Print Report
A3975 Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus Mesic Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This mesic shrubland alliance is dominated by diagnostic species Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa acicularis, Rosa nutkana, Rosa woodsii, and/or Symphoricarpos albus. It is known from canyons of the northern Wallowa Mountains, Imnaha River, and Snake River within the Columbia Plateau, the foothills and plains of the central Rocky Mountains and ranges in the Great Basin and eastern California.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mallow Ninebark - Common Snowberry Mesic Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Mallow Ninebark - Common Snowberry Mesic Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The vegetation of this mesic shrubland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense, sometimes patchy shrub layer (usually less than 2 m tall) that is dominated by diagnostic species Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa acicularis, Rosa nutkana, Rosa woodsii, and/or Symphoricarpos albus. Other low-cover associated shrubs may include scattered Amelanchier alnifolia, Crataegus douglasii, Mahonia repens, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana, and Spiraea betulifolia. Toxicodendron rydbergii may be present with moderate cover. The herbaceous layer is typically relatively sparse to moderate (typically 10-25% cover), but may be dense depending on shrub cover, and is composed of a mixture of perennial bunchgrasses such as Pseudoroegneria spicata and Festuca idahoensis and perennial forbs. Moss and lichen cover is often important and ranges from 10-90% cover. Introduced herbaceous species are sometime abundant, including the forage grass Poa pratensis, the weedy forb Cirsium arvense, and the annual grass Bromus briziformis. This mesic shrubland alliance is known from canyons of the northern Wallowa Mountains, Imnaha River, and Snake River within northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington, and west-central Idaho, the mountains, foothills and plains of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and eastern California. It is found on upper slope positions of steep, northeast- to northwest-facing canyon slopes, on flat to gentle benches, valley floors, alluvial terraces, ridges, and slopes and occurs in floodplains and on alluvial terraces along rivers and streams, on hillsides below springs, and in ravines and swales where overland flow from snowmelt and summer thunderstorms provides additional moisture. Soils are moderately deep with textures ranging from sandy and silt loams to silts to clays.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The vegetation is dominated by diagnostic species Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa acicularis, Rosa nutkana, Rosa woodsii, and/or Symphoricarpos albus. Other associated shrubs may include Artemisia tridentata, Ribes aureum, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Toxicodendron rydbergii.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of ~Festuca idahoensis - Symphoricarpos albus Grassland (CEGL001509)$$ may be similar but have sparse shrub layers and are not included in this alliance. Hall (1973) described similar vegetation from the Blue Mountains of Oregon that needs further investigation if it is to be included in this alliance. Stands classified as Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus by Johnson and Simon (1987) were considered to have marginal potential for tree establishment. Other Physocarpus malvaceus-dominated communities are known to occur but are poorly documented within the Pacific Northwest region.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderate to dense, cold-deciduous, broad-leaved short-shrub layer (<2 m tall) with a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer (<1 m tall) that is typically dominated by perennial graminoids, but may be codominated by perennial forbs. Sparse cover of annual forbs and grasses may be seasonally present.
Floristics: This central Rocky Mountains and Columbia Plateau shrubland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense, sometimes patchy shrub layer (usually less than 2 m tall) that is dominated by cold-deciduous broad-leaved shrubs. Dominant and diagnostic species are Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa acicularis, Rosa nutkana, Rosa woodsii, and/or Symphoricarpos albus. Other low-cover associated shrubs may include scattered Amelanchier alnifolia, Crataegus douglasii, Mahonia repens, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana, and Spiraea betulifolia. Toxicodendron rydbergii may be present with moderate cover in some stands. The herbaceous layer is typically relatively sparse to moderate (typically 10-25% cover), but may be dense depending on shrub cover. It is composed of a mixture of perennial bunchgrasses such as Pseudoroegneria spicata and Festuca idahoensis and perennial forbs. Associated forbs include Achillea millefolium, Agastache urticifolia, Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia ludoviciana, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Cirsium brevifolium, Fragaria virginiana, Frasera albicaulis, Geum macrophyllum, Geum triflorum, Hieracium scouleri var. albertinum (= Hieracium albertinum), Lomatium dissectum, Perideridia gairdneri, Plectritis macrocera, and Solidago canadensis. Other perennial graminoids may be present such as Carex spp., Elymus glaucus, Juncus balticus, and Muhlenbergia racemosa. The annual forb Galium aparine may be present to abundant. Moss and lichen cover is often important and ranges from 10-90% cover. Introduced herbaceous species are sometime abundant. Stands described by Hansen et al. (1995) had a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by the exotic forage grass Poa pratensis and the weedy forb Cirsium arvense. The exotic species Bromus briziformis is often present and may be relatively abundant.
