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CEGL003080 Pluchea sericea Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arrow-weed Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This evergreen shrubland is found in wetlands from southern California to the Sonoran Desert, and extends north into the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Utah. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense short- to tall-shrub layer (1-5 m tall) that is dominated by Pluchea sericea, often forming pure stands. Stands generally form small patches within other wetland and riparian vegetation. Other species are present with low cover and vary regionally. Shrub associates may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex spp., Baccharis spp., Prosopis spp., Salix exigua, Suaeda moquinii, and introduced Tamarix spp. The typically sparse herbaceous layer, if present, may be composed of Distichlis spicata, Schoenoplectus americanus, Sporobolus airoides, or Typha angustifolia. The presence of weedy species is common in disturbed stands. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1220 m (4000 feet). Stands occur in canyon bottoms, irrigation ditches, streamsides, floodplains, and along the margins of springs. Sites are flat to gently sloping and are permanently or seasonally flooded with a high water table. Water chemistry may be fresh or saline/alkaline. Substrates are generally alluvial and vary from well-drained to poorly drained and coarse-textured to fine-textured soil.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau and Mojave Desert.

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

Floristics: This plant association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense short- to tall-shrub layer (1-5 m tall) that is dominated by Pluchea sericea, often forming pure stands. Stands generally form small patches within other wetland and riparian vegetation. Other species are present with low cover and vary regionally. Shrub associates may include Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex torreyi, Baccharis emoryi, Baccharis salicina, Baccharis sergiloides, Ericameria nauseosa, Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis pubescens, Quercus gambelii, Salix exigua, Suaeda moquinii, and introduced Tamarix spp. Scattered trees of Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii may be present with low cover. The typically sparse herbaceous layer, if present, is typically composed of Artemisia ludoviciana, Distichlis spicata, Euthamia occidentalis (= Solidago occidentalis), Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Heterotheca villosa, Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus), Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus airoides, Solidago velutina, or Typha angustifolia. Non-native weedy species such Bromus tectorum, Bromus rubens, Erodium cicutarium, Lactuca spp., Melilotus officinalis, Schismus barbatus, and Saccharum ravennae are common in disturbed stands.

Dynamics:  This riparian association grows in seasonally flooded, freshwater and brackish habitats with permanently saturated ground. Exotic tamarisk species have invaded many occurrences of this alliance.
Environmental Description:  This evergreen shrubland is found in wetlands in southern California, the Mojave, Colorado and Sonoran deserts, and extends north into the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Utah. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1220 m (4000 feet). Stands occur in canyon bottoms, irrigation ditches, streamsides, floodplains, and along the margins of springs. Sites are flat to gently sloping and are permanently or seasonally flooded with a high water table. Water chemistry may be fresh or saline/alkaline. Substrates are generally alluvial and vary from well-drained to poorly drained and coarse-textured to fine-textured soil.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in wetlands in southern California, the Mojave, Colorado and Sonoran deserts, and extends north into the Colorado Plateau in southern Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NV, UT


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.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.b Greasewood - Saltbush species Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub Group G537 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A0798 Arrow-weed Wet Shrubland Alliance A0798 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL003080 Arrow-weed Wet Shrubland CEGL003080 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pluchea sericea / (Distichlis spicata, Sporobolus airoides) Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Pluchea sericea (Sawyer et al. 2009) [63.710.01]
< Arrow Weed Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Arrowweed Scrub (#63820) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-14-16
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  • Beatley, J. C. 1976. Vascular plants of the Nevada Test Site and central-southern Nevada: Ecological and geographic distributions. Technical Information Center, Energy Research and Development Administration. TID-26881. Prepared for Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research. 297 pp.
  • Cogan, D., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
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  • Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.