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Populus fremontii Riparian Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Populus fremontii Riparian Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This riparian cottonwood forest is characterized in mature stands by a dense canopy of the broad-leaved deciduous tree <i>Populus fremontii</i>, with heights of 20-25 m. Cover is variable, dependent upon the age of the stand, but averages well over 60% and occasionally is over 90%. A smaller (to 15 m tall), broad-leaved deciduous tree, <i>Salix gooddingii</i>, is usually present with low cover (averaging &lt;15%). Broad-leaved deciduous shrubs are found scattered in the understory, but total cover of this layer is typically less than 10%. <i>Amorpha fruticosa</i> is the only shrub found under the dense tree canopy, while <i>Baccharis salicifolia</i> and <i>Salix exigua</i> are more commonly found near the riverbanks or under less dense canopies. The herbaceous layer is sparse; in the spring the perennial forb <i>Anemopsis californica</i> is the dominant species. The perennial graminoids <i>Distichlis spicata</i> and <i>Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis</i> are usually present, but not abundant. Litter layers on the ground surface are thick, ranging from 2-15 cm deep. Many mature stands of this association have a significant component of the exotic, invasive tree <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i>, sometimes codominant with the cottonwood. The introduced forb <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> is abundant in the understory. Young stands are often codominated by cottonwoods and the invasive, exotic tall shrub <i>Tamarix chinensis</i>, which gradually becomes less abundant under more mature, dense stands of cottonwood. This association occurs primarily along the valley floor of a large river in central and southern New Mexico, from 1524 m to near 2134 m (5000-7000 feet) elevation. It is also reported from relatively flat floodplains along low-gradient rivers in Arizona. Relatively flat floodplains have developed on the valley floors consisting of alluvial materials deposited by tributaries. On the Rio Grande, from the vicinity of Albuquerque south, the river drops an average of 1.5 m (5 feet) per mile. The climate of this region is typically hot and arid. There is great fluctuation in precipitation between wet and dry years, but the annual average is 20 cm (7.9 inches). Periodic droughts can result in the rivers becoming dry, while spring flooding results in very high water tables and much deposition of silt and sands. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29570-{8874DCAF-9613-4090-95EF-066863BDB633}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 11-Jan-1994 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689866 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000661
  Translated: Fremont Cottonwood Riparian Forest
  Scientific: Populus fremontii Riparian Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL000661