Print Report

CEGL001192 Salix drummondiana / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Drummond''s Willow / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian shrubland most commonly occurs on relatively steep streams and rarely forms more than a narrow, 1.5- to 7.5-m (5-25 feet) wide band along streambanks. It is known from the mountains of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, from 960-3450 m (3150-11,300 feet). It occurs in narrow, V-shaped valleys as a dense, narrow band along high-gradient (1-41%) streams and as large willow shrublands in broad valleys, 50-305 m (150-1000 feet) wide, along low-gradient (1-3%), moderately sinuous streams. Stands also occur along broad, highly sinuous streams and broad, actively down-cutting channels. This association can also occur near seeps. Soils range from deep sandy loams and sandy clay loams with no coarse fragments to shallow silty clay loams and sandy clay loams over coarse, angular cobbles. The closed to partially open canopy of Salix drummondiana and a thick carpet of many forb species, with no single species dominant nor consistently present, characterize this plant association.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Without catkins Salix drummondiana can be difficult to distinguish from the similar looking Salix geyeriana. Both species are tall, greater than 2 m (5 feet), montane willows with strongly pruinose (a waxy covering that rubs off, similar to the coating on a plum) current-year twigs. However, the two species can be distinguished using only vegetative characters. Salix geyeriana leaves are never more than 13 mm wide and Salix drummondiana leaves are, on average, over 13 mm wide (on nonsucker shoots) (Welsh et al. 1987).

Closely related communities include: the Salix boothii / mesic forb community type (Padgett et al. 1989) which includes stands dominated by Salix drummondiana, the Salix boothii / Smilacina stellata community type (Youngblood et al. 1985a), which also includes stands dominated by Salix drummondiana, and the Salix drummondiana community type (Manning and Padgett 1995), which does not appear to have any significant forb undergrowth.

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

Floristics: Salix drummondiana forms an open to closed canopy of tall shrubs lining the streambank with 20-98% cover. Several other shrub species may be present, some with equal cover, but none that exceed that of Salix drummondiana. Other shrub species that may be present include Salix brachycarpa, Salix planifolia, and Alnus incana in Colorado, and Salix glauca, Ribes lacustre, Lonicera involucrata, and Alnus viridis in Montana. Mature trees may be present, not forming a true overhead canopy, but a few individuals may be scattered about the shrubland or with their canopy leaning over from an adjacent forested association. Tree species that may be present include Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, Populus angustifolia, and Populus tremuloides. The herbaceous undergrowth in some stands is sparse due to heavy shade and shallow soils. Other stands have a rich diversity of forbs and graminoids in the undergrowth. In general, total forb cover exceeds that of graminoid cover, and no single species is dominant. Forb species include Mertensia ciliata, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Thalictrum occidentale, Cardamine cordifolia, Oxypolis fendleri, Hydrophyllum fendleri, Galium triflorum, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Saxifraga odontoloma, Solidago canadensis, Angelica arguta, Cirsium arvense, Delphinium x occidentale, Eucephalus engelmannii, Ligusticum filicinum, Maianthemum stellatum, Valeriana occidentalis, and Delphinium barbeyi. Graminoid species include Carex utriculata, Equisetum arvense, and Calamagrostis canadensis.

Dynamics:  More disturbed stands tend to have a higher number and abundance of increaser non-native forbs such as Cirsium, Taraxacum, and non-native Galium species.
Environmental Description:  This riparian shrubland most commonly occurs on relatively steep streams and typically forming a narrow, 1.5- to 7.5-m (5-25 feet) band along streambanks, from 960-3500 m (3150-11,300 feet) in elevation. It occurs in narrow, V-shaped valleys as a dense, narrow band along high-gradient (1-41%) streams, but can also occur as large willow shrublands in broad valleys, 50-300 m (150-1000 feet) wide, along low-gradient (1-3%), moderately sinuous streams. It also occurs along broad, highly sinuous streams and broad, actively down-cutting channels. This association also occur near seeps. Soils range from deep sandy loams and sandy clay loams with no coarse fragments to shallow silty clay loams and sandy clay loams over coarse, angular cobbles.
Geographic Range: This plant association occurs in Colorado, Montana and Alberta, Canada. It is likely to be more widespread, but is currently undocumented elsewhere.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CO, MT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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 CEGL001192 Drummond''s Willow / Mesic Forbs Wet Shrubland CEGL001192 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 drummondiana - Salix monticola Community Type (Phillips 1977)
= Salix drummondiana / Mertensia ciliata Association (Cooper and Cottrell 1990)
= Salix drummondiana / Mesic Forb Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix drummondiana/Mesic forb (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Drummond willow/Mesic Forbs (Salix drummondiana/Mesic Forbs) (Kittel et al. 1999a)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-16-05
  • ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
  • Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
  • 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.
  • Cooper, D. J., and T. R. Cottrell. 1990. Classification of riparian vegetation in the northern Colorado Front Range. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Field Office, Boulder. 115 pp.
  • Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
  • Kittel, G. M., and N. D. Lederer. 1993. A preliminary classification of the riparian vegetation of the Yampa and San Miguel/Dolores river basins. Unpublished report prepared for Colorado Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency by The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Field Office, Boulder.
  • 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., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, and J. Sanderson. 1999a. A classification of the riparian plant associations of the Rio Grande and Closed Basin watersheds, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • 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.
  • Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, and A. McMullen. 1996. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the Lower South Platte and parts of the Upper Arkansas River basins, Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins. 243 pp.
  • Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, and S. Kettler. 1995. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the Gunnison River Basin, Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins. 114 pp.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • Manning, M. E., and W. G. Padgett. 1995. Riparian community type classification for Humboldt and Toiyabe national forests, Nevada and eastern California. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region. 306 pp.
  • Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah and southeastern Idaho. Research Paper R4-ECOL-89-0. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
  • Phillips, C. M. 1977. Willow carrs of the upper Laramie River Valley, Colorado. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 71 pp.
  • Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
  • Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
  • Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985a. Riparian community type classification of eastern Idaho-western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-85-01. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 78 pp.