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CEGL001455 Populus fremontii / Muhlenbergia rigens Riparian Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fremont Cottonwood / Deergrass Riparian Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open riparian woodland is found generally along small, perennial and seasonally intermittent streams in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges in extreme southwestern New Mexico and possibly southeastern Arizona. These woodlands occur in narrow stream valleys, on gently sloping alluvial terraces, and are periodically inundated during spring runoff. The stand from Gray Ranch in the Animas Mountains was described from an east-facing alluvial terrace at approximately 1700 m elevation. The parent material is gravelly rhyolite alluvium, deposited among boulders. This woodland has an open tree canopy with a grassy understory. The broad-leaved deciduous trees Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii dominate the canopy layer with 10-20% cover. Scattered Baccharis salicifolia and Dalea spp. may be present in the poorly developed shrub layer. The perennial bunchgrass Muhlenbergia rigens is the only abundant species in the herbaceous layer, with 20% cover. Total herbaceous cover is 25%.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Vegetation in this association may be too sparse to be classified as a woodland (10-20% tree cover from a single site). Further study is needed throughout its range to assess vegetation structure. This association has only been described from Gray Ranch in New Mexico. These sparse woodland stands may be better classified as wooded grasslands. Similar Populus fremontii and Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni riparian communities, codominated by Salix gooddingii, have been described for southern California, southern Arizona and elsewhere in New Mexico and need review (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995, Szaro 1989). It may be closely related to ~Platanus wrightii / Muhlenbergia rigens Riparian Forest (CEGL002710)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is an open, riparian woodland association, with a grassy understory. The broad-leaved deciduous trees Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii dominate the canopy layer, with 10-20% cover. The shrub layer is poorly developed. The perennial bunchgrass Muhlenbergia rigens is the only abundant species in the herbaceous layer, with 20% cover. Total herbaceous cover is 25%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges. This is a riparian association occurring in narrow stream valleys, on gently sloping alluvial terraces. It is periodically inundated during spring runoff and generally occurs along small, perennial streams. The parent material is described as rhyolite alluvium, a gravelly alluvium deposited among boulders. Most of the annual precipitation of about 40 cm (16 inches) occurs during the summer months as the result of convectional thunderstorms and during winter as occasional rains. Late spring and early summer are typically dry. Summers are hot, and winters can have periods of cold weather and occasional snows.
Geographic Range: Documented on the Gray Ranch of the Animas Mountains, but has been observed elsewhere in the Southwest, particularly along intermittent and more ephemeral stream channels.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ?, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687363
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division | D013 | 1.B.3.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup | M036 | 1.B.3.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b Western Interior Riparian Forest & Woodland Group | G797 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3803 Fremont Cottonwood - Velvet Ash - Goodding''s Willow Riparian Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3803 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001455 Fremont Cottonwood / Deergrass Riparian Woodland | CEGL001455 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus fremontii / Muhlenbergia rigens PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b)
= Populus fremontii / Muhlenbergia rigens PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
< Populus fremontii (Fremont cottonwood forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.130.00]
< Populus fremontii Community Type (Szaro 1989)
< Populus fremontii Forest Alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Populus fremontii / Muhlenbergia rigens PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
< Populus fremontii (Fremont cottonwood forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.130.00]
< Populus fremontii Community Type (Szaro 1989)
< Populus fremontii Forest Alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1995a. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.
- 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.
- NHNM [Natural Heritage New Mexico]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Szaro, R. C. 1989. Riparian forest and scrubland community types of Arizona and New Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 9(3-4):70-139.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.