Name:
Prunus virginiana - (Prunus americana) Wet Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This widespread small-patch shrubland is known from the Columbia Plateau of eastern Washington and eastern Oregon, throughout much of the Rocky Mountain and interior western U.S. It occurs in the foothills and lower slopes of mountain ranges, along higher creeks and upper alluvial terraces of perennial streams, and in draws and ravines of high plateaus. The elevational range is 680 to 2652 m (2234-8700 feet). This association grows at the interface between larger riparian areas and the adjacent upland and occurs as small dense thickets, narrow bands, or irregular patches. It often occupies draws, ephemeral creeks in steep narrow-bottomed canyons, and shallow ravines. It can occur on slopes below seeps and springs and on high slopes where snow collects. Shrub cover ranges from 100% to more open stands of 30%. Shrub cover is generally greater in drainage bottoms and on lowermost slopes, and less on upper slopes. <i>Prunus virginiana</i> is usually the dominant shrub species, however <i>Prunus americana</i> may be solely present. Stands can be dominated by one species but are often a mix of three to six other shrub species, which can be as abundant and even greater cover than <i>Prunus virginiana</i>. Other shrubs, in addition to <i>Prunus americana</i>, include <i>Rhus trilobata, Ribes aureum, Ribes cereum, Ribes lacustre, Ribes inerme, Salix exigua, Sambucus</i> spp., <i>Amelanchier</i> spp., <i>Amorpha canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Juniperus scopulorum, Rosa woodsii</i>, and <i>Toxicodendron rydbergii</i>. In drainage bottoms, herbaceous cover is usually sparse, less than 10%. On slopes, the shrubs typically occur in some grassland type, and graminoid cover can be greater than 75%. Herbaceous species may include <i>Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum nelsonii, Carex vallicola, Erigeron flagellaris, Leymus cinereus, Geranium caespitosum var. caespitosum, Heracleum maximum, Juncus arcticus, Maianthemum stellatum, Muhlenbergia montana</i>, and <i>Potentilla hippiana</i>. Exotic and/or invasive species <i>Bromus inermis, Cirsium arvense, Poa pratensis</i>, and <i>Bromus tectorum</i> are common on disturbed sites.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30017-{0F90CFDA-51DC-4137-8FF4-7D991CC67020}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
8
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