Print Report
G545 Adiantum spp. - Mimulus spp. - Aquilegia spp. Colorado Plateau Seep Group
Type Concept Sentence: These herbaceous-dominated perennial water sources (seeps) form pocketed wetlands and draping vegetation across wet cliff faces, with species such as Adiantum capillus-veneris, Aquilegia micrantha, and/or Mimulus eastwoodiae, although there are many other representative species. They are found on cliffs in the Colorado Plateau region.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Maidenhair Fern species - Monkeyflower species - Columbine species Colorado Plateau Seep Group
Colloquial Name: Colorado Plateau Hanging Garden Seep
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group consists of the herbaceous vegetation found in "hanging gardens" in the Colorado Plateau region that are surrounded by an arid environment associated with canyon country. These highly localized environments occur in canyonlands with perennial water sources (seeps) forming pocketed wetlands and draping vegetation across wet cliff faces. Three main garden types exist: alcove, terrace, or windowblind. Each is determined by the nature of the geological formation and the presence or absence of joint systems. They tend to occur at all exposures of the canyon walls, but they are always shaded for much to most of each day. Temperature and humidity are relatively stable compared to the surrounding environment. Most hanging gardens are dominated by herbaceous plants, and a number of these are endemic to this region. Common species include Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum aleuticum, Cirsium rydbergii, Mimulus eastwoodiae, Mimulus guttatus, Sullivantia hapemanii, and several species of Aquilegia, including Aquilegia micrantha. Larger alcoves may have shrubby species as well, such as Frangula betulifolia, Quercus gambelii, and even Pseudotsuga menziesii in some north-facing alcoves.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These highly localized environments occur in canyonlands with perennial water sources (seeps) forming pocketed wetlands and draping herbaceous vegetation across wet cliff faces. Some shrubs may be present in the larger alcove seep areas.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: More literature and data are available and need to be incorporated (e.g., Spence (2008) and Keate (1996)). "Hanging gardens" along wet cliff faces also occur in other areas of the Arid West, including Death Valley National Park, where taxa such as Andropogon glomeratus, Cladium californicum, Muhlenbergia utilis, Schoenus nigricans, Solidago spectabilis var. confinis, and Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis along with a variety of other forbs occur; thus, other related groups and alliances in the Southwest will need to be addressed and defined. Additional floristic and environmental information will be added from data supplied by John Spence in 2015.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Wetland seeps in cliff faces with drooping and hanging cold-deciduous fern and forb herbaceous vegetation.
Floristics: The vegetation of the hanging gardens group is often composed of few species, although the diversity of vegetation is much greater in the gardens on the Colorado Plateau than those of the Utah High Plateaus. The vegetation may overlap with nearby riparian vegetation, but there are a series of species that are unique to hanging gardens (Welsh 1989). Several species of algae are restricted to these hanging gardens. The back and face walls support clinging plants of Adiantum capillus-veneris, Mimulus eastwoodiae, Petrophytum caespitosum, Primula specuicola, and several other species. The wet, sandy detritus supports Aquilegia micrantha, Calamagrostis scopulorum, Carex aurea, Cirsium rydbergii, Dichanthelium acuminatum (= Panicum acuminatum), Epipactis gigantea, Perityle specuicola, and Zigadenus vaginatus. A fringing margin of Cercis canadensis var. texensis (= Cercis occidentalis), Celtis laevigata var. reticulata (= Celtis reticulata), and Quercus gambelii often occurs outward from the footslope where the plants tend to conceal the alcove base. The outer and drier edges support grasses typical of the prairies and plains of the western U.S. In the Utah High Plateaus gardens, the dominants are usually Sullivantia hapemanii var. purpusii and Aquilegia barnebyi with Mimulus guttatus common.
