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Alnus incana - Salix (monticola, lucida, ligulifolia) Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Alnus incana - Salix (monticola, lucida, ligulifolia) Shrubland
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This riparian shrubland association occurs widely from 2200-2700 m in the southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado and likely occurs in adjacent New Mexico and possibly southern Wyoming. Sites include poorly developed soils on cobble point bars, islands, flat alluvial benches, and large alluvial floodplains along moderately steep streams. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to often continuous tall-shrub layer (50-90% total cover). The shrub canopy is dominated by Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia (15-100% cover) and codominated by one or more other willow species including Salix monticola, Salix lucida ssp. caudata, and Salix ligulifolia with up to 50% cover. Other willow species occurring with less frequency include Salix bebbiana, Salix exigua, Salix lutea, and Salix geyeriana. Salix drummondiana may be present but does not codominate. Other shrub associates may include Amelanchier alnifolia, Ribes inerme, Rubus idaeus, Rosa woodsii, and Acer glabrum. Tree cover is generally sparse but can include scattered individuals of Picea engelmannii, Picea pungens, Populus tremuloides, or Populus angustifolia that total <25% canopy cover. The herbaceous undergrowth is variable and ranges from a sparse to dense mixture of graminoids (10-50%) and forbs (10-80%). Associated species include Equisetum arvense, Heracleum maximum, Mertensia ciliata, Calamagrostis canadensis, Cardamine cordifolia, and Carex utriculata. The abundance of other shrubs may indicate that the association occupies a transition in the physical setting, for example, from a broad floodplain dominated by Salix spp. to a narrow valley bottom and channel lined with only Alnus incana. Beaver are noted to be an important influence on the association. Diagnostic of this riparian shrubland association is the codominance of Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia and Salix spp. Shrub diversity is typically high. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.27512.ALNUSINCANASALI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 09-Apr-1998 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Speckled Alder - (Mountain Willow, Whiplash Willow, Strapleaf Willow) Shrubland
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689806 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL002651
  Scientific: Alnus incana - Salix (monticola, lucida, ligulifolia) Shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Alnus incana - Salix (monticola, lucida, ligulifolia) Shrubland