Name:
Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This lush, deciduous, riparian woodland occurs in mountains and canyons of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado on stream terraces or floodplains bordering streams. Elevation ranges from 1450-2600 m. This community is one of the wetter <i>Populus angustifolia</i> plant associations, which indicates a perennial source of water. Some stands occur on hillside seeps. Substrate is well-drained, rocky and coarse-textured alluvial soil. Water tables are generally between 0.5-4 m below the surface. The upper tree canopy is open (typically less than 60% cover) and is dominated by <i>Populus angustifolia</i>, with <i>Acer negundo</i> occasionally codominating in late-seral stands. <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> and <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i> are scattered in some stands. <i>Betula occidentalis</i> forms a moderate to dense short-tree/tall-shrub canopy, often forming a thicket along the stream. Other species, such as <i>Alnus incana, Acer grandidentatum, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia</i>, and several species of <i>Salix</i>, including <i>Salix lutea, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra (= Salix lasiandra)</i>, and <i>Salix bebbiana</i>, may be present. The moderately dense short-shrub layer may include <i>Cornus sericea, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa</i> spp., <i>Mahonia repens, Ribes aureum, Symphoricarpos</i> spp., and <i>Rhus trilobata</i> on drier sites. The herbaceous layer may be sparse to dense, depending on the density of the shrub and tree layers. Common species include <i>Equisetum arvense, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Maianthemum stellatum, Achillea millefolium</i>, and the introduced species <i>Bromus inermis, Poa pratensis</i>, and <i>Taraxacum officinale</i>. The dominance of <i>Betula occidentalis</i> separates this association from other <i>Populus angustifolia</i> riparian woodlands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33025.CEGL000648
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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