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Platanus wrightii - Alnus oblongifolia / Baccharis salicifolia Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Platanus wrightii - Alnus oblongifolia / Baccharis salicifolia Forest
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This is a lowland forested riparian association known from the Gila River watershed in New Mexico and potentially occurs elsewhere in southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona. This association is known to occur at elevations ranging between 1650-1750 m (5380-5750 feet), along rivers that have moderate gradients (1.2%), and coarse bouldery/cobbly riverbeds. The community often occurs on younger terraces and elevated sidebars that are above the active channel (discharge ratios range from 3.0-4.3), with variable flooding frequencies that range from yearly to every 50 years. Streamflows are either intermittent or perennial and fed by springs or snowmelt. Channels are often deeply incised within narrow valleys. Soils are coarse, well-drained, and moderately or poorly stratified. They are sandy at the surface, and generally remain coarse-textured throughout the profile. Cobbles and rock are also present on the surface or buried near the surface and at lower depths. Soils are primarily moist, poorly developed Aeric Fluvaquents and Oxyaquic Ustifluvents, while some `soils' consist solely of loose deposits of sands, gravels, and cobbles (riverwash). They tend to be dry within 1 m of the surface most of the year, but may be periodically moist at depths still within the rooting zone during most years, particularly during spring high waters. Platanus wrightii dominates the canopy with Alnus oblongifolia as a canopy codominant or subdominant. Reproduction of Platanus wrightii and Alnus oblongifolia is common in the understory, but young saplings of Juglans major and Acer negundo may also be present. The stand forms a moderately closed to closed canopy. The shrubby understory consists primarily of Baccharis salicifolia. Other shrubs are common, but not abundant. Herbaceous species are diverse and variable with 62 herbaceous species recorded for the type, but only 16 more than once. Native wetland indicator species include Carex microptera, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Aquilegia chrysantha, Equisetum laevigatum, Mimulus guttatus, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Veronica americana. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.27366.PLATANUSWRIGHTI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 01-Feb-2001 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Arizona Sycamore - Arizona Alder / Seep-willow Forest
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.690073 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Scientific: Platanus wrightii - Alnus oblongifolia / Baccharis salicifolia Forest
  Code: CEGL002686
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Platanus wrightii - Alnus oblongifolia / Baccharis salicifolia Forest