Name:
Spiraea douglasii Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These riparian shrublands occur from western Montana to the Cascades of Washington and Oregon. Elevations range from 550-1040 m. Stands are found along seasonally flooded stream terraces and lakeshores in typically broad valleys. Sites are nearly level to gently sloping. The soils are saturated early in the growing season and are mottled, but dry out by late summer. They are derived from alluvium, and range from fine sand to silty clay in texture. Some soils are skeletal with cobbles and gravel. Vegetation in this seasonally flooded alliance has a dense, short-shrub layer that is dominated by Spiraea douglasii. Other shrub species generally have sparse cover. Alnus incana has less than 25% cover. Associated shrubs in Montana include Alnus incana, Cornus sericea, Rhamnus alnifolia, Ribes americanum, Rosa acicularis, Rubus idaeus, and Salix spp. In Washington and Oregon common shrubs may include Alnus incana, Crataegus douglasii, Rubus ursinus, Rubus lasiococcus, Salix spp., Symphoricarpos albus, Vaccinium caespitosum, and Vaccinium uliginosum. The herbaceous layer is sparse to dense. If dense, it is likely dominated by perennial graminoids such as Agrostis humilis (= Agrostis thurberiana), Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp., and Phalaris arundinacea. Other herbaceous species may include Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Ligusticum grayi, Mertensia spp., Parnassia fimbriata, Comarum palustre (= Potentilla palustris), Senecio triangularis, and Trifolium longipes. Adjacent stands include herbaceous wetlands dominated by Phalaris arundinacea or Carex spp., riparian forests and other riparian shrublands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18637.SPIRAEADOUGLASI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
