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Washingtonia filifera Wet Woodland Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Washingtonia filifera Wet Woodland Alliance
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This alliance of the oases of the Colorado and Sonoran deserts is recognized by the presence of <i>Washingtonia filifera</i> as the sole or dominant tree in the canopy. There is great floristic diversity among oases, and this palm is the only species that does not differ in its relative importance. The vegetation of oases along waterways differs consistently from those along faultlines. Other trees that may be present include <i>Fraxinus velutina, Platanus racemosa, Populus fremontii</i>, and <i>Quercus chrysolepis</i>. A subcanopy is often present and may be composed of <i>Prosopis glandulosa, Salix exigua, Salix gooddingii</i>, and <i>Salix lasiolepis</i>. This woodland alliance of the desert Southwest is found along canyon waterways and faultlines on intermittently flooded sites below 900 m in elevation. Permanent subsurface water is required to maintain <i>Washingtonia filifera</i>, a relict species. Only 24 sites are known to support oases in the Colorado and Sonoran deserts, one of the most arid regions in North America. The mean 24-hour maximum temperature may exceed 38°C for several weeks a year. Annual precipitation totals between 90 and 168 mm. Salinity is low in the root zone, but increases near the surface where evaporation leaves salt accumulations. Reproduction of <i>Washingtonia filifera</i> is limited by water supply, surface salinity, rainfall, and fire. Oases are the only desert community in which fire is an important abiotic factor. Fan palms are fire-tolerant, while the understory species are not. Fires open up the understory allowing palm seedlings to establish. Removal of the understory also decreases competition for water. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38065-{F1C0F0B7-D12B-410C-9059-D1B7340C80C7}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 18-Dec-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.898995 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A0485
  Translated: California Fan Palm Wet Woodland Alliance
  Common: California Fan Palm Oasis
  Scientific: Washingtonia filifera Wet Woodland Alliance