Print Report
A3773 Cornus sericea - Dasiphora fruticosa - Ribes spp. Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This western alliance comprises short-statured to medium-tall (usually <1.5 m, but can be up to 3 m) shrublands dominated by Cornus sericea, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Rosa woodsii, Ribes lacustre, and/or Ribes hudsonianum. Understories are graminoid- or forb-dominated. Environments are riparian areas, wet valley bottoms and lower slopes that have seasonal subirrigation.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red-osier Dogwood - Shrubby-cinquefoil - Currant species Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Western Non-willow Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This western alliance comprises short-statured to medium-tall (usually <1.5 m, but can be up to 3 m) shrublands dominated by Cornus sericea, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Rosa woodsii, Ribes lacustre, and/or Ribes hudsonianum. Understories are graminoid- or forb-dominated. Environments are riparian areas, wet valley bottoms and lower slopes that have seasonal subirrigation.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian shrublands dominated by Cornus sericea, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Rosa woodsii, Ribes lacustre, and/or Ribes hudsonianum.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These are riparian shrublands that are not wet enough to support Salix or Alnus species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The short-shrub stratum is dominated by broad-leaved deciduous shrubs that typically are 1 m tall or less. The open canopy cover ranges from 10-90%. The herbaceous layer can be sparse with heavy overstory or dense graminoid cover formed by rhizomatous sedges and bunch grasses. The forb layer is usually dominated by perennial forbs and can be sparse to nonexistent in some stands.
Floristics: Plant associations within this alliance are classified as temporarily flooded, cold-deciduous shrublands. Cornus sericea, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), or Ribes lacustre dominates the overstory. Other shrub species may include Acer glabrum, Alnus incana, Artemisia cana, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea (= Cornus stolonifera), Juniperus communis, Lonicera involucrata, Ribes inerme, Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus, Salix bebbiana, and other Salix species. The herbaceous understory is sparse to moderate cover that may include graminoids Andropogon gerardii, Bromus ciliatus, Carex aquatilis, Carex buxbaumii, Carex microptera, Carex pachystachya, Festuca campestris, Festuca idahoensis, Festuca rubra, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Muhlenbergia filiformis, Phalaris arundinacea, Poa palustris, Poa secunda, and/or Schizachyrium scoparium, and/or forbs such as Galium triflorum, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, Saxifraga odontoloma, and/or Trifolium longipes. Exotic forage species such as Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, and the annual forb Taraxacum officinale may be present in disturbed stands.
Dynamics: Heavily grazed sites may support Dasiphora-dominated communities (Komarkova 1986, Padgett et. al. 1989). With continuous heavy 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). Stands dominated by Cornus sericea forms a relatively stable community because of its strong rhizomes and stolons (Hansen et al. 1988b).
Environmental Description: Plant associations within this alliance occur adjacent to glacial depressions, terraces along meandering streams, slopes near springs and seeps, steep scree slopes, or broad mountain meadows. They may occur in foothill canyons, on intermittent streams with beds of limestone cobbles and boulders, or near springs at the base of limestone talus or limestone bedrock. They typically occur on alluvial terraces adjacent to stream channels and near seeps on moist toeslopes (slope 0-10%) of canyon walls. They also occur on narrow stream benches in ravines and on narrow terraces of wider valleys. They range in elevation from 860 to 3000 m. 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.
Geographic Range: This western alliance is found in eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, SK?, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899825
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Rosa woodsii (Interior rose thickets) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [63.320.00]
> Rosa woodsii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Rosa woodsii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- Hansen, P. L., S. W. Chadde, and R. D. Pfister. 1988b. Riparian dominance types of Montana. University of Montana Miscellaneous Publication 49. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, Missoula. 411 pp.
- Hansen, P., K. Boggs, and R. Pfister. 1991. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. Unpublished draft version prepared for Montana Riparian Association, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 478 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1988b. Riparian community type classification of Utah. Publication R4-ECOL-88-01. USDA Forest Service, Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah and southeastern Idaho. Research Paper R4-ECOL-89-0. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Sanderson, J., and M. March. 1996. Extreme rich fens of South Park, Colorado: Their distribution, identification, and natural heritage significance. Report submitted to Park County, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Tuhy, J. S., and S. Jensen. 1982. Riparian classification for the Upper Salmon and Middle Fork Salmon River drainages, Idaho. Unpublished report prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region by White Horse Associates, Smithfield, UT. 183 pp.
- Welsh, S. L., N. D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L. C. Higgins, editors. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 9. Provo, UT. 894 pp.
- Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985a. Riparian community type classification of eastern Idaho-western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-85-01. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 78 pp.
- Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985b. Riparian community type classification of northern Utah and adjacent Idaho. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 104 pp.