Print Report
CEGL001197 Salix exigua Riparian Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: Riparian shrublands dominated by Salix exigua with very little understory, very common throughout the western U.S.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Willow Riparian Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This willow shrubland is found throughout the western United States. This is a highly flood-tolerant community that occurs along rivers and streams at lower elevations, on recently flooded riparian areas, and in moist swales and ditches that are frequently disturbed. Stands occur most commonly on alluvial sand, but silt, clay or gravel may also be present. Salix exigua is the dominant canopy species (Salix interior or intermediates of the two willow species may be present in the eastern part of the range). It can form dense stands up to 4 m tall, but there are often patches where the shrub layer is absent. Seedlings and small saplings of Populus deltoides, Populus balsamifera, and Salix amygdaloides may be present. The herbaceous cover is sparse to moderate and rarely exceeds 30%. Species present may include Cenchrus longispinus, Polygonum lapathifolium, Schoenoplectus americanus, Triglochin maritima, and Xanthium strumarium.
In California, the overstory shrub canopy is open to continuous and dominated by Salix exigua, with Rubus armeniacus often present. Trees such as Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus latifolia, and Salix laevigata sometimes occur as scattered emergents. Other shrubs that may be present include Rhus trilobata var. trilobata, Quercus gambelii, Rosa woodsii, Rosa nutkana, Ericameria nauseosa, Arctostaphylos patula, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda The herbaceous layer is typically open and often includes Artemisia douglasiana. The composition of this community, especially the herbaceous layer, varies from year to year with succession or renewed disturbance.
In California, the overstory shrub canopy is open to continuous and dominated by Salix exigua, with Rubus armeniacus often present. Trees such as Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus latifolia, and Salix laevigata sometimes occur as scattered emergents. Other shrubs that may be present include Rhus trilobata var. trilobata, Quercus gambelii, Rosa woodsii, Rosa nutkana, Ericameria nauseosa, Arctostaphylos patula, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda The herbaceous layer is typically open and often includes Artemisia douglasiana. The composition of this community, especially the herbaceous layer, varies from year to year with succession or renewed disturbance.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Dense shrubland dominated by Salix exigua with few other shrubs and very little in the way of herbaceous understory.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type may be an early-successional shrubland that develops into ~Salix exigua / Mesic Graminoids Western Wet Shrubland (CEGL001203)$$, or the two types may be essentially synonymous. These two plant associations occupied a wide geographic range. The range of these types was reviewed and limited to regions west of the Great Plains. Over time, a Great Plains association, ~Salix interior - (Salix exigua) Great Plains Wet Shrubland (CEGL005282)$$, was recognized and further east, in the Central Lowland region, ~Salix interior Wet Shrubland (CEGL008562)$$ was recognized. The western stands may all be composed of Salix exigua (sensu stricto), and Great Plains stands in CEGL005282 may contain either Salix exigua, Salix interior, or intermediates of the two willow species, the Salix interior being distributed entirely in the Great Plains and eastward (Kartesz 1999).
The type can occur in a matrix with cottonwood-dominated forested wetlands on higher bars and emergent vegetation dominated by sedges, cattails, and bulrushes in intermittent overflow channels or oxbows, and along banks. It has been previously reported in the Rocky Mountain region by Kittel (1993), Kittel and Lederer (1993), Kittel et al. (1995, 1996), and Padgett et al. (1988a).
The type can occur in a matrix with cottonwood-dominated forested wetlands on higher bars and emergent vegetation dominated by sedges, cattails, and bulrushes in intermittent overflow channels or oxbows, and along banks. It has been previously reported in the Rocky Mountain region by Kittel (1993), Kittel and Lederer (1993), Kittel et al. (1995, 1996), and Padgett et al. (1988a).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Medium to tall shrublands, often clonal in structure with many stems, and little to no herbaceous cover.
Floristics: This community is dominated by shrubs, generally between 2 and 4 m tall. The most common of these is Salix exigua (Salix interior or intermediates of the two willow species may be present in the eastern part of the range). Salix irrorata, Salix lutea, and saplings of Populus deltoides or Salix amygdaloides are also frequently found in the shrub layer in lower elevation stands. Populus balsamifera seedlings become more common in northern and western stands. Several other shrub species can be present (usually in much lower abundance than Salix exigua), such as Purshia stansburiana (= Purshia mexicana var. stansburiana), Rhus trilobata var. trilobata (= Rhus aromatica var. trilobata), Quercus gambelii, Rosa woodsii, Rosa nutkana, Ericameria nauseosa, Arctostaphylos patula, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. This stratum can have moderate to high stem density in the community as a whole. The species in the shrub layer do not form a closed canopy, allowing significant light to reach the ground layer. There are often patches 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 have greater herbaceous cover. The composition of the herbaceous layer can vary greatly. Species that are often found in this community are Cenchrus longispinus, Polygonum lapathifolium, Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus), Triglochin maritima, Xanthium strumarium, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Eleocharis palustris, Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens), Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, Agrostis scabra, Bromus inermis, Heracleum maximum, Achillea millefolium, Solidago sp., Equisetum arvense, and Linaria vulgaris.
In New Mexico, thickets of Salix exigua range from open to closed and attain heights of 1.5 to 3 m (4-9 feet). Salix irrorata may be common but clearly not dominant. In the densest stands, Salix exigua dominates to the exclusion of other species. Seedlings or young saplings of native Populus deltoides and/or Populus angustifolia are present but usually widely scattered. In some stands, exotic species such as Tamarix ramosissima and Elaeagnus angustifolia are increasing in cover. The herbaceous understory can be diverse (85 species have been recorded for the type), but cover is low. Of the 18 wetland herbaceous species recorded for the type, the most prevalent are Eleocharis palustris, Juncus bufonius, Juncus saximontanus, Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Argentina anserina, Epilobium ciliatum, Equisetum laevigatum, and Mentha arvensis.
