Print Report
CEGL001218 Salix ligulifolia Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Strapleaf Willow Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a medium to tall (1.5-3 m [5-15 feet]) willow shrubland occurring in saturated areas at elevations of 1424 to 3295 m (4700 -10,800 feet). It occurs in the wettest part of the riparian zone, usually adjacent to the channel on low point bars, islands, and overflow channels. At higher elevations, it occurs in relatively broad valley bottoms along low terraces and floodplains, and along streambanks of narrower reaches. At lower elevations, it occurs generally directly in the stream channel, on the rims of slickrock potholes and other wet valley bottoms. Soils are saturated sandy loams and clay loams with a high organic matter content in the upper layers. Salix ligulifolia is found in mixed stands with other willows such as Salix monticola, Salix geyeriana, and Salix drummondiana. Salix ligulifolia is the key diagnostic species; other willows may have equal cover, but in general do not exceed that of Salix ligulifolia. The herbaceous undergrowth can be dense in undisturbed stands with Carex utriculata, Carex nebrascensis, Carex pellita, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Calamagrostis canadensis. Forb cover is generally low. ~Salix exigua - Salix ligulifolia Wet Shrubland (CEGL002655)$$ is a closely related association occurring in the Colorado foothills at lower elevations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The stand at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is borderline between the foothills ~Salix exigua - Salix ligulifolia Wet Shrubland (CEGL002655)$$ and the montane ~Salix ligulifolia Wet Shrubland (CEGL001218)$$ in Colorado. The overwhelming abundance of Salix ligulifolia (60%) to relatively low cover of Salix exigua (<10%), and the elevation (2560 m [8400 feet]) place it in the upper elevation Salix ligulifolia shrubland.
Dorn (1995) has combined Salix lutea and Salix ligulifolia (as used in Colorado literature) into Salix eriocephala. Nearly all Colorado specimens called Salix lutea and Salix ligulifolia have been placed into Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia, which Kartesz (1999) treats as Salix ligulifolia. Salix lutea specimens found in the extreme northwestern part of Colorado (north of Dinosaur National Monument) have been renamed Salix eriocephala var. watsonii (Dorn 1995), and Salix lutea specimens from extreme northeastern Colorado (along the South Platte River near Julesberg) have been renamed Salix eriocephala var. famelica (Dorn 1995). Kartesz (1999) accepts Salix lutea and Salix ligulifolia as valid species, and places Salix eriocephala var. watsonii and Salix eriocephala var. famelica into Salix lutea. Except for those found in the extreme northwest and northeast of Colorado, Colorado specimens of Salix lutea, Salix ligulifolia, and Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia are called Salix ligulifolia by the Kartesz (1999) treatment.
Salix lutea (sensu Welsh et al. 1987) and Salix eriocephala (sensu Welsh et al. 2003) are, according to Welsh et al., Salix ligulifolia, and thus Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia. Dorn (1995), however, places nearly all Utah specimens in Salix eriocephala var. watsonii. To keep with local consistency, we will follow Welsh et al.''s treatment, which by Kartesz (1999) would equal Salix ligulifolia.
Several closely related Salix lutea-dominated community types occur in Montana (Hansen et al. 1995), eastern Wyoming and western Idaho (Youngblood et al. 1985a), and in Nevada (Manning and Padgett 1995). These communities would be dominated by Salix eriocephala var. watsonii, if we apply Dorn''s (1995) nomenclature.
Dorn (1995) has combined Salix lutea and Salix ligulifolia (as used in Colorado literature) into Salix eriocephala. Nearly all Colorado specimens called Salix lutea and Salix ligulifolia have been placed into Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia, which Kartesz (1999) treats as Salix ligulifolia. Salix lutea specimens found in the extreme northwestern part of Colorado (north of Dinosaur National Monument) have been renamed Salix eriocephala var. watsonii (Dorn 1995), and Salix lutea specimens from extreme northeastern Colorado (along the South Platte River near Julesberg) have been renamed Salix eriocephala var. famelica (Dorn 1995). Kartesz (1999) accepts Salix lutea and Salix ligulifolia as valid species, and places Salix eriocephala var. watsonii and Salix eriocephala var. famelica into Salix lutea. Except for those found in the extreme northwest and northeast of Colorado, Colorado specimens of Salix lutea, Salix ligulifolia, and Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia are called Salix ligulifolia by the Kartesz (1999) treatment.
