Print Report

CEGL001230 Salix planifolia / Deschampsia cespitosa Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Diamondleaf Willow / Tufted Hairgrass Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian shrubland association occurs in the subalpine zone in the southern Rocky Mountains, Uinta Mountains, Beartooth Mountains and Plateau, and Big Horn Mountains. This higher elevation wetland plant association usually occurs along streams and in adjacent meadows in broad valleys and swales and below seeps on gentle slopes. Elevation ranges from 2745-3570 m (9000-11,700 feet) in Colorado and Utah and down to 2490-3040 m (8160-9960 feet) in northern Wyoming. Water table depth varies but is generally close enough to the surface during the growing season for upper soil layer to be moist, but not wet, as stands dominated by Carex aquatilis in the understory. Soils are variable and range from shallow to medium depth (<44 cm), moderately well-drained to poorly drained, fine-textured mineral soils typically with high organic matter content and occasionally moderate amounts of rock fragments. This association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense shrub layer (40-90% cover) that is dominated by Salix planifolia with a lush herbaceous layer dominated by the perennial grass Deschampsia cespitosa. Other willow species that may be present with low cover include Salix brachycarpa, Salix glauca, Salix geyeriana, and Salix wolfii. The dense Deschampsia cespitosa-dominated herbaceous layer is sometimes species-rich and has several Carex species and grasses present. The forb layer can be diverse but generally has low (<10%) total cover.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: This riparian association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense shrub layer (40-90% cover) that is dominated by Salix planifolia with a lush herbaceous layer dominated by the perennial grass Deschampsia cespitosa. Other willow species that may be present with low cover include Salix brachycarpa, Salix glauca, Salix geyeriana, and Salix wolfii. Other shrubs that may be present in lower concentrations include Betula nana, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, and Vaccinium cespitosum. The dense Deschampsia cespitosa-dominated herbaceous layer is sometimes species-rich and has several Carex species and grasses present such as Carex aquatilis, Carex microptera, Carex utriculata, Carex scopulorum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Danthonia intermedia, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Festuca brachyphylla, and Phleum alpinum. The forb layer can be diverse but generally has low (<10%) total cover. Associated forb species can include Caltha leptosepala, Erigeron peregrinus, Fragaria spp., Ligusticum tenuifolium, Mertensia ciliata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola rhodantha, Senecio triangularis, Swertia perennis, Symphyotrichum foliaceum, Thalictrum spp., and Veronica spp. (Hess 1981, Padgett et al. 1989, Girard et al. 1997, Walford et al. 2001). Stands disturbed by heavy grazing tend to dry out and often have significant cover of Poa pratensis (Girard et al. 1997).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This riparian shrubland association occurs in the subalpine zone in the southern Rocky Mountains, Uinta Mountains, Beartooth Mountains and Plateau, and Big Horn Mountains. This higher elevation wetland plant association usually occurs along streams and in adjacent meadows in broad valleys and swales and below seeps on gentle slopes. Elevation ranges from 2745-3570 m (9000-11,700 feet) in Colorado and Utah and down to 2490-3040 m (8160-9960 feet) in northern Wyoming. Water table depth varies but is generally close enough to the surface during the growing season for upper soil layer to be moist, but not wet, as stands dominated by Carex aquatilis in the understory. Soils are variable and range from shallow to medium depth (<44 cm), moderately well-drained to poorly drained, fine-textured mineral soils typically with high organic matter content and occasionally moderate amounts of rock fragments derived from alluvium, colluvium, glacial till or moraine deposits (Hess 1981, Padgett et al. 1989, Girard et al. 1997, Walford et al. 2001). Soil pH is 5.2-6.0 (Johnston 1987). Litter and duff provide much of the ground cover, with significant lichen and moss cover. Bare ground is typically low. Parent material is often granitic.
Geographic Range: This subalpine riparian shrubland association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains, Uinta Mountains, Beartooth Mountains and Plateau, and Big Horn Mountains from Colorado to northwestern Wyoming and Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3

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.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group G527 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Alliance A3770 Wolf''s Willow - Short-fruit Willow - Resin Birch Wet Shrubland Alliance A3770 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL001230 Diamondleaf Willow / Tufted Hairgrass Wet Shrubland CEGL001230 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Salix phylicifolia ssp. planifolia / Deschampsia cespitosa Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Salix planifolia / Deschampsia caespitosa Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Salix planifolia / Deschampsia caespitosa Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Salix planifolia / Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Salix planifolia / Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Walford et al. 2001)
= Salix planifolia / Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Girard et al. 1997)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-25-05
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  • Hess, K. 1981. Phyto-edaphic study of habitat types of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 558 pp.
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