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G147 Populus deltoides - Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Pascopyrum smithii Floodplain Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group is found across the Great Plains on floodplains of medium to small rivers where an open to moderately closed tree canopy is dominated by Populus deltoides or sometimes Fraxinus pennsylvanica, often with Acer negundo, Salix amygdaloides, Salix nigra, and, in the southern portion of the group''s range, Celtis laevigata and Platanus occidentalis.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Cottonwood - Green Ash Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is composed of woodlands and forests found along medium and small rivers in the western and central Great Plains from southern Canada to the Texas panhandle. Populus deltoides is the most common tree and may be nearly the only species in the overstory in some stands. Other common trees are Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, Salix amygdaloides, and, in the southeastern portion of this group''s range, Celtis laevigata and Platanus occidentalis. The shrub and herbaceous layers are much more diverse than the canopy across the range of this group with no single species common throughout. Typical shrubs include Artemisia cana ssp. cana, Cornus spp., Salix spp., and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. The herbaceous stratum is strongly influenced by surrounding upland Great Plains grasslands and often contains mid and tallgrass species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is dominated by trees and is found along medium and small rivers in the Great Plains. Its range in the drier central and western Great Plains and the presence of more Great Plains flora in the understory help to distinguish it from floodplain groups farther east.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group can be similar to ~Southern Ash - Elm - Willow Floodplain Forest Group (G759)$$ where their ranges adjoin in the central and eastern Great Plains. This group (G147) is found on smaller rivers with less extensive floodplains and tends to have more influence from Great Plains flora in the understory. However, both groups are typically dominated by Populus deltoides and both could occur on the same rivers, particularly the Missouri River and Arkansas River but also possibly the Platte River, Republican River, and Canadian River.
Where small tributaries or draws join with medium or small rivers, this group could be adjacent to ~Great Plains Mesic Forest & Woodland Group (G145)$$. This group (G147) is distinguished by being in floodplains where regular flooding occurs and often has Populus deltoides and/or Salix spp. as a dominant or significant component of the overstory and Salix spp. in the shrub layers.
Where small tributaries or draws join with medium or small rivers, this group could be adjacent to ~Great Plains Mesic Forest & Woodland Group (G145)$$. This group (G147) is distinguished by being in floodplains where regular flooding occurs and often has Populus deltoides and/or Salix spp. as a dominant or significant component of the overstory and Salix spp. in the shrub layers.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands in this dynamic group can have a wide variety of physiognomies. The tree canopy can be open to closed (>25%) and can range from short to tall (10-25 m). The shrub and herbaceous strata can range from nearly absent to dense.
Floristics: Populus deltoides is the most common tree across the range of this group, and some stands may contain little else in the canopy. The tree canopy is not very diverse. Other tree species that can be present to even dominant in some stand are Acer negundo, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, Salix amygdaloides, and, in the southeastern portion of this group''s range, Celtis laevigata and Platanus occidentalis. The shrub and herbaceous layers are much more diverse than the canopy across the range of this group. Typical shrubs include Artemisia cana ssp. cana, Cornus drummondii, Cornus sericea, Salix interior, Salix exigua, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Prunus spp. can occur, especially along drier edges of these floodplains. The herbaceous stratum is strongly influenced by surrounding upland Great Plains grasslands and often contains mid and tallgrass species such as Andropogon gerardii, Carex pellita, Pascopyrum smithii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Spartina pectinata, and Sporobolus cryptandrus.
Dynamics: Periodic flooding is important in establishing and maintaining stands of this group. Flooding regime (frequency, severity, duration) is also important in shaping the understory composition and structure. Scouring and deposition during flooding create areas of new bare mineral soil necessary for Populus deltoides regeneration. Fire may spread from surrounding uplands, particularly where the understory has a significant herbaceous component.
Environmental Description: This group is found in floodplains and riparian settings along medium and small rivers. Soils are primarily alluvial and range from sandy to clay. This group can occur in deep or shallow river valleys but slopes within stands of this group are typically gentle or nonexistent. Stands are flooded periodically but do not remain submerged for long periods.
Geographic Range: This group is found along permanent rivers throughout the western and central Great Plains from the southern Prairie Provinces of Canada to the panhandle of Texas and from the Rocky Mountains east to the eastern Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, CO, IA, KS, MB, MN?, MO?, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, SK, TX, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.856756
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.4 Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Willow species Flooded & Swamp Forest | M028 | 1.B.3.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.4.a Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group | G147 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A0636 Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Woodland Alliance | A0636 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A3423 Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3423 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A4131 Green Ash - American Elm - Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Forest Alliance | A4131 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Cottonwood - Willow: 235 (Eyre 1980)
> Cottonwood: 63 (Eyre 1980)
> Sugarberry - American Elm - Green Ash: 93 (Eyre 1980)
> Cottonwood: 63 (Eyre 1980)
> Sugarberry - American Elm - Green Ash: 93 (Eyre 1980)
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]