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A.312 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.312
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This alliance occurs in Arizona and New Mexico along moderately large rivers that are below 1800 m in elevation. Sites vary from point bars and other recent depositional features to alluvial terraces that may be several meters away from the channel, and several meters above the water table. Although this alliance is typically riparian, stands may occur at a considerable distance from rivers where water tables are relatively shallow. The alluvial soils are deep, stratified, sandy loams with cobbles. Point bars within the channels are composed of fresh alluvial sands and gravels. Vegetation within this forest alliance is characterized by ~Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni$-dominated tree and shrub layers. Canopy structure varies from a few large individuals to younger stands with high stem density. Cover may vary from sparse to dense. Other trees occasionally present include ~Populus angustifolia$ and ~Populus X acuminata$. The shrub layer varies depending on the tree canopy density and other factors. Shrub associates include ~Juniperus monosperma, Forestiera pubescens (= Forestiera neomexicana), Fallugia paradoxa, Baccharis salicifolia (= Baccharis glutinosa), Baccharis sarothroides$, and ~Gutierrezia sarothrae$. The liana ~Clematis ligusticifolia$ may be present in some stands. The generally sparse to moderate dense herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids, such as ~Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Eleocharis palustris$, and ~Distichlis spicata$, in relatively undisturbed stands, although introduced hay grasses are not uncommon. Forb cover is sparse. Diagnostic of this alliance is the dominance of ~Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni$ in the tree canopy of forests that are briefly flooded during the growing season or have relatively high water tables. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1939.A312
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: I.B.2.N.d
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: POPULUS DELTOIDES SSP. WISLIZENI TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE
  Code: A.312
  Common: Rio Grande Cottonwood Temporarily Flooded Forest Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni Temporarily Flooded Forest Alliance