Print Report
A0977 Salix lasiolepis Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Communities within this cold-deciduous, temporarily (or seasonally) flooded shrubland alliance occupy stream benches and occasionally seeps. They can form stringer communities along drainages with slopes ranging between 1-15%. Elevations range between 259 and 2490 m. Soils are xeric and developed on alluvium. The tall-shrub layer is dominated by Salix lasiolepis which forms a dense overstory ranging from 60-100% cover.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arroyo Willow Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Arroyo Willow Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The tall-shrub layer of this alliance is dominated by Salix lasiolepis which forms a dense overstory ranging from 60-100% cover. Other shrubs that may be equally important include Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis salicifolia, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Morella californica, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent trees may include Acer macrophyllum, Platanus racemosa, Populus balsamifera, Populus fremontii, Salix spp., and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis. Ribes aureum, Rosa californica, or Rosa woodsii typically form a low-shrub layer near the base of the willows. The undergrowth is typically depauperate, with Clematis ligusticifolia and Maianthemum stellatum present in minor amounts. Bare ground and/or leaf litter from the willow overstory are characteristic. This alliance occurs in California, Nevada, southwestern Utah, Oregon, and Idaho. Communities within this cold-deciduous, temporarily (or seasonally) flooded shrubland alliance occupy stream benches and occasionally seeps. They can form stringer communities along drainages with slopes ranging from 1-15%. Elevations range between 259 and 2490 m. Soils are xeric and developed on alluvium. Water tables were rarely reached by researchers within the depth of soil pits, and mottles were not evident because of the coarse soil texture.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian stands dominated by Salix lasiolepis.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Salix lasiolepis mixes with other tall willows in the northern and eastern portions of its range in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Utah, but the only associations described to date are single willow-dominated types.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The tall-shrub layer is dominated by broad-leaved, deciduous shrubs that can reach heights of 5 m. The canopy is dense with cover of over 90%. The understory forms a moderately dense, low-shrub stratum with a sparse graminoid/forb layer.
Floristics: Communities within this alliance are defined as cold-deciduous, temporarily (or seasonally) flooded shrublands. The tall-shrub layer is dominated by Salix lasiolepis which forms a dense overstory ranging from 60-100% cover. Other woody species in the shrub or emergent tree layer include Acer macrophyllum, Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis salicifolia, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Morella californica, Platanus racemosa, Populus balsamifera, Populus fremontii, Salix spp., and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis. Ribes aureum, Rosa californica, or Rosa woodsii typically form a low-shrub layer near the base of the willows. The undergrowth is typically depauperate, with Artemisia douglasiana, Clematis ligusticifolia or other Clematis sp., Juncus spp., and Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata) present in minor amounts. Bare ground and/or leaf litter from the willow overstory are characteristic of stands within this alliance.
Dynamics: These plant associations are disturbance-dependent with seasonal flooding and appear to be stable and long-lived in Nevada (Manning and Padgett 1995). The depauperate undergrowth is likely indicative of the xeric surface soil conditions or grazing pressures (Padgett et al. 1989). There were several weedy species within the understory, including Bromus tectorum, Melilotus indicus, Poa pratensis, Rumex crispus, and Taraxacum officinale.
Environmental Description: Stands occupy stream benches and occasionally seeps. They can form stringer communities along drainages with slopes ranging from 1-15% cover. Elevations range between 259 and 2490 m. Soils are xeric and developed on alluvium. Water tables were rarely reached within the depth of soil pits, and mottles were not evident because of the coarse soil texture (Padgett et al. 1989, Manning and Padgett 1995). Adjacent uplands can be dominated by Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, Quercus gambelii, or Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in California, Nevada, southwestern Utah, Oregon, and Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, ID, NV, OR, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899054
Confidence Level: Low
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.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group | G527 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A0977 Arroyo Willow Wet Shrubland Alliance | A0977 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL001216 Arroyo Willow / Barren Ground Wet Shrubland | CEGL001216 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL001217 Arroyo Willow / Woods'' Rose / Mixed Herbs Wet Shrubland | CEGL001217 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL003453 Arroyo Willow - Red-osier Dogwood / Woods'' Rose Wet Shrubland | CEGL003453 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.977
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo willow thickets) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.201.00]
= Salix lasiolepis Alliance (Arroyo willow thickets) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Salix lasiolepis Temporarily Flooded Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Salix lasiolepis Woodland/Forest Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
= Salix lasiolepis Alliance (Arroyo willow thickets) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Salix lasiolepis Temporarily Flooded Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Salix lasiolepis Woodland/Forest Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
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