Print Report

A0958 Dasiphora fruticosa Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of shrublands dominated by Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda which occur on moist to very wet sites that can be dry by the end of the growing season at montane and subalpine elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shrubby-cinquefoil Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Rocky Mountain Shrubby-cinquefoil Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is dominated by Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. Associated species on wetter sites include the shrub Artemisia cana; graminoids Carex aquatilis, Carex buxbaumii, Carex microptera, Carex pachystachya, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Muhlenbergia filiformis, and Poa secunda; and forbs such as Trifolium longipes. The drier sites typically are composed of a dense graminoid layer that includes Andropogon gerardii, Festuca campestris, Festuca idahoensis, and Schizachyrium scoparium. It is found on a wide variety of landforms at montane and subalpine elevations in the Rocky Mountains. Sites include glacial depressions, terraces along meandering streams, slopes near springs and seeps, steep scree slopes, or broad mountain meadows.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this alliance is the dominance of Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda in a shrub layer with over 25% cover.

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: An open canopy of short broad-leaved deciduous shrubs with a dense graminoid layer of rhizomatous sedges and bunch grasses.

Floristics: Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda) dominates the overstory with a range of 10-60% cover in all stands. Artemisia cana and Deschampsia cespitosa typically occur with it in wetter sites. Other graminoids present in the wetter sites can include Carex buxbaumii, Carex microptera, Carex pachystachya, Festuca rubra, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Muhlenbergia filiformis, and Poa secunda. Colorado stands in excellent condition (i.e., not grazing-induced) have high cover of Carex aquatilis and Trifolium longipes. Drier sites typically are composed of a dense graminoid layer (up to 75% cover) that includes Andropogon gerardii, Festuca campestris, Festuca idahoensis, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is a common understory shrub for associations dominated by the following montane trees Pinus pungens or Pinus flexilis. Riparian stands that include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda as a understory can include Betula occidentalis or Betula pumila. In the Pacific Northwest, common overstory species can include Larix laricina, Acer rubrum, or Myrica gale.

Dynamics:  Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is an opportunistic species and as such occurs on a variety of habitats. Many of the communities dominated by this species appear to be controlled by disturbance. Komarkova (1986) reports stands on subalpine scree slopes that have relatively rapidly moving fine materials or snow. Heavily grazed sites may support Dasiphora-dominated communities as well (Komarkova 1986, Padgett et. al. 1989). With improper grazing, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda will increase in abundance because it is unpalatable to livestock. Other species that increase with grazing are Poa pratensis, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Taraxacum officinale (Padgett et al. 1989).
Environmental Description:  Plant associations within this alliance are highly variable, occupying various landforms in the foothills, montane, and subalpine regions. They range in elevation from 860 m in Montana to 3000 m in Colorado. These communities can occupy sites adjacent to glacial depressions, terraces along meandering streams, slopes near springs and seeps, steep scree slopes, or broad mountain meadows. Typically, stands occur on broad, gently sloping valley bottoms and floodplains or along the drier edges of isolated wetlands and fens. Surface water is present for brief periods during the growing season, but the water table usually lies well below the soil surface. Parent materials for sites supporting stands of this alliance are either alluvial-glacial or organic. The soils are typically sandy loams over sand and gravel layers. Peat accumulation is common in stands located on fens. Soil texture can be fine-textured with occasional mottling and gleying. Salix wolfii, Salix boothii, or Betula nana communities can be in the adjacent riparian areas.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout the western montane U.S. and Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, 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 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.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.c White Marsh-marigold - Black Alpine Sedge - Alpine Laurel Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-shrubland Group G520 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Alliance A0958 Shrubby-cinquefoil Wet Shrubland Alliance A0958 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001105 Shrubby-cinquefoil Wet Shrubland CEGL001105 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001106 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Sedge species Wet Shrubland CEGL001106 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL003499 Shrubby-cinquefoil Subalpine Wet Shrubland CEGL003499 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.958

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Dasiphora fruticosa (Shrubby cinquefoil scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [38.110.00]
? Pentaphylloides floribunda Series (Johnston 1987)
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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