Print Report

CEGL003432 Salix hookeriana - (Malus fusca) / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Dune Willow - (Oregon Crabapple) / Slough Sedge - American Skunk-cabbage Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs along the coast between northern California and southern British Columbia. It is an early- to mid-seral association that occurs on perennially wet mucky soils with high organic content, usually adjacent to lakes and ponds, on old deflation plains, and interspersed with open mire in peatlands. Sites may be flooded seasonally or year-round, but water is usually just below the soil surface in summer. Water levels must be relatively constant to maintain hydrology. The tree layer is sparse in most stands, with a few scattered Alnus rubra, Pinus contorta, or Picea sitchensis growing on low hummocks or around the margin of the wetland. A dense, tangled layer of tall shrubs dominated by Salix hookeriana and/or Malus fusca forms a canopy ranging from 30-95% cover. Spiraea douglasii typically forms a lower shrub layer on wet soils, especially in gaps in the canopy of tall shrubs. Gaultheria shallon and Lonicera involucrata may occur on hummocks. The ground layer is dominated by Carex obnupta and Lysichiton americanus, with expanses of deep muck soil exposed in the most shaded places. Epiphytic mosses and Polypodium glycyrrhiza are abundant in the canopy of tall shrubs. The moss layer contains mostly Eurhynchium praelongum, but one site is habitat for the rare moss Limbella fryei. Sphagnum occurs in this association along the northern coast of Oregon in Clatsop County, and occurs in similar sites farther north. Stands appear to be long-lived, maintained by wet soils and gap succession. The willows sustain frequent crown damage from winter storms and heavy browsing by beavers, followed by vigorous sprouting.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Either Malus fusca or Salix hookeriana are sometimes missing from stands, but the other components are the same, and stands lacking crabapple or willow are considered to be local variants of this association.

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

Floristics: The tree layer is sparse in most stands, with a few scattered Alnus rubra, Pinus contorta, or Picea sitchensis growing on low hummocks or around the margin of the wetland. A dense, tangled layer of tall shrubs dominated by Salix hookeriana and/or Malus fusca forms a canopy ranging from 30-95% cover. Spiraea douglasii typically forms a lower shrub layer on wet soils, especially in gaps in the canopy of tall shrubs. Gaultheria shallon and Lonicera involucrata may occur on hummocks. The ground layer is dominated by Carex obnupta and Lysichiton americanus, with expanses of deep muck soil exposed in the most shaded places. Epiphytic mosses and Polypodium glycyrrhiza are abundant in the canopy of tall shrubs. The moss layer contains mostly Eurhynchium praelongum, but one site is habitat for the rare moss Limbella fryei. Sphagnum occurs in this association along the northern coast of Oregon in Clatsop County, and occurs in similar sites farther north.

Dynamics:  Stands appear to be long-lived, maintained by wet soils and gap succession. The willows sustain frequent crown damage from winter storms and heavy browsing by beavers, followed by vigorous sprouting.
Environmental Description:  This early- to mid-seral association occurs on perennially wet mucky soils with high organic content, usually adjacent to lakes and ponds, on old deflation plains, and interspersed with open mire in peatlands. Sites may be flooded seasonally or year-round, but water is usually just below the soil surface in summer. Water levels must be relatively constant to maintain hydrology.
Geographic Range: This association is occurs along the coast between northern California and southern British Columbia. Stands rarely exceed 10 acres but may be as large as 20-50 acres.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  BC?, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.4 Vancouverian Lowland Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M073 2.C.4.Nb.4
Group 2.C.4.Nb.4.c Alder species - Willow species - Meadowsweet species Wet Shrubland Group G322 2.C.4.Nb.4.c
Alliance A3835 Dune Willow - Sitka Willow - Rose Spirea Wet Shrubland Alliance A3835 2.C.4.Nb.4.c
Association CEGL003432 Dune Willow - (Oregon Crabapple) / Slough Sedge - American Skunk-cabbage Wet Shrubland CEGL003432 2.C.4.Nb.4.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pyrus fusca - Salix hookeriana / Carex obnupta variant (Kunze 1994) [(p. 93)]
? Pyrus fusca / Carex obnupta variant (Kunze 1994) [(p. 93)]
= Salix hookeriana - Malus fusca / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus (McCain and Christy 2005) [16 plots]
= Salix hookeriana - Malus fusca / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Association (Christy 2004)
= Hooker Willow - Crabapple / Slough Sedge - Skunk Cabbage Saturated Shrubland (Salix hookeriana - Malus fusca / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanum) (Christy et al. 1998) [(p.80)]
Concept Author(s): J.A. Christy

Author of Description: J.A. Christy

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-21-02
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