Name:
Salix spp. - Alnus spp. - Betula occidentalis Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These are montane to subalpine riparian shrublands occurring as narrow bands or broad shrublands and are found throughout the Rocky Mountain cordillera from New Mexico north into Montana and northwestern Alberta. They also occur in mountainous areas of the interior Intermountain West and on the Colorado Plateau. This group often occurs as part of a mosaic of multiple communities that are shrub- and herb-dominated and includes above-treeline, willow-dominated, snowmelt-fed basins that feed into streams. Shrubs range from short to tall (0.5-15 m). The shrub species that can be dominant reflect the large elevational gradient of this group and include <i>Alnus incana, