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CEGL005945 Alnus oblongifolia / Leersia oryzoides Flooded Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arizona Alder / Rice Cutgrass Flooded Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This lower-montane riparian association is known from the Gila River watershed and probably elsewhere in southwestern New Mexico at elevations from 1680 to 1740 m (5520-5720 feet) elevation, but it likely ranges from 1500 to 2200 m. Stands are known to occur on sidebars of moderate-gradient streams where flooding frequently occurs. Soils are reported as unconsolidated riverwash and weakly developed sandy-skeletal Mollic Fluvaquents. A closed canopy of Alnus oblongifolia and a highly diverse but variable mix of forbs and graminoids characterize this community (53 species have been reported for the type). Shrubs are generally poorly represented, although Amorpha fruticosa can be common. Leersia oryzoides, a wetland indicator species, is abundant and dominates the grassy undergrowth. Twenty herbaceous wetland indicator species have been reported for the type; Carex aquatilis, Equisetum arvense, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Mentha arvensis are usually present and well-represented to abundant. The exotics Agrostis stolonifera, Schedonorus pratensis, and Melilotus officinalis can also be abundant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The rich herbaceous layer and low shrub cover distinguish this association from others in the alliance.
Brown et al. (1979) designated an Alnus oblongifolia Association in the Mixed Broadleaf Series that forms part of their Interior Southwestern Riparian Deciduous Forests and Woodlands Biome. Laurenzi et al. (1983) defined a diverse alder type for central Arizona, with Arizona sycamore, velvet ash, and Arizona walnut as important codominants. Szaro (1989) also defined a widely distributed and varied Alnus oblongifolia Community Type with box-elder and velvet ash as common canopy associates. The alliance is referred to by Dick-Peddie (1993) as the Alder Series with a mixture of shrub, grass, and forb species.
Brown et al. (1979) designated an Alnus oblongifolia Association in the Mixed Broadleaf Series that forms part of their Interior Southwestern Riparian Deciduous Forests and Woodlands Biome. Laurenzi et al. (1983) defined a diverse alder type for central Arizona, with Arizona sycamore, velvet ash, and Arizona walnut as important codominants. Szaro (1989) also defined a widely distributed and varied Alnus oblongifolia Community Type with box-elder and velvet ash as common canopy associates. The alliance is referred to by Dick-Peddie (1993) as the Alder Series with a mixture of shrub, grass, and forb species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: A closed canopy of Alnus oblongifolia and a highly diverse but variable mix of forbs and graminoids characterize this community (53 species have been reported for the type). Shrubs are generally poorly represented, although Amorpha fruticosa can be common. Leersia oryzoides, a wetland indicator species, is abundant and dominates the grassy undergrowth. Twenty herbaceous wetland indicator species have been reported for the type; Carex aquatilis, Equisetum arvense, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Mentha arvensis are usually present and well-represented to abundant. The exotics Agrostis stolonifera, Schedonorus pratensis (= Festuca pratensis), and Melilotus officinalis can also be abundant.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are known to occur on sidebars of moderate-gradient streams where flooding frequently occurs. Soils are reported as unconsolidated riverwash and weakly developed sandy-skeletal Mollic Fluvaquents.
Geographic Range: This association is found in the Gila River watershed (Grant County) and probably elsewhere in southwestern New Mexico and may occur farther west into southern Arizona and possibly in northern Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ?, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.737471
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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 | A0953 Arizona Alder Riparian Forest Alliance | A0953 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005945 Arizona Alder / Rice Cutgrass Flooded Forest | CEGL005945 | 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: < 224.533 Alnus oblongifolia Association (Brown et al. 1979)
< Alnus oblongifolia Community Type (Szaro 1989)
< Alder Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Alder Type (Laurenzi et al. 1983)
= Arizona Alder/Rice Cutgrass CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
< Alnus oblongifolia Community Type (Szaro 1989)
< Alder Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Alder Type (Laurenzi et al. 1983)
= Arizona Alder/Rice Cutgrass CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
- Brown, D. E., C. H. Lowe, and C. P. Pase. 1979. A digitized classification system for the biotic communities of North America with community (series) and association examples for the Southwest. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 14:1-16.
- Dick-Peddie, W. A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present, and future. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 244 pp.
- Laurenzi, A. W., R. D. Ohmart, and N. C. Hink. 1983. Classification of mixed broadleaf riparian forests in Tonto National Forest. Pages 72-81 in: Proceedings of the workshop on Southwestern habitat types. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region.
- Muldavin, E., P. Durkin, M. Bradley, M. Stuever, and P. Mehlhop. 2000a. Handbook of wetland vegetation communities of New Mexico. Volume I: Classification and community descriptions. Final report to the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency prepared by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- NHNM [Natural Heritage New Mexico]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Szaro, R. C. 1989. Riparian forest and scrubland community types of Arizona and New Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 9(3-4):70-139.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.