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A0948 Salix nigra Sand-Gravel Floodplain Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is composed of vegetation occurring on sand and gravel rivershores receiving high-energy flood-scour throughout the eastern United States and possibly adjacent Canada. The physiognomy is best characterized as scrub, formed by intermittent flood-scour. Salix nigra is characteristic, but floristic composition and structure is widely variable.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Willow Sand-Gravel Floodplain Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Black Willow Sand-Gravel Riverine Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is composed of vegetation occurring on sand and gravel rivershores receiving high-energy flood-scour. The physiognomy is best characterized as scrub, formed by intermittent flood-scour. Salix nigra is characteristic, but floristic composition and structure is widely variable. Other species of Salix may co-occur, as well as Alnus serrulata, Cornus sericea, and a variety of herbaceous species that tolerate flood disturbance. Alluvial tree saplings often occur as well, including Acer saccharinum, Populus deltoides, and others. This alliance occurs throughout the eastern United States and possibly adjacent Canada.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Flood-pruned trees and shrubs characterized by Salix nigra occurring on alluvial sand, gravel, and cobble.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is wide-ranging and broadly defined. There are likely to be multiple alliances housed within this alliance as a result of inclusion of the very broadly defined ~Salix nigra Wet Shrubland (CEGL003901)$$. Additional data collection and analysis will be necessary to differentiate them.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The physiognomy is best characterized as scrub (low tree species 2-5 m tall), formed by intermittent flood-scour.

Floristics: Salix nigra is characteristic, but floristic composition and structure are widely variable. Other species of Salix may co-occur, as well as Alnus serrulata, Cornus sericea, and a variety of herbaceous species that tolerate flood disturbance. Alluvial tree saplings often occur as well, including Acer saccharinum, Populus deltoides, and others.

Dynamics:  These young, or frequently disturbed, thickets, often have few to no other species present. The presence of this vegetation is related to disturbance frequency, both natural and anthropogenic.
Environmental Description:  This alliance is composed of vegetation occurring on sand and gravel rivershores receiving high-energy flood-scour.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs throughout the eastern United States and possibly adjacent Canada.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL?, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, ON?, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA?, VT, WV


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.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.3 Eastern North American Wet Shoreline Vegetation Macrogroup M880 2.C.4.Nd.3
Group 2.C.4.Nd.3.a Eastern North American Riverine Wetland Vegetation Group G755 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Alliance A0948 Black Willow Sand-Gravel Floodplain Scrub Alliance A0948 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL003901 Black Willow Wet Shrubland CEGL003901 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL004033 Southern Appalachian Bedrock Riverscour Vegetation CEGL004033 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL006065 <i>Salix nigra - Salix</i> spp. / <i>Carex torta - Apocynum cannabinum</i> Wet Shrubland CEGL006065 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL006463 Black Willow - River Birch / Common Threesquare Riverscour Shrubland CEGL006463 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL006484 American Hornbeam - Possum-haw Wet Shrubland CEGL006484 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Black Willow: 95 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Cogan, D. 2007c. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SOPN/NRTR--2007/073. National Park Service, Johnson City, TX. 118 pp.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
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