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A3878 Salix lasiolepis Warm Desert Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance contains riparian shrublands dominated by Salix lasiolepis. These communities are cold-deciduous, seasonally flooded shrublands that occupy stream benches and occasionally seeps and form stringer communities along drainages found within the warm deserts of the southwestern U.S.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arroyo Willow Warm Desert Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Warm Desert Arroyo Willow Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of riparian shrublands dominated by Salix lasiolepis. Other riparian shrubs and trees may be present. The undergrowth is typically depauperate. Bare ground and/or leaf litter from the willow overstory are characteristic. This alliance can be found within the warm deserts of the southwestern U.S. on stream benches, occasionally seeps, and along drainages with slopes ranging between 1-15%. Elevations range between 259 and 2490 m, but down to sea level on the Channel Islands. Soils are xeric and developed on alluvium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands dominated by Salix lasiolepis.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance covers the warm desert, southern portion of the nominal species'' range.

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: The tall-shrub layer is dominated by Salix lasiolepis. 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. There can be several weedy species within the understory, including Bromus tectorum, Melilotus indicus, Poa pratensis, Rumex crispus, and Taraxacum officinale.

Dynamics:  These plant associations are disturbance-dependent from seasonal flooding and are resilient root-resprouters after severe damage from flooding. The depauperate undergrowth is likely indicative of the xeric surface soil conditions.
Environmental Description:  Stands occupy stream benches and occasionally seeps. They can form stringer communities along drainages with slopes ranging between 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).
Geographic Range: This alliance is common in California, Nevada, southwestern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NM?, NV, TX, UT


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.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division D032 2.C.4.Nc
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M076 2.C.4.Nc.1
Group 2.C.4.Nc.1.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - False Willow species North American Warm Desert Riparian Low Bosque & Shrubland Group G533 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Alliance A3878 Arroyo Willow Warm Desert Wet Shrubland Alliance A3878 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL000679 Bonpland''s Willow Wet Scrub CEGL000679 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL002875 Arroyo Willow / Mule-fat Wet Shrubland CEGL002875 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL003170 Arroyo Willow / Blackberry species Wet Shrubland CEGL003170 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL003171 Arroyo Willow / Shining Willow Wet Shrubland CEGL003171 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.977 [also used in G527]

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 Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Salix lasiolepis Shrubland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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