substrate may also contain silts, clays, and/or gravels. The canopy is dominated by Salix interior, which can form dense stands up to 4 m tall. There are often areas where the shrub layer is absent. Seedlings and small saplings of Populus deltoides or Platanus occidentalis may be present. The herbaceous cover is sparse to moderate, but rarely exceeds 30%. Species present include Polygonum lapathifolium, Eupatorium spp., Schoenoplectus americanus, and Xanthium strumarium. The composition of this community, especially the herbaceous layer, varies from year to year with succession or renewed disturbance.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian and other wetlands dominated by Salix interior with little herbaceous understory.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type represents an earlier seral stage of temporarily flooded riparian alluvial shrubland.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Medium to tall shrublands 1-4 m in height, with no or <30% herbaceous cover.
Floristics: This community is dominated by Salix interior. Saplings of Populus deltoides or Platanus occidentalis are also frequently found in the shrub layer. This stratum can have moderate to high stem density in overall composition of the community. The species in the shrub layer do not form a closed canopy, this allows significant light to reach the ground layer. Patches are also frequently found where the shrub layer is absent. The herbaceous cover is sparse to moderate, but rarely exceeds 30%. Older stands and places with less competition from the shrubs may have greater herbaceous cover. The composition of the herbaceous layer can vary greatly; species that are often found in this community include Polygonum lapathifolium, Eupatorium spp., Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus), and Xanthium strumarium.
In eastern Nebraska, Steinauer and Rolfsmeier (2003) report that Amorpha fruticosa, Cornus sericea, and Salix lutea are also present in the shrub layer. In the herbaceous layer they report the following species: Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Carex emoryi, Carex pellita, Phyla lanceolata (= Lippia lanceolata), Lycopus americanus, Polygonum spp., Rumex spp., Schoenoplectus pungens, Spartina pectinata, and Urtica dioica. They note that Amorpha fruticosa, Phyla lanceolata, Salix interior, and Spartina pectinata are diagnostic. They also describe three vegetation zones: (1) a low wet zone along river channels dominated by Salix interior, (2) a willow shrubland zone on sandbars and banks slightly above the river channel dominated by Salix interior with Amorpha fruticosa more common, and (3) a false indigobush/willow shrubland zone on drier sandbars and banks with Amorpha fruticosa (indigobush) equally or more common than Salix interior.
In eastern Nebraska, Steinauer and Rolfsmeier (2003) report that Amorpha fruticosa, Cornus sericea, and Salix lutea are also present in the shrub layer. In the herbaceous layer they report the following species: Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Carex emoryi, Carex pellita, Phyla lanceolata (= Lippia lanceolata), Lycopus americanus, Polygonum spp., Rumex spp., Schoenoplectus pungens, Spartina pectinata, and Urtica dioica. They note that Amorpha fruticosa, Phyla lanceolata, Salix interior, and Spartina pectinata are diagnostic. They also describe three vegetation zones: (1) a low wet zone along river channels dominated by Salix interior, (2) a willow shrubland zone on sandbars and banks slightly above the river channel dominated by Salix interior with Amorpha fruticosa more common, and (3) a false indigobush/willow shrubland zone on drier sandbars and banks with Amorpha fruticosa (indigobush) equally or more common than Salix interior.
Dynamics: This type originates after flash floods that create new deposits or scour existing alluvial material. This community is a primary or early secondary community and requires floods to create new areas on which it can develop. Once established, this community may exist for only about 10-20 years before it is replaced by a later seral stage. But it is rare for this community to have such a long interval between flooding disturbance, as long as flooding occurs every 3-5 years, this community will persist.
Environmental Description: This community is found on recently deposited or disturbed alluvial material. The parent material is alluvial sand, although silt, clay, or gravel may be present. Soil development is poor to absent.
Geographic Range: This sandbar willow shrubland community is found along rivers and streams at lower elevations in parts of the Central Lowlands, and parts of the Appalachians, ranging sporadically from eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois south to Oklahoma and Arkansas, and northeast at least to Kentucky. The species ranges north into Canada (Kartesz 1999), but there is no information indicating that it forms stands worthy of recognition as a community anywhere northeast of Kentucky.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AR, IA, IL?, KY?, MB, MN, ND, NE, OK, SD, TN?, TX, WI?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684969
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D323 | 2.C.4.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nd.3 Eastern North American Wet Shoreline Vegetation Macrogroup | M880 | 2.C.4.Nd.3 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.3.a Eastern North American Riverine Wetland Vegetation Group | G755 | 2.C.4.Nd.3.a |
| Alliance | A3646 Sandbar Willow Sand-Gravel Floodplain Shrubland Alliance | A3646 | 2.C.4.Nd.3.a |
| Association | CEGL008562 Sandbar Willow Wet Shrubland | CEGL008562 | 2.C.4.Nd.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Gravel Bar Type (Dale and Kuroda 1979)
= P4B3cI2a. Salix exigua (Foti et al. 1994)
= P4B3cI2a. Salix exigua (Foti et al. 1994)
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