Name:
Salix exigua / Mesic Forbs Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association typically occurs between 1464 and 2562 m (4800-8400 feet) elevation in Utah, western Colorado, central Nevada and eastern Idaho, where it occupies streambanks, terraces, and meadows along a wide variety of low- to moderate-gradient stream types. In contrast, a low-elevation phase of this plant association is found below 1128 m (3700 feet) in south-central and southwestern Idaho on annually flooded banks, islands, and terraces of reservoirs and large rivers (e.g., the Snake River and Boise River). This type usually occurs on well-developed sandy to silty alluvial loam soils, on the wettest (often flooded) but stable sites supporting <i>Salix exigua</i> associations. Both phases are dominated by a tall-shrub overstory of open to dense <i>Salix exigua</i>, although <i>Salix lutea, Ribes</i> spp., and <i>Rosa woodsii</i> are sometimes also present in lesser amounts. In the typical phase, the herbaceous understory is clearly dominated by a lush understory of mixed tall forbs, each with moderate cover, with <i>Aconitum columbianum, Equisetum arvense, Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, Rudbeckia</i> spp., <i>Solidago canadensis</i>, and <i>Urtica dioica</i> being most common. No single forb has consistently high constancy and cover across the association's range. In the low-elevation phase, flood-disturbed stands in riverine habitats contain abundant native colonizing forbs (e.g., <i>Apocynum cannabinum, Euthamia occidentalis, Glycyrrhiza lepidota</i>, and <i>Polygonum</i> spp.) often mixed with dense exotic forbs (e.g., <i>Dipsacus fullonum, Lythrum salicaria, Melilotus officinalis</i>, and <i>Xanthium strumarium</i>). Total mesic graminoid cover is low in both phases of this association (with each species having only low cover) and composed of both native species (e.g., <i>Carex</i> spp., <i>Elymus glaucus</i>) and/or exotics (e.g., <i>Phalaris arundinacea, Poa pratensis</i>).
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32412.CEGL001202
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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