Print Report
CEGL002648 Populus angustifolia / Symphoricarpos (albus, occidentalis, oreophilus) Riparian Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Cottonwood / (Common Snowberry, Western Snowberry, Mountain Snowberry) Riparian Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This deciduous forest occurs on narrow montane valley floodplains, on upper terraces, outer edges of floodplains, on alluvial bars of major rivers, along terraces of flashy washes, as well as around lakes and ponds. It occurs between 945 and 2550 m (3100-8350 feet) elevation. Soils are shallow to deep, fine-textured sandy loams and clay loams over coarser materials. Few to many coarse fragments occur in the upper soil layers. This deciduous forest is dominated by a very open to nearly closed canopy of mature Populus angustifolia, Populus x acuminata, or Populus x intercurrens. Other trees present may include Juniperus scopulorum, Populus balsamifera, Populus tremuloides, Picea pungens, Pinus ponderosa, or Pinus contorta. The shrub layer in mesic stands is dominated by one of several species of Symphoricarpos: Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Other shrub species that may be scattered but never as abundant as Symphoricarpos include Prunus virginiana, Quercus gambelii, Cornus sericea, Ribes lacustre, Ribes cereum, Rosa woodsii, Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, and Salix bebbiana. Graminoids and forbs present include Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, Elymus spp., Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eriogonum umbellatum, Cirsium arvense, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Melilotus officinalis, Maianthemum stellatum, Solidago canadensis, and Achillea millefolium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: We include stands dominated by Populus angustifolia, Populus x intercurrens, or Populus x acuminata, the cross between broadleaf cottonwoods and narrowleaf cottonwoods at higher elevations, and any species of Symphoricarpos, because they all occupy a similar ecological niche within the riparian zone, that is, the higher, older terraces. Symphoricarpos species are wide-ranging across the West and even into the Midwest, while the cottonwood dominating the overstory is the better indicator for the geographic distribution of the association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This deciduous forest is dominated by a very open to nearly closed canopy of mature Populus angustifolia. Other trees present may include Juniperus scopulorum, Populus balsamifera, Populus tremuloides, Populus x intercurrens, or Populus x acuminata, the cross between broadleaf cottonwoods and narrowleaf cottonwoods at higher elevations, Picea pungens, Pinus ponderosa, or Pinus contorta. The shrub layer in mesic stands is dominated by one of several species of Symphoricarpos: Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Other shrub species that may be scattered but never as abundant as Symphoricarpos include Prunus virginiana, Quercus gambelii, Cornus sericea, Ribes lacustre, Ribes cereum, Rosa woodsii, Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, and Salix bebbiana. Graminoids and forbs present include Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, Elymus spp., Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eriogonum umbellatum, Cirsium arvense, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Melilotus officinalis, Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Solidago canadensis, and Achillea millefolium.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This deciduous forest occurs on narrow montane valley floodplains, on upper terraces, outer edges of floodplains, on alluvial bars of major rivers, along terraces of flashy washes, as well as around lakes and ponds. It occurs between 945 and 2550 m (3100-8350 feet) elevation. Soils are shallow to deep, fine-textured sandy loams and clay loams over coarser materials. Few to many coarse fragments occur in the upper soil layers. Populus angustifolia occupies elevations above broad-leaved cottonwoods in Colorado and Wyoming, and between the range of black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, which is higher) and plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides, at lower elevations) in Montana and Idaho.
Geographic Range: This forest association is found in Front Range canyons of Colorado, and in southern Utah High Plateau flashy riparian areas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686612
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2Q
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group | G506 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3759 Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian Forest Alliance | A3759 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002648 Narrowleaf Cottonwood / (Common Snowberry, Western Snowberry, Mountain Snowberry) Riparian Woodland | CEGL002648 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus angustifolia / Symphoricarpos albus Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus angustifolia / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Populus angustifolia / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997)
= Populus angustifolia/Symphoricarpos spp. (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Populus angustifolia / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Populus angustifolia / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997)
= Populus angustifolia/Symphoricarpos spp. (Kittel et al. 1999b)
- 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., 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.
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Hall, J. B., and P. L. Hansen. 1997. A preliminary riparian habitat type classification system for the Bureau of Land Management districts in southern and eastern Idaho. Riparian and Wetland Research Program, School of Forestry, University of Montana. Idaho Bureau of Land Management, Technical Bulletin No. 97-11. 381 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
- 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., R. Rondeau, N. Lederer, and D. Randolph. 1994. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the White and Colorado River basins, Colorado. Final report submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Boulder. 166 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.