Salix lutea (sensu Welsh et al. 1987) and Salix eriocephala (sensu Welsh et al. 2003) are, according to Welsh et al., Salix ligulifolia, and thus Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia. Dorn (1995), however, places nearly all Utah specimens in Salix eriocephala var. watsonii. To keep with local consistency, we will follow Welsh et al.''s treatment, which by Kartesz (1999) would equal Salix ligulifolia.
Several closely related Salix lutea-dominated community types occur in Montana (Hansen et al. 1995), eastern Wyoming and western Idaho (Youngblood et al. 1985a), and in Nevada (Manning and Padgett 1995). These communities would be dominated by Salix eriocephala var. watsonii, if we apply Dorn''s (1995) nomenclature.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association has a canopy dominated by 15-66% cover of Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia) usually mixed with several other willow species. Salix ligulifolia is the key diagnostic species; other willows may have equal cover, but in general do not exceed that of Salix ligulifolia. Other willows that may be present include Salix monticola, Salix geyeriana, Salix bebbiana, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, Salix exigua, Salix wolfii, and Salix planifolia. Additional shrubs that may be present include Alnus incana, Cornus sericea, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda). The herbaceous undergrowth can be dense in undisturbed stands with Carex utriculata (1-40%), Carex nebrascensis (1-5%), Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa) (1-3%), Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus) (1-20%), and Calamagrostis canadensis (1-27%). Forb cover is generally low. Forb cover is generally low, but some species are abundant, including Taraxacum officinale, Achillea millefolium, Thalictrum fendleri, and Fragaria virginiana.
Dynamics: Salix ligulifolia is highly palatable to livestock, therefore, season-long grazing, especially late summer and early fall browsing, should be avoided in order to maintain the vigor of woody species (Hansen et al. 1995). Overuse by livestock may cause the site to dry and become dominated by introduced grass species such as Poa pratensis or Bromus inermis (Manning and Padgett 1995). With continued overuse, the willow species will decline and eventually become eliminated from the site (Hansen et al. 1995). Beaver can be important in maintaining this plant association. Beaver dams raise the water table, which is beneficial to willow and sedge species as well as other hydrophytic plants. Beaver dams also help control bank erosion, channel downcutting, and the loss of sediment downstream (Hansen et al. 1995).
Prescribed fires may be useful for rejuvenating Salix ligulifolia since this willow vigorously sprouts after burning, especially in wetter areas (Hansen et al. 1995). Willow roots provide streambank stability and should be considered by managers for streambank restabilization projects and revegetation purposes (Hansen et al. 1995, Padgett et al. 1989).
This association appears to be long-lived, mid- to late-seral type since stands are associated with beaver activity and saturated soils throughout the growing season.
Prescribed fires may be useful for rejuvenating Salix ligulifolia since this willow vigorously sprouts after burning, especially in wetter areas (Hansen et al. 1995). Willow roots provide streambank stability and should be considered by managers for streambank restabilization projects and revegetation purposes (Hansen et al. 1995, Padgett et al. 1989).
This association appears to be long-lived, mid- to late-seral type since stands are associated with beaver activity and saturated soils throughout the growing season.
Environmental Description: This willow association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains and on the Colorado Plateau in moderately wide valleys along low terraces and floodplains, and streambanks of narrower reaches. The plant association occurs along reaches with vegetated islands between multiple channels below an active beaver pond (Rosgen''s Channel Type: D3), along slightly sinuous broad channels (Rosgen''s Channel Type: B2, B4), along more sinuous channels with well-developed floodplains (Rosgen''s Channel Type: C4), and along steep narrow gullies (Rosgen''s Channel Type: G3) (Rosgen 1996). Soils are saturated sandy loams and clay loams with a high organic matter content in the upper layers.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the mountains of Colorado, on the high plateaus of southern Utah and lower elevations on the Colorado Plateau in central and eastern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM?, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685319
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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 | CEGL001218 Strapleaf Willow Wet Shrubland | CEGL001218 | 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 eriocephala var. ligulifolia (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia / Mesic Graminoid Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1996)
= Salix ligulifolia (=S. eriocephala var. ligulifolia) Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix ligulifolia - Salix monticola Plant Association (Richard et al. 1996)
= Strapleaf willow (Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Yellow willow (Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1996)
= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia / Mesic Graminoid Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1996)
= Salix ligulifolia (=S. eriocephala var. ligulifolia) Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix ligulifolia - Salix monticola Plant Association (Richard et al. 1996)
= Strapleaf willow (Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Yellow willow (Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1996)
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