Print Report
CEGL000678 Populus deltoides / Muhlenbergia asperifolia Flooded Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Cottonwood / Scratchgrass Flooded Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a lowland forested riparian association known from the Rio Grande and Pecos drainages of central New Mexico and the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado. This association occurs in lowland river valleys at elevations ranging from 1180-1680 m (3850-5500 feet). Typical sites are mid- to upper-elevation bars and terraces within the active floodplain. Soils are young, weakly developed Entisols. This association is often dominated by older, open stands of Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni or Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera with grassy understories dominated by Muhlenbergia asperifolia (the characteristic herbaceous species) and Distichlis spicata (up to 80% total herbaceous cover). Salix amygdaloides is present in the tree canopies of some stands. Shrubs are few and scattered, although invasive and exotic Tamarix spp. and Elaeagnus angustifolia are often abundant. Other herbaceous species may include Scirpus microcarpus, Panicum virgatum, and Eleocharis palustris. A few weedy forbs include Apocynum cannabinum and Ambrosia artemisiifolia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni / Muhlenbergia asperifolia plant association described from New Mexico (Dick-Peddie et al. 1984) is the same as the Colorado type Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera / Muhlenbergia asperifolia plant association (Kittel et al. 1999b). However, the subspecies of cottonwood is different, with Colorado stands dominated by Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera (plains cottonwood) and the New Mexico stands dominated by Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni (Rio Grande cottonwood). ~Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Distichlis spicata Riparian Woodland (CEGL000939)$$, described from Colorado (Lindauer 1970, Christy 1973), is similar to this type, as the stands of ~Populus deltoides / Muhlenbergia asperifolia Flooded Forest (CEGL000678)$$ often contain some Distichlis spicata.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is often dominated by older, open stands of Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni or Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera with grassy understories dominated by Muhlenbergia asperifolia (the characteristic herbaceous species) and Distichlis spicata (up to 80% total herbaceous cover). Salix amygdaloides is present in the tree canopies of some stands. Shrubs are few and scattered, although invasive and exotic Tamarix spp. and Elaeagnus angustifolia are often abundant. Other herbaceous species may include Scirpus microcarpus, Panicum virgatum, and Eleocharis palustris. A few weedy forbs include Apocynum cannabinum and Ambrosia artemisiifolia.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in lowland river valleys at elevations ranging from 1180-1680 m (3850-5500 feet). Typical sites are mid- to upper-elevation bars and terraces within the active floodplain. Soils are young, weakly developed Entisols.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to south-central and southeastern New Mexico, and to the Arkansas River drainage of southeastern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.690092
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division | D013 | 1.B.3.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup | M036 | 1.B.3.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b Western Interior Riparian Forest & Woodland Group | G797 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3802 Rio Grande Cottonwood - Plains Cottonwood Riparian Forest Alliance | A3802 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000678 Eastern Cottonwood / Scratchgrass Flooded Forest | CEGL000678 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus deltoides / Muhlenbergia asperifolia Forest (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus deltoides / Muhlenbergia asperifolia Forest Association (Donnelly et al. 2006)
= Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera / Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Cottonwood - Willow Series (Dick-Peddie et al. 1984)
< Cottonwood Community Type (Christy 1973)
= Populus deltoides / Muhlenbergia asperifolia Forest Association (Donnelly et al. 2006)
= Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera / Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Cottonwood - Willow Series (Dick-Peddie et al. 1984)
< Cottonwood Community Type (Christy 1973)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Carsey, K., G. Kittel, K. Decker, D. J. Cooper, and D. Culver. 2003a. Field guide to the wetland and riparian plant associations of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO.
- Christy, S. 1973. An analysis of the woody vegetation on the South Platte River flood plain in northeastern Colorado. Unpublished thesis, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. 82 pp.
- Dick-Peddie, W. A., J. K. Meents, and R. Spellenberg. 1984. Vegetation resource analysis for the Velarde Community Ditch Project, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties, New Mexico. Unpublished final report prepared for the USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Southwestern Region, Amarillo, TX. 251 pp.
- Donnelly, P., D. Lindsey, E. Muldavin, Y. Chauvin, and A. Browder. 2006. Vegetation communities of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Prepared by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge Remote Sensing Lab, Albuquerque, NM, and Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Final report submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwest Region (R2), National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR), NWR Remote Sensing Lab, Division of Planning. 27 pp. [http://www.fws.gov/data/documents/BDA%20NVCS%20Veg%20Community%20Report%20Example.pdf]
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, A. McMullen, and J. Sanderson. 1999b. A classification of riparian and wetland plant associations of Colorado: A user''s guide to the classification project. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO. 70 pp. plus appendices.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.