Name:
Cornus sericea Rocky Mountain Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This riparian tall shrubland is widespread in the Columbia Basin, the Intermountain Basin, and in the Rocky Mountains, and is discontinuously scattered in sheltered areas of the Colorado Plateau. It often forms continuous, narrow bands along streambanks, benches and bars, as well as in slot canyons. Many stands are located on nearly level, frequently flooded banks, in burns in steep avalanche chutes, or otherwise experience periodic disturbance. It also can form very dense, small stands with limited disturbance, often at the base of a cliff. Soils are relatively deep, well-drained silty to sandy clay loams derived from alluvium, colluvium or glacial till. Elevations range from 715 to 2700 m (2300-8800 feet), with the lower elevations occurring at the northern end of the range in Montana, the higher elevations in Utah and Colorado. The tall (1-2 m) deciduous shrub canopy is dominated by <i>Cornus sericea</i>, generally accompanied by other tall shrubs, including <i>Prunus virginiana, Ribes aureum, Crataegus douglasii, Acer glabrum, Alnus incana, Salix bebbiana, Salix scouleriana, Cercocarpus ledifolius</i>, and <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i>. Short shrubs have sparse to moderate cover and include <i>Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos</i> spp., <i>Paxistima myrsinites, Mahonia repens, Arctostaphylos patula, Ribes cereum</i>, and the liana <i>Clematis ligusticifolia</i>. The understory is diverse and ranges from sparse to dense depending on how closed the tall-shrub layer is. Common forbs include <i>Thalictrum occidentale, Solidago canadensis, Aralia nudicaulis, Heracleum maximum, Heliomeris multiflora, Erythronium grandiflorum, Equisetum arvense, Maianthemum stellatum, Sanicula marilandica, Angelica arguta</i>, and <i>Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis)</i>. Graminoids are generally less important but may include significant cover by <i>Elymus glaucus</i> or <i>Calamagrostis canadensis</i>. The majority of the herbaceous layer may consist of non-native species, including <i>Cirsium arvense, Dactylis glomerata, Agrostis stolonifera, Poa palustris, Phalaris arundinacea</i>, and <i>Phleum pratense</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31711.CEGL001165
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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