Print Report

CEGL001098 Elaeagnus commutata Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silverberry Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Silverberry Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland is a minor type forming narrow stringers on stream terraces and at the margins of riparian areas. Elevation ranges from about 610 m on the Great Plains to 1524 m (2000-5000 feet) along the front of the Rocky Mountains. Soils are silty and derived from alluvium. Surficial geology is glacial-fluvial or lacustrine-fluvial deposits. Litter and duff cover 70% of the ground. Stands in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains appear to be more mesic than those from the eastern plains. Consequently, the species composition is variable. Stands located closer to the mountains and larger riparian areas have more mesic species. Stands surrounded by plains or foothill grasslands tend to have more typical dry-mesic species. Elaeagnus commutata is the dominant shrub throughout. Salix spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, Rosa woodsii, and Artemisia cana may also be present. Common introduced graminoid species include Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, and Agrostis gigantea. Native abundant grasses include Elymus lanceolatus, Koeleria macrantha, Calamagrostis canadensis, Festuca campestris, and Hesperostipa comata. Forb cover can be variable and may include Galium boreale, Ranunculus acriformis, Senecio triangularis, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida, and Geum triflorum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stands from the eastern and western portions of Montana, Idaho, and Alberta appear to be significantly different and may warrant recognition as separate types. Preliminary information from Alberta would support this separation and suggests there are likely three Elaeagnus commutata-dominated riparian associations: one an eastern, lower elevation type found roughly in the Great Plains on deeper soils; a second type, also on deeper soils but found at higher elevations in the foothills and along the front of the Rocky Mountains; and a third foothills and mountain type of a more northern distribution found on shallow, gravelly soils. This association is not well-documented in Montana and Wyoming (Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Jones 1992b, Hansen et al. 1995). Two stands were sampled in Glacier National Park; the type is noted to occur throughout the east side of the park in the transition zone between riparian and upland grasslands. It may prove to be more common further north along the front of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Thompson and Hansen (2002) sampled 12 stands in Alberta and concluded that this is a common, major type at low to mid elevations in the grasslands, but they include in their community type stands from "swale-like depressions" that may be better classified as an upland Elaeagnus commutata type. The Thompson and Hansen (2002) type seems to include an upland Elaeagnus commutata - Symphoricarpos occidentalis type that occurs within the grassland matrix in Alberta, likely into Saskatchewan.

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

Floristics: Stands generally occur as stringers along streams between the true riparian zone and the true grassland/steppe zone. Consequently, the species composition is variable. Stands located closer to the mountains and larger riparian areas have more mesic species. Stands surrounded by plains or foothill grasslands tend to have more typical dry-mesic species. Elaeagnus commutata is the dominant shrub in all stands with 50-80% cover. Other shrubs may be codominant, such as Salix exigua and Salix bebbiana in true riparian settings. Other shrubs present may include Prunus virginiana, Symphoricarpos albus, Rosa woodsii, Artemisia cana, and Amelanchier alnifolia. Young Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa may be present. Common introduced graminoid species include Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, and Agrostis gigantea (= Agrostis alba). Native abundant grasses include Elymus lanceolatus (= Agropyron dasystachyum), Koeleria macrantha, Calamagrostis canadensis, Festuca campestris, and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata). Forb cover can be variable and includes Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Achillea millefolium, Cirsium hookerianum, Fragaria virginiana, Maianthemum stellatum, Potentilla gracilis, Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis), Solidago canadensis, Urtica dioica, Ranunculus acriformis, Senecio triangularis, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida (= Anemone patens), and Geum triflorum. Species such as Festuca campestris and Geranium viscosissimum tend to be more prominent in western stands.

Dynamics:  Flooding is unlikely to be frequent in these stands.
Environmental Description:  This community occurs on terraces of small-order streams. Elevations range from about 610 m (2000 feet) at the eastern end of the range to about 1524 m (5000 feet) along the front of the Rocky Mountains. Presumably, soils are silty and derived from alluvium; it may be associated with deep loamy soils. Surficial geology is glacio-fluvial or lacustrine-fluvial deposits. Litter and duff covers 70% of the ground. Distance above stream level appears to be a critical factor.
Geographic Range: This community type has been described from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and higher in the montane valley in Glacier National Park. It also occurs in the northern Great Plains of Montana. It has been reported to occur along the North Fork of the Flathead River and is reported to occur in Idaho. In Alberta, Canada, it has been documented from the Great Plains as well as in the foothills and montane areas. It may occur as far north as Jasper National Park, but detailed vegetation data from this location are not yet available.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, ID, MT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2Q

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 CEGL001098 Silverberry Wet Shrubland CEGL001098 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: = Elaeagnus commutata Community Type (Hansen et al. 1989) [miscellaneous or incidental type that rarely occurs in riparian areas]
> Elaeagnus commutata / Carex spp. Community Type (Harvey 1980)
> Elaeagnus commutata / X Community Type (DeVelice et al. 1995)
< Elaeagnus commutata Community Type (Thompson and Hansen 2002)
= Elaeagnus commutata riparian shrubland (Allen 2005)
Concept Author(s): P. Lesica

Author of Description: P. Lesica, G. Kittel and L. Allen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-26-06
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  • IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
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  • WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.