Name:
Populus fremontii - Platanus wrightii Riparian Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This is a lowland forested riparian association known from the Gila River watershed in New Mexico and has been reported from southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona. It occurs in lowland river valleys at elevations ranging between 1180-1570 m (3875-5150 feet). The stream gradients are typically low, and channel substrates are gravelly or finer, but with pockets of cobbles. Typically, this type occurs as mature stands on older river terraces that are elevated several meters above the present riverbed and affected by only the largest flood events (25- to 100-year intervals). Occasionally the type occurs on lower bars that are more frequently flooded. Soils range from weakly developed Entisols on lower bars to more developed Inceptisols (deep, well-drained, stratified soils composed of sandy, loamy surface soils underlain by finer silt layers) on the upper terraces. Cobbles and rock may be present on the surface, or buried at lower depths. The soils tend to be dry on the surface most of the year, but may be periodically moist at depths within the rooting zone of the dominant trees and shrubs, particularly during spring runoff periods. <i>Populus fremontii</i> and <i>Platanus wrightii</i> form open to moderately closed, sprawling canopies (50-75% cover). In older stands, multi-boled trees can attain large sizes with diameters exceeding 1-3 m (3-10 feet) at breast height (dbh), and heights of up to 25 m (82 feet). <i>Populus fremontii</i> and <i>Platanus wrightii</i> regeneration is rare, but other trees, such as <i>Juglans major, Fraxinus velutina, Acer negundo</i> and occasionally the introduced <i>Gleditsia triacanthos</i>, may be present as saplings or subcanopy associates. On drier sites and in older stands, <i>Juniperus deppeana</i> may also be common. Undergrowth is diverse and variable with 79 species reported for the type, but only 23 more than once. With the exception of <i>Baccharis salicifolia, Pluchea sericea</i>, and <i>Salix exigua</i>, shrubs are generally poorly represented. The herbaceous undergrowth is characterized by scattered grasses and forbs and includes the wetland indicators <i>Symphyotrichum praealtum</i> and <i>Lobelia cardinalis</i>, along with upland grama grasses (<i>Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda</i>, and <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i>).
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29574-{E8FA028F-2B37-4F72-B91A-7F65FD932399}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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