Name:
Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This wetland/riparian low shrubland association typically occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zones in the Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to Montana, and west into Utah and Idaho. Elevation ranges from 2700-3700 m (8300-11,700 feet) in Colorado to 1750-2690 m (5740-8830 feet) in Montana. Stands typically occurs in wide, glaciated valleys bottoms adjacent to streams, around lakes, fens and seeps, and in depressions where snowmelt runoff saturates soils during the growing season. Sites may be flat or uneven with raised hummocks to moderately sloping. The water table at these sites is usually near the surface throughout the growing season. Soils are typically poorly drained and have an organic peat top layer over mineral soils with variable textures. Mottling is often evident. The vegetation is characterized by a low (<1.5 m), typically closed shrub layer (ranging from 30-100% cover) that is dominated by <i>Salix planifolia</i>, with an herbaceous layer dominated by the wet sedge <i>Carex aquatilis</i>. Other common willow species that may be present at lower elevations are <i>Salix geyeriana</i> or <i>Salix monticola</i> and at higher elevations <i>Salix brachycarpa, Salix glauca</i>, and <i>Salix wolfii</i>. Other shrubs that may be present in lower concentrations include <i>Betula glandulosa</i> and <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i>. The moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by wet graminoids but often has a diverse forb layer. Other than the dominant wet sedge <i>Carex aquatilis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata</i>, and <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i> are often present in the graminoid layer. Associated wet and mesic forb species are <i>Aconitum columbianum, Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Conioselinum scopulorum, Erigeron peregrinus, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Mertensia ciliata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Rhodiola rhodantha, Saxifraga odontoloma, Senecio triangularis, Swertia perennis</i>, and <i>Veronica wormskjoldii</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32560.CEGL001227
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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