In California, the overstory shrub canopy is open to continuous and dominated by Salix exigua, with Rubus armeniacus (= Rubus discolor) often present. Trees such as Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus latifolia, and Salix laevigata sometimes occur as scattered emergents. The herbaceous layer is typically open and often includes Artemisia douglasiana.
In New Mexico, thickets of Salix exigua range from open to closed and attain heights of 1.5 to 3 m (4-9 feet). Salix irrorata may be common but clearly not dominant. In the densest stands, Salix exigua dominates to the exclusion of other species. Seedlings or young saplings of native Populus deltoides and/or Populus angustifolia are present but usually widely scattered. In some stands, exotic species such as Tamarix ramosissima and Elaeagnus angustifolia are increasing in cover. The herbaceous understory can be diverse (85 species have been recorded for the type), but cover is low. Of the 18 wetland herbaceous species recorded for the type, the most prevalent are Eleocharis palustris, Juncus bufonius, Juncus saximontanus, Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Argentina anserina, Epilobium ciliatum, Equisetum laevigatum, and Mentha arvensis.
In California, the overstory shrub canopy is open to continuous and dominated by Salix exigua, with Rubus armeniacus (= Rubus discolor) often present. Trees such as Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus latifolia, and Salix laevigata sometimes occur as scattered emergents. The herbaceous layer is typically open and often includes Artemisia douglasiana.
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, without further flooding disturbance and sediment deposition, this community may not exist for more than 10-20 years before it is replaced by a later seral stage. Because this type is subject to repeated scouring by floods, pioneering herbaceous species are often buried or removed. Woody debris and deep sandy sediments help build the sites by becoming trapped among the basal stems of the willows. These sites are also potential sites for the reproduction of native cottonwoods. As sites develop, succession is initially towards mesic types with the undergrowth dominated by Equisetum spp. or mesic graminoids Scirpus spp. and ultimately toward cottonwoods. Dense stands usually deter livestock, but open stands may be susceptible to overuse resulting in reduced vigor and loss of the willow component in the stand.
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. In New Mexico, this community occurs along wide, low-gradient streams and rivers in foothill regions and in lowland valleys and canyons at low to mid elevations of 1430 to 2266 m (4700- 7450 feet). The type is common on low alluvial bars that are subject to repeated flooding (1- to 5-year recurrence intervals). Soils are poorly stratified and generally consist of a thin layer of sandy loam at the surface overlying deep deposits of sand, gravel, or cobble. Rock fragments comprise upwards of 80% of the soil profile. These well-drained soils provide good aeration and rapid movement of water through the profile. Sites composed mostly of riverwash are moist at the surface for much of the season, while high bars may be dry on the surface, but tend to be moist at depths of 15 to 30 cm (6-12 inches) during most years.
In California, this association has been sampled along the Sacramento River, in the Central Coast Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills, and Cascade Range foothills (Vaghti 2003, Klein et al. 2007). Stands occur along riparian corridors and stream terraces. They usually occupy slope bottoms, occasionally extending to lower slopes that were flat to somewhat steep. Stands usually occur on mixed, sandy, or silty alluvium and infrequently occur on gabbro, granitic, greenstone, sedimentary, slate, or volcanic substrates.
In California, this association has been sampled along the Sacramento River, in the Central Coast Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills, and Cascade Range foothills (Vaghti 2003, Klein et al. 2007). Stands occur along riparian corridors and stream terraces. They usually occupy slope bottoms, occasionally extending to lower slopes that were flat to somewhat steep. Stands usually occur on mixed, sandy, or silty alluvium and infrequently occur on gabbro, granitic, greenstone, sedimentary, slate, or volcanic substrates.
Geographic Range: This willow shrubland community is found along rivers and streams at lower elevations throughout the western United States from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, west to Washington, and south to the Rio Grande, San Juan and Canadian River watersheds in northern New Mexico. In California, this association occurs along the Sacramento River, in the Central Coast Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills, and Cascade Range foothills.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685547
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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.a Narrowleaf Willow - Hawthorn species - Stretchberry Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Riparian Shrubland Group | G526 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.a |
| Alliance | A3800 Narrowleaf Willow - Dewystem Willow Shrubland Alliance | A3800 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.a |
| Association | CEGL001197 Narrowleaf Willow Riparian Wet Shrubland | CEGL001197 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.a |
Concept Lineage: combined with this type
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Salix exigua / Artemisia douglasiana (Borchert et al. 2004)
? Salix exigua (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.209.01]
= Salix exigua Association (Vaghti 2003)
= Salix exigua Association (Klein et al. 2007)
= Salix exigua Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Salix exigua Temporarily Flooded Shrubland (Kittel and Lederer 1993)
= Salix exigua Temporarily Flooded Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Salix exigua association (Crawford 2003) [10 plots]
? Coyote willow association (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.137)]
? Salix exigua (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.209.01]
= Salix exigua Association (Vaghti 2003)
= Salix exigua Association (Klein et al. 2007)
= Salix exigua Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Salix exigua Temporarily Flooded Shrubland (Kittel and Lederer 1993)
= Salix exigua Temporarily Flooded Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Salix exigua association (Crawford 2003) [10 plots]
? Coyote willow association (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.137)]
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