Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Cottonwood - Engelmann Spruce / Field Horsetail Riparian Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This uncommon association is known from scattered locations in Glacier National Park, Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This forest association is found at 949 m (3110 feet) elevation on the basin floor of a wide river valley (on an old river meander) and at 1380 m (4525 feet) elevation on a gentle west-facing slope in bottomlands. The association occurs on silty loam soils on glacio-fluvial deposits. Stands vary from saturated much of the year to seasonally flooded but are moderately well-drained by early autumn. Picea engelmannii and Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa dominate the multi-layered canopy, with Equisetum arvense abundant in the herbaceous layer. Picea engelmannii has an average cover of 23% in the tree canopy with trace cover of younger trees and seedlings in other layers. Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa has 35% cover in the tree canopy, 15% in the tree subcanopy, and 3% cover of saplings and seedlings. In more mesic stands, Symphoricarpos albus clearly dominates the shrub layer with 60% cover. Other shrubs with 50% constancy but noticeable cover were Cornus sericea, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Rubus pubescens, and Crataegus douglasii. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Equisetum arvense, which ranges from 10% to 70% cover. Tall forbs are conspicuous, such as Maianthemum species and Heracleum maximum. Mosses have 0 to 10% cover in both sites, and litter and duff cover up to 80% of the ground.

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