Print Report
A3588 Cornus drummondii - Amorpha fruticosa Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This dogwood shrubland is found along rivers and streams in the central Great Plains above the stream channel where periodic flooding in late winter or spring inundates the sites favoring dominance by Amorpha fruticosa and Cornus drummondii with scattered patches of Cornus sericea, Salix exigua, and Populus deltoides saplings.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Roughleaf Dogwood - False Indigobush Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Dogwood - Tall Indigobush Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This dogwood shrubland community is found along rivers and streams in the central Great Plains of the United States. Vegetation consists of patches of moderate to locally dense cold-deciduous shrubs 2-3 m tall. Amorpha fruticosa and Cornus drummondii dominate the stands, with scattered patches of Cornus sericea, Salix exigua, and Populus deltoides saplings. The herbaceous understory varies in response to flooding. Sedges, such as Carex cristatella, Carex emoryi, and Carex pellita, are found with mesophytic grasses, such as Panicum virgatum and Andropogon gerardii. Poa pratensis can be common, as well. In more xeric habitats, weedy annual forbs, such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, may be abundant, whereas wetter sites are dominated by forbs typical of marshes, e.g., Impatiens capensis, Mentha arvensis. This alliance is found along high banks, raised islands, and terraces above the stream channel, which experience periodic flooding in late winter or spring. Soils are moderately well-drained and formed in alluvium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian shrublands dominated by Cornus drummondii, Cornus sericea, and Amorpha fruticosa.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance has only one association currently. There is another riparian shrubland association found in southern Oklahoma, ~Alnus maritima ssp. oklahomensis - Amorpha fruticosa Wet Shrubland (CEGL004455)$$, with Amorpha fruticosa as an associated species that could possibly be folded into this alliance. Little is known about CEGL004455 and it appears to be rather unique in having Alnus maritima ssp. oklahomensis as a dominant, so for now they are in separate, single-association alliances.
This alliance was described based on two communities from Currier (1982): Cornus/Amorpha Community and Amorpha/Cornus Community.
This alliance was described based on two communities from Currier (1982): Cornus/Amorpha Community and Amorpha/Cornus Community.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense shrub layer 2-3 m tall. Herbaceous cover increases with time since flooding and tends to vary inversely with the amount of shrub cover. Herbaceous vegetation is 0.5-1 m tall.
Floristics: Amorpha fruticosa and Cornus drummondii dominate stands of this alliance, with scattered patches of Cornus sericea, Salix exigua, and Populus deltoides saplings. The herbaceous understory varies in response to flooding and the canopy of shrubs. Sedges, such as Carex cristatella, Carex emoryi, and Carex pellita, are found with mesophytic grasses, such as Panicum virgatum and Andropogon gerardii. Poa pratensis can be common, as well. In more xeric habitats, weedy annual forbs, such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, may be abundant, whereas wetter sites are dominated by forbs typical of marshes, e.g., Impatiens capensis, Mentha arvensis.
Dynamics: Stands in this alliance often flood in later winter or spring but they are raised enough above the riverbed to avoid being flooded for most of the growing season. This alliance appears to be spreading with the reduction in flooding frequency on major Nebraska rivers (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010).
Environmental Description: This alliance is found along high banks, raised islands, and terraces above the stream channel, which experience periodic flooding in late winter or spring. Soils are moderately well-drained and formed in alluvium.
Geographic Range: This alliance has been described only in Nebraska and is likely more common in the east with scattered occurrences in the western part of the state (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NE
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899646
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.5 Prairie Cordgrass - Cattail species - Bulrush species Great Plains Marsh, Wet Meadow, Shrubland & Playa Macrogroup | M071 | 2.C.4.Nd.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.5.c Dogwood species - Chokecherry / Western Wheatgrass Great Plains Riparian Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group | G337 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.c |
| Alliance | A3588 Roughleaf Dogwood - False Indigobush Wet Shrubland Alliance | A3588 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.c |
| Association | CEGL005220 Roughleaf Dogwood - False Indigobush - Red-osier Dogwood Wet Shrubland | CEGL005220 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.c |
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains one association from old A.968.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Amorpha/Cornus Community (Currier 1982)
> Cornus/Amorpha Community (Currier 1982)
> Cornus/Amorpha Community (Currier 1982)
- Currier, P. J. 1982. The floodplain vegetation of the Platte River: Phytosociology, forest development, and seedling establishment. Ph.D. dissertation, Iowa State University, Ames. 317 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.