Print Report

A0311 Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa Northern Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of riparian woodlands dominated by Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa and Populus balsamifera ssp. balsamifera. This riparian forest alliance occurs on alluvial terraces along major streams and rivers throughout the interior western United States. They can occur on alluvial terraces of major streams and rivers, margins of lakes, meadows, deltas, river mouths, and terraces. Stands can occupy broad floodplains or form narrow stringers adjacent to streams with a much steeper slope.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Cottonwood Northern Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Northern Rocky Mountain Riparian Black Cottonwood Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Vegetation within this alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense tree layer that is dominated by Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa and Populus balsamifera ssp. balsamifera. Tree associates include Populus deltoides, Populus angustifolia, Pinus ponderosa, and Picea spp. A shrub layer is usually present and may be dominated by Alnus incana, Betula papyrifera, Cornus sericea, Crataegus douglasii, Prunus virginiana, Ribes americanum, Salix exigua, and Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is usually relatively sparse and is dominated by either forbs or graminoids. Common species include Actaea rubra, Cicuta douglasii, Equisetum sylvaticum, Mentha arvensis, and Symphyotrichum spathulatum. This riparian forest alliance occurs on alluvial terraces along major streams and rivers throughout the western United States. It can occur on alluvial terraces of major streams and rivers, margins of lakes, meadows, deltas, river mouths, and terraces. Stands can occupy broad floodplains or form narrow stringers adjacent to streams with a much steeper slope. Soils typically overlay river gravel and/or cobbles and are coarse-textured. Water tables may drop below 1 m of the soil surface in summer, but can remain moist due to capillary action.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands dominated by Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa or Populus balsamifera ssp. balsamifera.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by a tall (<25 m) broad-leaved deciduous tree. The canopy is moderately dense with 50-80% cover on average, but in some stands can total over 90%. The tall- and short-shrub layers vary between 10-50% cover. The forb layer is sparse with up to 20% cover. Ferns can dominate the herbaceous layer with up to 40% cover. Graminoids can be dominant in some stands (particularly recently disturbed ones), or can be sparse.

Floristics: This alliance is dominated by Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa and/or Populus balsamifera ssp. balsamifera. Other trees present may include Populus deltoides, Populus angustifolia, Pinus ponderosa, and Picea spp. and can occur in the canopy with Populus balsamifera in Montana stands. The shrub layer is dominated by Alnus incana, Betula papyrifera, Cornus sericea, Prunus virginiana, and Ribes americanum. The forb layer can be dominated by Actaea rubra, Mentha arvensis, and Symphyotrichum spathulatum (= Aster occidentalis). The graminoid cover is usually less than 10%, but can be up to 80%, and mainly consists of introduced hay grasses. Equisetum sylvaticum can dominate the fern layer with up to 40% cover.

Dynamics:  Populus species are dependent on flooding for successful sexual reproduction.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs on alluvial terraces along major streams and rivers. It can occur on alluvial terraces of major streams and rivers, margins of lakes, meadows, deltas, river mouths, and terraces. Stands can occupy broad floodplains (1-3% slopes) or form narrow stringers adjacent to streams with a much steeper slope (10-15%). Soils are typically Entisols, usually up to 1 m of mineral soil overlying river gravel and/or cobbles. Soil texture varies from loam to coarse sand. Water tables usually drop below 1 m of the soil surface in summer, but can remain moist due to capillary action. A fluctuating water table in these soils is evidenced by the common presence of mottles.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout the northern Interior West from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to Montana, from southern British Columbia to Nevada, Utah and western Wyoming.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, BC, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


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.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D195 1.B.3.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup M034 1.B.3.Nc.1
Group 1.B.3.Nc.1.c Northern Rocky Mountain Lowland-Foothill Riparian Forest Group G796 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Alliance A0311 Black Cottonwood Northern Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance A0311 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000482 Black Cottonwood / Devil''s-club - Rocky Mountain Maple Riparian Forest CEGL000482 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000542 Black Cottonwood - (Quaking Aspen) / Common Cow-parsnip Riparian Forest CEGL000542 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000667 Black Cottonwood / Gray Alder Riparian Forest CEGL000667 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000670 Black Cottonwood / Paper Birch Riparian Forest CEGL000670 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000671 Black Cottonwood / Western Water-hemlock Riparian Forest CEGL000671 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000672 Black Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Forest CEGL000672 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000673 Black Cottonwood / Black Hawthorn Riparian Forest CEGL000673 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000675 Black Cottonwood / Mixed Herbs Riparian Forest CEGL000675 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000676 Black Cottonwood / Narrowleaf Willow Riparian Forest CEGL000676 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL000677 (Black Cottonwood, Balsam Poplar) / (Common Snowberry, Mountain Snowberry, Western Snowberry) Riparian Forest CEGL000677 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL003431 Black Cottonwood / Greenleaf Willow Riparian Woodland CEGL003431 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL005845 Black Cottonwood / Bluejoint Riparian Forest CEGL005845 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL005905 Black Cottonwood - Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Forest CEGL005905 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL005906 Black Cottonwood - Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Bride''s Bonnet Riparian Forest CEGL005906 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL005907 Black Cottonwood - Engelmann Spruce / Field Horsetail Riparian Forest CEGL005907 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL005909 Black Cottonwood - Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Bluejoint Riparian Forest CEGL005909 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL005910 Black Cottonwood - Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Common Cow-parsnip Riparian Forest CEGL005910 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL008620 Black Cottonwood - Jeffrey Pine Riparian Forest CEGL008620 1.B.3.Nc.1.c
Concept Lineage: [compare A.311 for edits]

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Populus balsamifera Series (Johnston 1987)
? Populus trichocarpa (Black cottonwood forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.120.00]
? Balsam Poplar: 203 (Eyre 1980)
>< Black Cottonwood - Willow: 222 (Eyre 1980)
>< Cottonwood - Willow: 235 (Eyre 1980)
>< Montane Riparian Wetlands (Brown 1982a)
Concept Author(s): D. Culver, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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