Dynamics: Dominant shrub species Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa spp., and Symphoricarpos albus are adapted to low- to moderate-intensity fires by responding with basal sprouting or sprouting from rhizomes located in mineral soil; however, high-intensity fires will kill these species (FEIS 1998, Johnson and Simon 1987). Stands are restricted to relatively mesic northern slopes in river canyons and mountains. Periodic fires may be important in maintaining these stands where Pseudotsuga menziesii trees may invade. Exotic plants have invaded many of these stands. Exotic annual grasses, such as Bromus briziformis, Bromus arvensis, and Bromus tectorum, are often present and may be relatively abundant. Many of these stands have been invaded by the perennial species Poa pratensis. Cover of Poa pratensis has also increased because of its tolerance to both grazing and shading from the shrubs (Johnson and Simon 1987). Other exotics often include forage species such as Bromus inermis, Phleum pratense, and Dactylis glomerata (Hansen et al. 1995) and highly invasive forbs such as Cirsium arvense.
Environmental Description: This mesic shrubland alliance is known from canyonlands of the northern Wallowa Mountains, Imnaha River, and Snake River within northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington, and west-central Idaho, the mountains, foothills and plains of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and eastern California. Stands in the Snake and Salmon river canyons in Idaho and eastern Oregon and eastern Washington occur at elevations from 670-1370 m, and on north slopes in the central Rocky Mountains in Montana are at elevations of 500-1770 m. The climate is temperate continental with mean annual precipitation of approximately 25-30 cm. Precipitation primarily occurs in the winter as snow or rain. This moisture is stored in the soil and utilized during the typically dry summers. Stands are typically found on moderately steep to steep upper and middle canyon slopes. Sites need to be relatively mesic to support these shrubs in the bunchgrass zone, and at lower elevations they are often restricted to north aspects and ravines, swales and depressions where deep snow drifts form and snowmelt and summer thunderstorms provide additional moisture. Stands also occur in floodplains and on alluvial terraces along rivers and streams, on hillsides below springs where soil moisture concentrates, and near the footslopes of rocky slopes where water may seep. These sites are flat to moderately steep and aspect does not appear important because stands have supplemental moisture. Although these sites are temporarily flooded, they are well-drained and do not have a shallow water table. Soils are moderately deep with textures ranging from sandy and silt loams to silts to clays (Hansen et al. 1995). Rock fragments are less than 15% of the soil volume. Parent materials include loess, basalt colluvium, lava, tuff, ash and other volcanic rock. Adjacent stands include grasslands dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata or Festuca idahoensis on hotter/drier aspects, and Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus forests and woodlands on mid or lower slopes where soil moisture is concentrated from slope seepage. Along rivers and streams, adjacent vegetation includes Salix exigua or Salix amygdaloides riparian shrublands, and riparian woodlands dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica or Acer negundo.
Geographic Range: This central Rocky Mountain and Columbia Plateau shrubland alliance is known from canyonlands of the northern Wallowa Mountains, Imnaha River, and Snake River plain of northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington, and southern Idaho, the mountains, foothills and plains of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and eastern California.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, SK?, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900026
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.928, A.925, and A.959. This new alliance is composed of associations from Old Alliance III.B.2.N.a. Physocarpus malvaceus Shrubland Alliance (A.928), Old Alliance III.B.2.N.a. Symphoricarpos albus Shrubland Alliance (A.925), and Old Alliance III.B.2.N.d. Rosa woodsii Temporarily Flooded Shrubland Alliance (A.959).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Symphoricarpos albus Series (Tisdale 1986)
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