Variation in hanging garden vegetation varies from canyon to canyon as well as separate alcoves within a canyon. The vegetation of hanging gardens generally has some common species that are found at most of the hanging gardens, e.g., Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum pedatum, Maianthemum stellatum, and Mimulus spp., but numerous endemics occur of which some may be represented by just one or two sites. The following species are endemic to hanging gardens of the Colorado Plateau region: Aquilegia micrantha, Carex curatorum, Cirsium rydbergii, Erigeron kachinensis (one occurrence outside of hanging gardens in the Abajo Mountains), Erigeron sionis, Erigeron zothecinus, Platanthera zothecina (= Habenaria zothecina), Mimulus eastwoodiae, Perityle specuicola, and Primula specuicola. Other species include Andropogon glomeratus, Cladium californicum, Muhlenbergia utilis, Schoenus nigricans, Solidago spectabilis var. confinis (= Solidago confinis), and Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis. Larger alcoves may have shrubby species as well, such as Frangula betulifolia (= Rhamnus betulifolia), Quercus gambelii, and even Pseudotsuga menziesii in some north-facing alcoves. Floristic information compiled from Keammerer and Keammerer (1978), Malanson (1980, 1982), Malanson and Kay (1980), Welsh and Toft (1981), Welsh (1989), and Romme et al. (1993).
Variation in hanging garden vegetation varies from canyon to canyon as well as separate alcoves within a canyon. The vegetation of hanging gardens generally has some common species that are found at most of the hanging gardens, e.g., Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum pedatum, Maianthemum stellatum, and Mimulus spp., but numerous endemics occur of which some may be represented by just one or two sites. The following species are endemic to hanging gardens of the Colorado Plateau region: Aquilegia micrantha, Carex curatorum, Cirsium rydbergii, Erigeron kachinensis (one occurrence outside of hanging gardens in the Abajo Mountains), Erigeron sionis, Erigeron zothecinus, Platanthera zothecina (= Habenaria zothecina), Mimulus eastwoodiae, Perityle specuicola, and Primula specuicola. Other species include Andropogon glomeratus, Cladium californicum, Muhlenbergia utilis, Schoenus nigricans, Solidago spectabilis var. confinis (= Solidago confinis), and Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis. Larger alcoves may have shrubby species as well, such as Frangula betulifolia (= Rhamnus betulifolia), Quercus gambelii, and even Pseudotsuga menziesii in some north-facing alcoves. Floristic information compiled from Keammerer and Keammerer (1978), Malanson (1980, 1982), Malanson and Kay (1980), Welsh and Toft (1981), Welsh (1989), and Romme et al. (1993).
Dynamics: In the Colorado Plateau region, three main garden types exist: alcove, terrace, or windowblind. Each is determined by the nature of the geological formation and the presence or absence of joint systems. In general, the hanging gardens are the result of the ancient swales or valleys in a sand dune-swale system that developed between the Cretaceous and Pennsylvanian periods (65-310 mya). Massive sandstones seem to be best suited for alcove development coincidental with garden formation, some better than others. The formations with greatest development are the Navajo and Entrada, both of them cross-bedded, massive formations composed of wind-blown sand and containing ancient pond bottoms that serve as impervious bedding planes. The Wingate Formation lacks significant hanging gardens. The sands of formations suitable for hanging garden development were deposited mainly on land, as dunes with interdunal valleys. The interdunal valleys were often the sites of lakes, whose bottoms were made impervious by accumulations of dust and other fine particles. Turned to stone, the ancient lake and pond basins continue to exist within the strata. Water percolating through the porous rock encounters the ancient bedding planes, still impervious and capable of holding water. When filled to overflowing, these bedding planes carry the water downward to the next bedding plane beneath or to another impervious stratum at the base of the formation. Joint systems within the rock act as passageways for water. Where the joint systems are exposed along canyon walls, the water flows over the moist surfaces.
