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Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Forestiera pubescens Flooded Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Forestiera pubescens Flooded Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This mature riparian forest association is found in the San Juan and Rio Grande watersheds in northern and central New Mexico, the Animas River watershed in southwestern Colorado, and is likely present in the Pecos drainage farther to the east. It occurs along low-gradient rivers of wide lowland valleys at elevations from 1530 to 1800 m (5000-5900 feet). Sites range from relatively dry, elevated terraces that are rarely flooded, to more frequently flooded mid-elevation sidebars and island bars of low-gradient rivers. Soils are moist or dry, poorly developed Entisols or, where some soil development has occurred on older terraces, Inceptisols. Soil textures are coarse-loamy throughout the profile, or with sandy layers overlain by finer loam or silt. All soils have high plant-available water (8.5% on average), and the water table is usually within 2 m of the surface during the growing season. This community type is characterized by mature, often dense and closed canopies of <i>Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni</i> or <i>Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera</i> with occasional <i>Salix gooddingii</i> in the subcanopy. Other trees may be present in the subcanopy but are not normally abundant. <i>Populus deltoides</i> saplings are rare or absent. The shrubs are well-represented to abundant (10-75% cover) and dominated by <i>Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens</i> with <i>Rhus trilobata</i> and <i>Amorpha fruticosa</i> common. In Colorado, <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i> and <i>Tamarix ramosissima</i> can also be present. The twining, woody vines of <i>Parthenocissus quinquefolia</i> and <i>Clematis ligusticifolia</i> can often be found among downed logs or wrapped around trees and shrubs. The herbaceous layer is sparse to well-represented (10-15% cover) and is a mix of grasses and forbs that reflect the relatively drier habitat. Overall, species diversity is high with 81 species recorded for the type (although 24-30% were exotics). As a keystone species, the reproduction of <i>Populus deltoides</i> after flooding (and sufficient subsequent base flows) is critical to the sustainability of this community. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34623-{89423F5B-56C4-443B-9E76-394A4E168AF6}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 27-Sep-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.737595 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005971
  Translated: (Rio Grande Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood) / Stretchberry Flooded Forest
  Scientific: Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Forestiera pubescens Flooded Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Populus deltoides / Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens Forest
(similar) Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens Forest