Print Report

CEGL001132 Rhamnus alnifolia Riparian Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alderleaf Buckthorn Riparian Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is known from the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, scattered locations in moist mountainous regions of Idaho, Montana, and in western Wyoming. Stands of this Rhamnus alnifolia association occur at low to mid elevations (e.g., up to 2074 m [6800 feet]) in seeps, along sloped spring-fed creeks, on alluvial terraces of small streams (orders 1 and 2), and in broad basins or fens. Soils are typically loams and contain coarse rock fragments. Soils often show signs of a seasonally high water table (e.g., mottling), but the association also occurs on semipermanently saturated sites. Nearly complete cover of Rhamnus alnifolia characterizes this association, with few associates having consistently high cover due to the dense canopy. Associated shrubs that may be present include Alnus incana, Lonicera involucrata, Ribes spp., Salix geyeriana, and Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous understory is diverse, but most species have low to moderate cover. Common graminoid species include Bromus spp., Calamagrostis canadensis, Cinna latifolia, Elymus glaucus, and Glyceria spp. Tall forbs are characteristically present, including Heracleum maximum, Mertensia spp., Thalictrum occidentale, and Urtica dioica, but no single species has high cover and constancy throughout the association''s range.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. Because no understory herbaceous species has consistently high cover and constancy, and Rhamnus alnifolia is clearly dominant with high cover, this association is broadly defined. Similar associations have not yet been incorporated into the National Vegetation Classification: Crowe and Clausnitzer (1997) identified a Rhamnus alnifolia / mesic forb community from the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Program (2002) identified a Rhamnus alnifolia / Mertensia paniculata community from the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon that includes Crowe and Clausnitzer''s stands. Youngblood et al. (1985a) did not have data supporting identification of an understory diagnostic species. Idaho stands of Rhamnus alnifolia are likely synonymous with Crowe and Clausnitzer''s (1997) Rhamnus alnifolia / mesic forb community. The Idaho stands and Rhamnus alnifolia / mesic forb community (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1987) differ from Rhamnus alnifolia / Mertensia paniculata by lacking the diagnostic forb Mertensia paniculata. They are otherwise similar and all three types are synonymous according to Oregon Natural Heritage Program (2002). Further sampling is needed to confirm the existence of different Rhamnus alnifolia types.

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

Floristics: Nearly complete cover of Rhamnus alnifolia characterizes this association, with few associates having consistently high cover due to the dense canopy. Associated shrubs that may be present include Alnus incana, Lonicera involucrata, Ribes spp., Salix geyeriana, and Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous understory is diverse, but most species have low to moderate cover. Common graminoid species include Bromus spp., Calamagrostis canadensis, Cinna latifolia, Elymus glaucus, Poa pratensis, Poa nemoralis ssp. interior, and Glyceria spp. Tall forbs are characteristically present, including Heracleum maximum, Mertensia spp., Thalictrum occidentale, Rudbeckia occidentalis, and Urtica dioica, but no single species has high cover and constancy throughout the association''s range.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Rhamnus alnifolia apparently requires wet, loamy soils containing coarse fragments. It apparently requires seasonally high water tables or semipermanent saturation (e.g., sites such as seeps or spring-fed creeks). Rhamnus alnifolia is not found on organic, acidic, saline, alkaline, or heavy clay soils (Elzinga and Rosentreter 2000). The species does appear resilient and vigorous on favorable sites. The competitive habit of Rhamnus alnifolia decreases establishment of other species. Where there is a mix of shrub species present it is thought that it may have invaded stands (Youngblood et al. 1985a).
Geographic Range: This association is known from eastern Oregon and Washington, throughout Idaho and into western Wyoming and Montana.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY


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.a Narrowleaf Willow - Hawthorn species - Stretchberry Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Riparian Shrubland Group G526 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Alliance A3799 Skunkbush Sumac - River Hawthorn - Stretchberry Shrubland Alliance A3799 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001132 Alderleaf Buckthorn Riparian Wet Shrubland CEGL001132 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rhamnus alnifolia / Mertensia paniculata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Rhamnus alnifolia / Mesic Forb (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [(p.165)]
= Rhamnus alnifolia Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a)
= Rhamnus alnifolia Dominance Type (Hansen et al. 1988b)
Concept Author(s): C. Murphy

Author of Description: C. Murphy and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-09-05
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