Environmental Description: Climate: Hanging gardens in the Colorado Plateau ecoregion are surrounded by an arid environment and associated with canyon country. Annual precipitation is low and varies from 127 to 356 mm (5-14 inches). While mean annual temperatures are high, extreme temperatures are probably more important than means to the survival of plants. Summer temperatures greater than 100°F are common.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: The classic alcove type of hanging garden in the Canyonlands of southeastern Utah consists of an overhanging back wall, a vaulted face wall, a detrital slope, and a plunge basin. Complexity of the plant community within a hanging garden is a function of the quantity and quality of water, developmental aspects, and accessibility of plant species to it. They tend to occur at all exposures of the canyon walls, but they are always shaded for much to most of each day. Temperature and humidity are relatively stable compared to the surrounding environment. They vary in size, aspect, exposure to the elements, water quantity and quality, number of bedding planes, and amount of light received. Water quality, in some degree, controls the kinds of plants in hanging gardens. Quality of water is dictated by the nature of the formations through which the water passes. Water is often of drinkable quality; however, water may be saline or laden with calcium, which results in tufa deposits in the gardens. Generally, however, water from the gardens is potable.
In the Utah High Plateaus, the hanging garden group is associated with springs, seeps and waterfalls. The waterfall vegetation grows in the cracks behind and beside the waterfall and is best described as hanging gardens. In the seeps adjacent to waterfalls and in the splash zones at the base of waterfalls, the substrate is saturated during most of the growing season. The vegetation is continually wet, at least near the bases of the plants, and water can very commonly be seen dripping from leaves, exposed roots and old stems. Suitable growing sites are limited on the steep rock walls such that each of the available ledges has an abundance of plants which grow on it. Most of the hanging gardens in the Utah High Plateaus are associated with calcareous shales of the Green River Formation. Although large occurrences of hanging gardens are primarily associated with waterfalls, smaller occurrences occur along cliff seeps above the streams, especially in the Roan Plateau area. Environmental description compiled from Keammerer and Keammerer (1978), Malanson (1980, 1982), Malanson and Kay (1980), Welsh and Toft (1981), Welsh (1989), and Romme et al. (1993).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: The classic alcove type of hanging garden in the Canyonlands of southeastern Utah consists of an overhanging back wall, a vaulted face wall, a detrital slope, and a plunge basin. Complexity of the plant community within a hanging garden is a function of the quantity and quality of water, developmental aspects, and accessibility of plant species to it. They tend to occur at all exposures of the canyon walls, but they are always shaded for much to most of each day. Temperature and humidity are relatively stable compared to the surrounding environment. They vary in size, aspect, exposure to the elements, water quantity and quality, number of bedding planes, and amount of light received. Water quality, in some degree, controls the kinds of plants in hanging gardens. Quality of water is dictated by the nature of the formations through which the water passes. Water is often of drinkable quality; however, water may be saline or laden with calcium, which results in tufa deposits in the gardens. Generally, however, water from the gardens is potable.
In the Utah High Plateaus, the hanging garden group is associated with springs, seeps and waterfalls. The waterfall vegetation grows in the cracks behind and beside the waterfall and is best described as hanging gardens. In the seeps adjacent to waterfalls and in the splash zones at the base of waterfalls, the substrate is saturated during most of the growing season. The vegetation is continually wet, at least near the bases of the plants, and water can very commonly be seen dripping from leaves, exposed roots and old stems. Suitable growing sites are limited on the steep rock walls such that each of the available ledges has an abundance of plants which grow on it. Most of the hanging gardens in the Utah High Plateaus are associated with calcareous shales of the Green River Formation. Although large occurrences of hanging gardens are primarily associated with waterfalls, smaller occurrences occur along cliff seeps above the streams, especially in the Roan Plateau area. Environmental description compiled from Keammerer and Keammerer (1978), Malanson (1980, 1982), Malanson and Kay (1980), Welsh and Toft (1981), Welsh (1989), and Romme et al. (1993).
Geographic Range: This group is found on the Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, NV?, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.849120
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division | D032 | 2.C.4.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M076 | 2.C.4.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a Maidenhair Fern species - Monkeyflower species - Columbine species Colorado Plateau Seep Group | G545 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A2506 Mancos Columbine Hanging Garden Alliance | A2506 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A2655 Ditch Reedgrass - Bushy Bluestem Hanging Garden Alliance | A2655 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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