Print Report

CEGL000659 Populus deltoides - (Salix amygdaloides) / Salix (exigua, interior) Floodplain Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Cottonwood - (Peachleaf Willow) / (Narrowleaf Willow, Sandbar Willow) Floodplain Woodland

Colloquial Name: Cottonwood - Peachleaf Willow Floodplain Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This cottonwood - willow woodland is found widely in the central Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur on recently deposited alluvial material along rivers and streams. The soils are derived from alluvial sand, silt, and clay and are poorly developed. The water table fluctuates with the level of the adjacent river or stream. Populus deltoides is the dominant species in this community, although Salix exigua and/or Salix interior is generally more dominant in the initial stage following a major flood event. Salix amygdaloides is rare to codominant. The shrub/sapling layer is conspicuous, especially near the streambank, and consists mainly of Salix exigua, Populus deltoides, and Salix amygdaloides, or occasionally Salix lutea. In the more easterly parts of the range, Salix interior may replace Salix exigua. On the older margins of this community Fraxinus pennsylvanica is often found as a sapling or small canopy tree. The herbaceous stratum is variable. Graminoids typical of undisturbed sites include Carex emoryi, Carex pellita, Pascopyrum smithii, and Spartina pectinata. Equisetum arvense and Glycyrrhiza lepidota are common forbs in these sites. Widely distributed species that are adapted to these sites include Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Artemisia ludoviciana, Calamovilfa longifolia, Cenchrus longispinus, Chamaesyce serpyllifolia, Euphorbia esula, Grindelia squarrosa, Helianthus petiolaris, Heterotheca villosa, Phyla lanceolata, Opuntia macrorhiza, Poa pratensis, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. These sites are prone to invasion by exotic grasses and forbs, the most widely established being Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus tectorum, Cirsium arvense, Bassia scoparia, Melilotus spp., Taraxacum officinale, and Tragopogon dubius.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community''s range into North Dakota and Manitoba needs review. It apparently does not occur in South Dakota. Check with other midwestern states regarding woodland status. Species nomenclature is Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera in Colorado. Salix interior and Salix exigua are treated as separate species in Kartesz (1999), with Salix exigua restricted to western North America.

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

Floristics: This community has an open canopy 6-12 m tall and is typically dominated by Populus deltoides or with Salix amygdaloides as a codominant. Fraxinus pennsylvanica may be present, especially on the upland side of this community, and Elaeagnus angustifolia or Juniperus spp. may invade some sites. This woodland community has closely spaced shrubs and small trees. Salix exigua, a tall shrub, is usually more abundant along the streamside margins of this community and where the canopy of taller trees is most open, which may occur following a scouring (heavy flood) event. Salix lutea can also be conspicuous in some stands. In the more easterly parts of the range, Salix interior may replace Salix exigua. Other shorter shrubs that can be found are Amorpha fruticosa, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Toxicodendron rydbergii. Graminoids adapted to mesic sites dominate the understory of most sites, the most common species including Carex emoryi, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Elymus canadensis, Elymus virginicus, Hordeum jubatum, Muhlenbergia racemosa, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa pratensis, and Spartina pectinata. Forbs that are frequently abundant in relatively undisturbed sites include Equisetum arvense and Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Flooding often creates open patches in the herbaceous layer that are available for colonization by nearby species. The floristic composition of these patches is greatly affected by the species that are near and can invade the disturbed areas. Because of the high permeability of the sandy floodplain soils, species typical of upland prairie may invade in addition to annual forbs typical of disturbed sites. Widely distributed species that are adapted to these sites include Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Artemisia ludoviciana, Calamovilfa longifolia, Cenchrus longispinus, Chamaesyce serpyllifolia (= Euphorbia serpyllifolia), Euphorbia esula, Grindelia squarrosa, Helianthus petiolaris, Heterotheca villosa, Phyla lanceolata (= Lippia lanceolata), Opuntia macrorhiza, Poa pratensis, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. These sites are prone to invasion by exotic grasses and forbs, the most widely established being Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus tectorum, Cirsium arvense, Bassia scoparia (= Kochia scoparia), Melilotus spp., Taraxacum officinale, and Tragopogon dubius.

Dynamics:  This type is subject to, and maintained by, periodic flooding. In one study, it has been suggested that 30 years post-flood, this type will likely transition into a grassland type, as the cottonwood and willow species do not regenerate (Bellah and Hulbert 1974). This type is often impacted by heavy grazing.

Flooding and scouring by sand and ice are common in most examples of this community. During floods, erosion and deposition of material may occur. Drought stress affects shallow-rooted plants when the water table drops. This community is a seral community and requires the creation of new sandbars, mudflats, and other barren stretches for its continued existence. Bellah and Hulbert (1974) found that this community existed for only about 20 years before succession altered the forest to another community. Johnson (1994) believed that alteration of the hydrology of the Platte River in Nebraska has reduced the frequency of flooding. Thus, early-successional communities such as this one were not being reestablished as quickly as they were being replaced by later seral communities.
Environmental Description:  This community is is most commonly found as narrow bands adjacent to stream channels of streams and rivers, where it develops on newly deposited alluvium. The soils are predominantly sand (50% or more), although silt, clay, or loam may be present. Soils are poorly developed. The water table fluctuates with the level of the river or stream and flooding is common, especially in the spring. In Wyoming, height above the stream channel varies from 0.5-3 m (1.5-10 feet) (Jones and Walford 1995). This community often floods in late winter and spring.
Geographic Range: This cottonwood - willow woodland is found widely in the central Great Plains, especially Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and possibly both north and south of this region. It occurs along the Pecos in east-central New Mexico (Guadalupe County) and probably in other drainages of eastern New Mexico.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, MB?, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, SK?, TX?, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D011 1.B.3.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Na.4 Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Willow species Flooded & Swamp Forest M028 1.B.3.Na.4
Group 1.B.3.Na.4.a Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group G147 1.B.3.Na.4.a
Alliance A0636 Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Woodland Alliance A0636 1.B.3.Na.4.a
Association CEGL000659 Eastern Cottonwood - (Peachleaf Willow) / (Narrowleaf Willow, Sandbar Willow) Floodplain Woodland CEGL000659 1.B.3.Na.4.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus deltoides - (Salix amygdaloides) / Salix exigua Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Populus sargentii / Ribes americanum Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Populus-Salix Associes (Hefley 1937)
? Plains Cottonwood-Peachleaf Willow CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
< Plains Cottonwood/Western wheatgrass Community (Jones and Walford 1995)
> Willow wetland community (Currier 1982)
= Willow-Poplar Community (Ramaley 1939b)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake and S.B. Rolfsmeier

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-19-95
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