Print Report
CEGL002470 Populus fremontii / Mesic Forbs Riparian Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fremont Cottonwood / Mesic Forbs Riparian Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riparian woodland association occurs in southeastern Utah. Total vegetation cover ranges from 50% to nearly 100% in these moist woodlands. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately closed canopy of Populus fremontii with between 26 and 50% cover. There is no developed shrub layer, although scattered shrubs such as Rosa woodsii and Forestiera pubescens may be present. The herbaceous layer is diverse and provides up to 50% cover, and usually consists several species of forbs. The forb understory varies greatly from site to site and from year to year, depending on the timing of flooding and the height of the water table. Species with significant cover include Oxytenia acerosa, Maianthemum stellatum, Equisetum arvense, and Equisetum laevigatum. Graminoids are low in cover and include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Phragmites australis, and Schoenoplectus americanus. This riparian woodland occurs along low-gradient perennial and intermittent streams, in mesic valley bottoms and below springs. Although these stands may not flood regularly, the water table is generally within a few feet of the surface through most of the growing season. Sites slope gently (less than 5%) and are located between 1116 and 1890 m (3670-6200 feet) elevation. Soils are typically somewhat poorly drained fine sands in these temporarily flooded sites and are derived from alluvium and colluvium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. This association is intended to describe Populus fremontii woodlands occupying the active floodplain (water table is still high) that lack a developed shrub layer and in which most of the understory cover is composed of non-graminoid herbaceous species, where there is no consistent dominant or diagnostic element.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation cover ranges from 50% to nearly 100% in these moist woodlands. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately closed canopy of Populus fremontii with between 26 and 50% cover. There is no developed shrub layer, although scattered shrubs such as Rosa woodsii and Forestiera pubescens may be present. The exotic tall shrub Tamarix chinensis may be present. The herbaceous layer is diverse and provides up to 50% cover. The forb understory varies greatly from site to site and from year to year, depending on the timing of flooding and the water table. The layer is usually a combination of several species rather than any single species having particularly high cover; species include Artemisia dracunculus, Artemisia ludoviciana, Comandra umbellata, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum laevigatum, Heterotheca villosa, Oxytenia acerosa (= Iva acerosa), Maianthemum stellatum, and Solidago canadensis. Graminoids are low in cover and include Elymus canadensis, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Panicum spp., Phragmites australis, Poa fendleriana, Typha spp., Scirpus spp., and Schoenoplectus americanus.
Dynamics: Although these stands may not occur on sites that flood regularly, the water table is generally within a few feet of the surface through most of the growing season.
Environmental Description: This woodland association is documented along low-gradient perennial and intermittent streams, in mesic valley bottoms and below springs in southeastern Utah. Sites slope gently (less than 5%) and are located between 1116 and 1890 m (3670-6200 feet) elevation. Soils are typically somewhat poorly drained fine sands in these temporarily flooded sites and are derived from alluvium and colluvium.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from a few locations in southeastern Utah. It is likely more widespread, although probably not common, throughout the Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769278
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A0644 Fremont Cottonwood Great Basin Riparian Forest Alliance | A0644 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002470 Fremont Cottonwood / Mesic Forbs Riparian Woodland | CEGL002470 | 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 fremontii / Mesic Forbs Woodland (Clark et al. 2009)
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, K. Decker, M. Hall, J. Von Loh, T. Belote, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Canyonlands National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2012/577. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.