Print Report

CEGL002642 Populus angustifolia / Alnus incana Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Gray Alder Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant association is found in narrow bands on the floodplains and benches of montane streams (1900-2700 m elevation) in Colorado and New Mexico, primarily in the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur on banks and benches along narrow streams with active floodplains in broad valleys and narrow canyons. These narrow streams may be higher gradient, fast-moving or low gradient, highly sinuous stream reaches. Substrates are typically deep sand or shaly sandy loam but may be stratified with finer-textured alluvial layers. The vegetation is characterized by a open to nearly closed deciduous tree canopy of Populus angustifolia with a dense layer of Alnus incana lining the streambank. Populus angustifolia is always present, although sometimes only as a sapling. A variety of riparian and upland tree species may also be present. Alnus incana is the most abundant shrub within the stand with a minimum of 10% cover. Other shrubs may include Salix bebbiana, Salix monticola, Salix drummondiana, Salix ligulifolia, Salix lucida ssp. caudata, Salix exigua, Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus, Acer glabrum, and Betula occidentalis. If present, Cornus sericea does not codominate. Herbaceous growth is generally a sparse mixture of mesic and wetland graminoids and forbs.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Classification is based on at least 38 quantitative plots in Colorado. It is known from New Mexico as well. The criteria for identifying a Populus angustifolia-dominated association is at least 20% canopy cover of Populus angustifolia and total conifer cover less than 10%. Stands with shrub layers codominated by Cornus sericea and Alnus incana should be classified as ~Populus angustifolia / Cornus sericea Riparian Woodland (CEGL002664)$$ (Carsey et al. 2003b).

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

Floristics: This montane riparian association is characterized by an open to nearly closed deciduous tree canopy of Populus angustifolia with a dense layer of Alnus incana lining the streambank. Populus angustifolia is always present, although sometimes only as a sapling. A variety of riparian and upland tree species may also be present, including Populus x acuminata, Populus tremuloides, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Salix amygdaloides, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus ponderosa, Abies concolor, or Picea pungens. Alnus incana is the most abundant shrub within the stand with a minimum of 10% cover. Other shrubs may include Salix bebbiana, Salix monticola, Salix drummondiana, Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia), Salix lucida ssp. caudata, Salix exigua, Cornus sericea (= Swida sericea), Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus, Acer glabrum, and Betula occidentalis. If present, Cornus sericea does not codominate. Herbaceous growth is generally a sparse mixture of mesic and wetland graminoids and forbs. Herbaceous species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Cardamine cordifolia, Carex rossii, Carex praegracilis, Carex nebrascensis, Equisetum arvense, Heracleum maximum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Maianthemum stellatum, Phalaris arundinacea, Rudbeckia laciniata, Thermopsis montana, and introduced species, such as Poa pratensis, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis gigantea, Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense, Poa palustris, and Taraxacum officinale (Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This plant association is found in narrow bands on the floodplains and benches of montane streams (1900-2700 m elevation) in Colorado and New Mexico, primarily in the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur on banks and benches along narrow streams with active floodplains in broad valleys and narrow canyons. These narrow streams may be higher gradient, fast-moving or low gradient, highly sinuous stream reaches. Substrates are typically deep sand or shaly sandy loam but may be stratified with finer-textured alluvial layers (Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a).
Geographic Range: This riparian forest association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. It has been reported from western Wyoming and Oregon.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM, OR, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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 CEGL002642 Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Gray Alder Riparian Woodland CEGL002642 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 - (Picea pungens) / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia - Cornus sericea Association (Baker 1989b)
= Populus angustifolia / Alnus incana / Clematis ligusticifolia Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
< Populus angustifolia / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia - Swida sericea Habitat Type (Komarkova et al. 1988b)
< Populus angustifolia / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia - Swida sericea Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Populus angustifolia / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Populus angustifolia / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus angustifolia/Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia (Kittel et al. 1999b)
? Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Thinleaf Alder-Redosier Dogwood CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
= Narrowleaf cottonwood/thin-leaf alder (Populus angustifolia/Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
Concept Author(s): A.E. Black

Author of Description: A.E. Black and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-10-06
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