Print Report

CEGL001222 Salix monticola / Calamagrostis canadensis Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

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

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant association occurs along broad floodplains and narrow streams in the montane to upper montane elevations of Colorado. The elevational range is 2530-2865 m (8300-9400 feet). Stands have a shrub layer 1.5-2 m (4-5 feet) tall with a typically closed canopy of willows and a lush undergrowth of grasses. The dense shrub layer is dominated by Salix monticola. Other shrubs that may be present include Salix drummondiana, Salix wolfii, Salix geyeriana, and Salix boothii. Calamagrostis canadensis dominates a sparse to dense graminoid layer. Other graminoids that may be present include Carex aquatilis, Carex utriculata, Carex microptera, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Glyceria grandis. Canopy cover for forb species is usually very sparse (<1%). Forb species may include Cardamine cordifolia, Geranium richardsonii, Mertensia ciliata, Oxypolis fendleri, Geum macrophyllum, Solidago canadensis, Senecio bigelovii, and Galium boreale.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is only known from Colorado. Salix monticola appears to be at the center of its distribution in Colorado, where it frequently forms large thickets with few other willow species present. Literature from Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon indicate that Salix monticola is less important north and west of Colorado, where Salix monticola mixes with other species of Salix.

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

Floristics: This riparian plant association has dense a shrub layer 1.5-2 m (4-5 feet) tall with a typically closed canopy of willows and a lush undergrowth of grasses. The dense shrub layer is dominated by Salix monticola. Other shrubs that may be present include Salix drummondiana, Salix wolfii, Salix geyeriana, and Salix boothii. Calamagrostis canadensis dominates a sparse to dense graminoid layer. Other graminoids that may be present include Carex aquatilis, Carex utriculata, Carex microptera, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Glyceria grandis. Canopy cover for forb species is usually very sparse (<1%). Forb species may include Cardamine cordifolia, Geranium richardsonii, Mertensia ciliata, Oxypolis fendleri, Geum macrophyllum, Solidago canadensis, Senecio bigelovii, and Galium boreale (Kittel et al. 1997b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This plant association occurs along streams in narrow to wide (to 300 m), low-gradient (<3.5%) valley bottoms and floodplains in the montane to upper montane zones of Colorado at elevations from 2340-2900 m (7690-9400 feet). In wider valleys, large stands of this association occur between meanders and at the edges of beaver ponds. Stream channels are variable, ranging from steep and narrow (Rosgen''s Channel Type: A4) to moderately steep and wide (Rosgen''s Channel Type: B4), wide and sinuous (Rosgen''s Channel Type: C3, C4), and braided from beaver activity (Rosgen''s Channel Type: D6) (Kittel et al. 1997b). Soils are typically finely textured sandy clays to silty clay loams, often saturated to within 30 cm (10 inches) of the surface but can also be silty loams over sand and coarse sand. Mottling often occurs at 20-40 cm (5-15 inches) depth. Soils in the Colorado River Basin classify as Fluventic Cryoborolls and Oxyaquic Cryorthents (Kittel et al. 1997b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b).
Geographic Range: This association is known only from Colorado.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM?


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 CEGL001222 Park Willow / Bluejoint Wet Shrubland CEGL001222 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 - Calamagrostis canadensis Alliance (Cooper and Cottrell 1990)
= Salix monticola / Calamagrostis canadensis Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Salix monticola / Calamagrostis canadensis Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix monticola/Calamagrostis canadensis (Kittel et al. 1999b)
>< Salix pseudomonticola var. padophylla Plant Association (Andrews 1983) [Plots #8. Note that Salix pseudomonticola var. padophylla is synonym for Salix monticola (Kartesz 1994b).]
= Geyer willow-Rocky Mountain willow (Salix geyeriana-Salix monticola/Calamagrostis canadensis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
= Mountain willow/bluejoint reedgrass (Salix monticola/Calamagrostis canadensis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
Concept Author(s): J. Thompson and J. Stevens

Author of Description: J. Thompson, J. Stevens, K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-25-05
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