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Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoids Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoids Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This shrubland association often occurs as dense bands up to 35 m wide along moderately wide to wide floodplains in mountain valleys of Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Stands also occur in small patches at higher elevations and around seeps and isolated springs on hillslopes away from the valley bottom. These shrublands are characterized by bands of vegetation dominated by <i>Betula occidentalis</i> (40-60% canopy cover) but often including <i>Ribes inerme</i> and <i>Salix bebbiana</i>. This vegetation may extend well way from the channel edge in deep pockets of sandy loam soils. <i>Alnus incana</i> may be codominant. <i>Picea pungens</i> and <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i> may also be present but usually with low cover. Stands with a dense shrub layer may have a limited (<10%) but diverse herbaceous cover. Graminoids typically dominate the herbaceous layer where the most abundant species usually include <i>Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex deweyana</i>, or <i>Carex nebrascensis</i>. <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i> and <i>Carex utriculata</i> are often present as well. Forb cover often includes <i>Achillea millefolium, Cardamine cordifolia, Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum stellatum</i>, and <i>Vicia americana</i>. Scouring rushes (<i>Equisetum</i> spp.) may also have significant cover. The introduced grasses <i>Agrostis stolonifera</i> and <i>Poa pratensis</i> may be present in disturbed stands. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of <i>Betula occidentalis</i> in the shrub layer and the dominance of mesic graminoids in the herbaceous layer.  Accession Code: VB.CC.33942.CEGL002654 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689273 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Water Birch / Mesic Graminoids Shrubland   Code: CEGL002654   Scientific: Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoids Shrubland