Print Report

CEGL001206 Salix geyeriana / Carex aquatilis Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Geyer''s Willow / Water Sedge Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant association occurs on broad valley bottoms in Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. Stands may also occur in Wyoming and Montana. Elevations range from 2100-3200 m (6800-10,500 feet). The floodplains tend to be broad and usually are flooded in early spring and summer, with saturated soils throughout the growing season. This vegetation is characterized by a tall-shrub canopy dominated by Salix geyeriana (10-80% cover). Other shrubs that may be present include Salix brachycarpa, Salix boothii, Betula glandulosa, Salix monticola, and Salix planifolia. The canopy may contain corridor-like openings between the individual willows when Salix geyeriana is the single overstory dominant, or may be nearly closed when the shrub canopy is a mix of several species. In more open stands, a thick carpet of mesic grasses and forbs blanket the undergrowth. Graminoid cover is greater than forb cover and is dominated by Carex aquatilis. Other graminoids that may be present include Carex utriculata, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Calamagrostis canadensis.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association has been well studied over its range. Closely related communities include ~Salix geyeriana / Carex utriculata Wet Shrubland (CEGL001207)$$ with the herbaceous layer dominated by Carex utriculata, and ~Salix geyeriana - Salix monticola / Calamagrostis canadensis Wet Shrubland (CEGL001247)$$, that has a significant and consistent cover of Calamagrostis canadensis.

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

Floristics: This vegetation is characterized by a tall (1.5-2.5 m), open to dense shrub canopy dominated by Salix geyeriana (10-80% cover). Other, often shorter shrubs that may be present include Betula glandulosa, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Salix boothii, Salix brachycarpa, Salix monticola, Salix planifolia, and Salix wolfii. The canopy may contain corridor-like openings between the individual willows when Salix geyeriana is the single overstory dominant, or may be nearly closed when the shrub canopy is a mix of several species. The understory is a moderate to dense herbaceous layer with higher cover of graminoid than forb cover and is dominated by Carex aquatilis, especially in low, wetter areas. Other mesic graminoids are present in lower cover and include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata (present to codominant), Deschampsia cespitosa, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Phleum alpinum. Forb cover is low, but may be diverse, and is concentrated on elevated micro-ridges and higher areas where shrubs are rooted. Forb species that may be present include Achillea millefolium, Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Conioselinum scopulorum, Equisetum arvense, Fragaria virginiana, Galium trifidum, Geum macrophyllum, Heracleum maximum, Mertensia ciliata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polemonium caeruleum, Senecio triangularis, Stellaria longifolia, and Thalictrum fendleri. Introduced species Agrostis stolonifera, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Taraxacum officinale, and Trifolium repens are common in disturbed stands.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This shrubland association is found on broad, cold, wet mountain valley bottoms in the southern and central Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Utah and Idaho. Stands may also occur in Wyoming and Montana. Elevations range from 2100-3200 m (6800-10,500 feet). Stands occur on floodplains that have an undulating topography with hummocks, ridges, and swales that create microenvironments supporting a heterogeneous understory. The floodplains tend to be broad, usually flood in early spring/summer, and have saturated soils throughout the growing season. Streams were classified according to the Rosgen Classification of Natural Rivers (Rosgen 1996). Sites include narrow, flat benches along steep stream channels (Rosgen''s Channel Type: G3), along broad and sinuous stream channels (Rosgen''s Channel Type: C3), and in floodplains of narrow, subalpine, low-gradient (1-5%), braided or highly sinuous steams (Rosgen''s Channel Type: D3, E3) (Rosgen 1996). Substrates are variable, ranging from shallow to deep soils, with mottling often occurring near the surface. These alluvial soil have finer-textured layers of sandy clay loams, clay loams and silty loams often alternating with layers of coarse sand (Carsey et al. 2003a). In Utah, soils of this type are described as developing on alluvium or in places with an organic layer at the surface (Padgett et al. 1989). The water table is within 35 cm (15 inches) of the surface.
Geographic Range: This association is known to occur in Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Stands may also occur in southern Montana and northern Wyoming.

Nations: US

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


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.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 A3769 Booth''s Willow - Geyer''s Willow - Yellow Willow Montane Wet Shrubland Alliance A3769 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL001206 Geyer''s Willow / Water Sedge Wet Shrubland CEGL001206 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 geyeriana / Carex aquatilis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Salix geyeriana / Carex aquatilis Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Salix geyeriana / Carex aquatilis Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix geyeriana / Carex aquatilis Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a) [Included a few stands dominated by Carex aquatilis.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Tuhy and Jensen 1982) [Included stands dominated by Carex rostrata and/or Carex aquatilis.]
< Salix geyeriana / Wet Sedge Community Type (Girard et al. 1997) [Some stands have an understory dominated by Carex aquatilis.]
Concept Author(s): J. Thompson and J. Stevens

Author of Description: J. Thompson, J. Stevens, K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-28-05
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