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CEGL005007 Baccharis salicina Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Willow Baccharis Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riparian shrubland occurs from the northern panhandle of Texas, across the southwestern Great Plains, and west into the Colorado Plateau. This shrubland usually has a dense short-shrub canopy strongly dominated by Baccharis salicina, but other short and tall shrubs and trees are often present, including Salix spp., Tamarix spp., and Populus deltoides. The herbaceous stratum is typically sparse to moderate due to the heavy shading by shrubs. Common herbaceous species are Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Panicum virgatum, and Phragmites australis. This association is found near streams and lakes, often on the first terrace and on alluvial soils. The water table is high and seasonal flooding is common.
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. The relationship of this association to other Baccharis spp. associations is unclear. The environmental setting is likely similar. The closely allied association ~Baccharis (emoryi, salicina) - Salix exigua Wet Shrubland (CEGL005947)$$ has near equal amounts of Salix exigua and can be dominated by Baccharis emoryi, and is in a more wet (marsh) part of the hierarchy, while this one is in desert washes.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The community is dominated by shrubs with Baccharis salicina being the dominant. In general, Baccharis salicina is a short shrub but can occasionally reach a height of 2 m. Ericameria nauseosa may be nearly codominant in some stands. Other shrubs present with low to moderate cover include Rhus trilobata, Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Salix exigua, and Quercus gambelii. Tamarix sp. is frequent in the community with plants varying from 1 to 4 m in height. Occasional Populus deltoides trees are scattered throughout the community. Shrubs are usually dense to moderately dense and in places difficult to walk through. There are some grass species present in the community, but shading and competition from shrubs limit both frequency and production. The most common grass species are Achnatherum hymenoides, Panicum virgatum, Phragmites australis, Saccharum ravennae, Sporobolus giganteus, Sporobolus flexuosus, and Muhlenbergia asperifolia. Forbs are infrequent, but may include Apocynum cannabinum, Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia ludoviciana, Artemisia dracunculus, Dalea candida var. oligophylla (= Dalea oligophylla), Euthamia occidentalis, Machaeranthera canescens, Salsola tragus, Solidago canadensis, or Xanthium strumarium. There is evidence that this community has gone from one of approximately 50:50 shrubs and herbaceous plants to a shrub-dominated community within the last 50 years. This may have been influenced by changes in underground waterflow and the nature of flooding of the river and possibly by frequency of natural fire.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This riparian plant community occurs in the river floodplain usually on the first stream terrace. The water table is high, generally within 1.6 m of the soil surface, but will fluctuate somewhat due to season. The terrain is nearly level, and the soils are alluvial sandy loams or silt loams with occasional sandier pockets. The area is occasionally to frequently flooded for short periods of time but usually not to a depth of more than 0.3-0.5 m.
Geographic Range: This shrubland is known from the southwestern Great Plains in the northern panhandle of Texas, and west into the Colorado Plateau of southeastern Utah and western Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, TX, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.788011
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.7 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup | M092 | 3.A.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.7.a Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group | G541 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
| Alliance | A3258 Willow Baccharis Southern Great Plains Wash Scrub Alliance | A3258 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
| Association | CEGL005007 Willow Baccharis Shrubland | CEGL005007 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Baccharis salicina Shrubland (Kittel et al. 1996)
= Baccharis salicina Shrubland (Bell 2005)
= Baccharis salicina Shrubland (Bell 2005)
- Bell, J. R. 2005. Vegetation classification at Lake Meredith NRA and Alibates Flint Quarries NM. A report for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program prepared by NatureServe, Arlington, VA. 172 pp. [http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/parks/lamr_alfl.html]
- Fenton, K., J. R. Bell, and D. Wegner. 2007. Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Texas. Technical Memorandum No. 86-68260-07-01. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO.
- Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, and A. McMullen. 1996. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the Lower South Platte and parts of the Upper Arkansas River basins, Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins. 243 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Spence, J. Personal communication. Botanist, National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Glen Canyon, UT.
- 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.