Print Report

CEGL001227 Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Diamondleaf Willow / Water Sedge Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This wetland/riparian low shrubland association typically occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zones in the Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to Montana, and west into Utah and Idaho. Elevation ranges from 2700-3700 m (8300-11,700 feet) in Colorado to 1750-2690 m (5740-8830 feet) in Montana. Stands typically occurs in wide, glaciated valleys bottoms adjacent to streams, around lakes, fens and seeps, and in depressions where snowmelt runoff saturates soils during the growing season. Sites may be flat or uneven with raised hummocks to moderately sloping. The water table at these sites is usually near the surface throughout the growing season. Soils are typically poorly drained and have an organic peat top layer over mineral soils with variable textures. Mottling is often evident. The vegetation is characterized by a low (<1.5 m), typically closed shrub layer (ranging from 30-100% cover) that is dominated by Salix planifolia, with an herbaceous layer dominated by the wet sedge Carex aquatilis. Other common willow species that may be present at lower elevations are Salix geyeriana or Salix monticola and at higher elevations Salix brachycarpa, Salix glauca, and Salix wolfii. Other shrubs that may be present in lower concentrations include Betula glandulosa and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. The moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by wet graminoids but often has a diverse forb layer. Other than the dominant wet sedge Carex aquatilis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata, and Deschampsia cespitosa are often present in the graminoid layer. Associated wet and mesic forb species are Aconitum columbianum, Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Conioselinum scopulorum, Erigeron peregrinus, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Mertensia ciliata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Rhodiola rhodantha, Saxifraga odontoloma, Senecio triangularis, Swertia perennis, and Veronica wormskjoldii.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although the type is considered provisional in New Mexico because of limited documentation, it has been previously described for the Rocky Mountains by Hansen et al. (1990) and Padgett et al. (1988b, 1989), among others.

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

Floristics: This riparian association is characterized by a low (<1.5 m), typically closed shrub layer (ranging from 30-100% cover) that is dominated by Salix planifolia, with an herbaceous layer dominated by the wet sedge Carex aquatilis. Other common willow species that may be present at lower elevations are Salix geyeriana or Salix monticola and at higher elevations Salix brachycarpa, Salix glauca, and Salix wolfii. Other shrubs that may be present in lower concentrations include Betula glandulosa and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. The moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by wet graminoids but often has a diverse forb layer. Other than the dominant wet sedge Carex aquatilis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata, and Deschampsia cespitosa are often present in the graminoid layer. Additional less frequent graminoids include Carex canescens, Carex microptera, Carex rostrata (northern stands only), Eleocharis quinqueflora, Glyceria borealis, Phleum alpinum, and Trisetum wolfii. Associated wet and mesic forb species include Aconitum columbianum, Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Conioselinum scopulorum, Erigeron peregrinus, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Mertensia ciliata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Rhodiola rhodantha, Saxifraga odontoloma, Senecio triangularis, Swertia perennis, and Veronica wormskjoldii (Wasser and Hess 1982, Mutz and Queiroz 1983, Padgett et al. 1989, Hansen et al. 1995, Girard et al. 1997, Kittel et al. 1999b, Muldavin et al. 2000a, Walford et al. 2001, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This wetland/riparian low shrubland association typically occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zones in the Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to Montana, and west into Utah and Idaho. Elevation ranges from 2700-3700 m (8300-11,700 feet) in Colorado to 1750-2690 m (5740-8830 feet) in Montana. Stands typically occur in wide, glaciated valleys bottoms adjacent to streams, around lakes, fens and seeps, and in depressions where snowmelt runoff saturates soils during the growing season. Sites may be flat or uneven with raised hummocks to moderately sloping. Stream channels are variable and may be wide and moderately sinuous (Rosgen''s Channel Type: B3), narrow and sinuous (Rosgen''s Channel Type: E4), or highly braided by beaver activity (Rosgen''s Channel Type: D4) (Rosgen 1996, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). The water table at these sites is usually near the surface throughout the growing season (Johnston 1987, Muldavin et al. 2000a). Soils are typically poorly drained and have an organic peat top layer over mineral soils with silty clay, heavy silty clay loam, silty loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand textures (Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). Mottling is often evident. Some of these soils have been classified as Histosols, Cryaquolls, Hemists, Borofibrists, Borohemists, Borosaprists, Histic Cryaquepts, and Histic Cryaquolls (Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b). Soil pH ranges from 5.0-6.6 (Johnston 1987).
Geographic Range: This riparian association is found in the montane and subalpine zones in the Rocky Mountains from northern New Mexico to Montana and Idaho.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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 CEGL001227 Diamondleaf Willow / Water Sedge Wet Shrubland CEGL001227 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: included here

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex aquatilis / Salix phylicifolia Habitat Type (Mattson 1984)
= Salix phylicifolia / Carex rostrata - Carex aquatilis Community Type (Mutz and Queiroz 1983)
= Salix phylicifolia ssp. planifolia - Carex aquatilis Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Salix phylicifolia ssp. planifolia / Carex aquatilis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Salix planifolia - Carex aquatilis Association (Cooper and Cottrell 1990)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Community Type (Walford et al. 2001)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
> Salix planifolia var. monica - Wet Sedge Community Type (Girard et al. 1997)
> Salix planifolia var. planifolia - Wet Sedge Community Type (Girard et al. 1997)
= Salix planifolia/Carex aquatilis (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Alpine Shrub Community (Lewis 1970)
= Diamondleaf Willow/Water Sedge CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
= Planeleaf willow/aquatic sedge ( Salix planifolia/Carex aquatilis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
= Planeleaf willow/water sedge (Salix planifolia/Carex aquatilis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
Concept Author(s): Hansen et al. (1990)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-01-05
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