Print Report
CEGL005655 Salix exigua / Barren Warm Desert Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: This is a common warm desert riparian shrubland dominated by Salix exigua with little to no herbaceous undergrowth.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Willow / Barren Warm Desert Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riparian shrubland is common in the warm desert reaches of the southern Rocky Mountains, lower Colorado Plateau and southern Great Basin. It is composed of nearly pure stands of Salix exigua, with few other species. Exposed gravel, cobbles or sand characterize the ground cover, but an undergrowth of a few, scattered forbs and grasses is usually present. This association occurs within the annual flood zone of rivers on point bars, islands, sand or cobble bars, and streambanks.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian shrublands dominated by Salix exigua in the warm desert regions of the western U.S.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Former Salix exigua / Barren Shrubland (CEGL001200) was split into 2 associations; this one (CEGL005655) for low-elevation, warm desert occurrences; the other (CEGL005656) for more montane/Rocky Mountain occurrences. In the western Great Plains this association includes stands composed of intermediates between Salix interior (= Salix exigua ssp. interior) and Salix exigua (= Salix exigua ssp. exigua) (Dorn 1997, G. Kittel pers. comm. 2001). Until recently these taxa were combined at the species level (Kartesz 1999). More information on the distribution of introgression between Salix interior and Salix exigua is needed to fully understand the ranges of these two species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Shrublands 1-4 m tall that are often clonal in structure, with very limited herbaceous undergrowth.
Floristics: This riparian association is characterized by a sparse to dense, tall-shrub (1.5-3 m) canopy composed of Salix exigua, with ground cover of exposed gravel, cobbles or sand. Salix exigua may be the only shrub in the community, or other shrubs and trees may be present with relatively low cover, including Ericameria nauseosa, Rhus trilobata, Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia), Salix irrorata, Salix lucida, Acer negundo, Populus deltoides, Populus fremontii, and Salix gooddingii. A sparse herbaceous layer may be present among the bare soil, gravel, cobbles, or boulders, consisting of a wide variety of forbs and graminoids. Mentha arvensis and species of Carex, Eleocharis, Juncus, Schoenoplectus, and Equisetum are often present. Introduced species, such as Elaeagnus angustifolia, Tamarix spp., Bromus tectorum, Bromus inermis, Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens), Poa pratensis, Agrostis stolonifera (and other exotic forage species), Taraxacum officinale, Conyza canadensis, and Lepidium latifolium, have been reported from some stands.
Dynamics: This association is an early-seral type that colonizes newly created point bars and other recent alluvial deposits formed in rivers and streams (Kittel et al. 1999b). Competition with Tamarix spp. in the southwestern U.S. likely limits the abundance of this association where these introduced species dominate.
Environmental Description: Elevation ranges from 780-2200 m. This association occurs within the annual flood zone of rivers on point bars, islands, sand or cobble bars, and on streambanks occurring along a wide variety of stream reaches, from moderately sinuous and moderate-gradient reaches. It can form large, wide stands on mid-channel islands in larger rivers or narrow stringer bands on small, rocky tributaries. Substrates are typically coarse alluvial deposits of sand, silt and cobbles that are highly stratified vertically from flooding scour and deposition, often consisting of alternating layers of finer textured soil with organic material over coarser alluvium. Occasionally, this association occurs on deep pockets of sand. The lack of soil development and high ground cover of coarse alluvial material are key indicators for this association.
Geographic Range: This riparian shrubland association is common along waterways of all sizes at lower to middle elevations in the southern Great Basin, southern portions of the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NM, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.959340
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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 | A0947 Narrowleaf Willow Warm Desert Wet Shrubland Alliance | A0947 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005655 Narrowleaf Willow / Barren Warm Desert Wet Shrubland | CEGL005655 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Salix exigua / Scour (Durkin et al. 1995b)
> Salix exigua / Sparse (Durkin et al. 1995b)
= Salix exigua / Barren Association (Evens et al. 2014)
? Coyote Willow/Gravel Bar CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
> Salix exigua / Sparse (Durkin et al. 1995b)
= Salix exigua / Barren Association (Evens et al. 2014)
? Coyote Willow/Gravel Bar CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
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