Name:
Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus Mesic Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation of this mesic shrubland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense, sometimes patchy shrub layer (usually less than 2 m tall) that is dominated by diagnostic species <i>Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa acicularis, Rosa nutkana, Rosa woodsii</i>, and/or <i>Symphoricarpos albus</i>. Other low-cover associated shrubs may include scattered <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Crataegus douglasii, Mahonia repens, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana</i>, and <i>Spiraea betulifolia</i>. <i>Toxicodendron rydbergii</i> may be present with moderate cover. The herbaceous layer is typically relatively sparse to moderate (typically 10-25% cover), but may be dense depending on shrub cover, and is composed of a mixture of perennial bunchgrasses such as <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> and <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> and perennial forbs. Moss and lichen cover is often important and ranges from 10-90% cover. Introduced herbaceous species are sometime abundant, including the forage grass <i>Poa pratensis</i>, the weedy forb <i>Cirsium arvense</i>, and the annual grass <i>Bromus briziformis</i>. This mesic shrubland alliance is known from canyons of the northern Wallowa Mountains, Imnaha River, and Snake River within northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington, and west-central Idaho, the mountains, foothills and plains of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and eastern California. It is found on upper slope positions of steep, northeast- to northwest-facing canyon slopes, on flat to gentle benches, valley floors, alluvial terraces, ridges, and slopes and occurs in floodplains and on alluvial terraces along rivers and streams, on hillsides below springs, and in ravines and swales where overland flow from snowmelt and summer thunderstorms provides additional moisture. Soils are moderately deep with textures ranging from sandy and silt loams to silts to clays.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39185-{2F587FAC-A5F3-4AA4-8C41-8DE653BEFCC7}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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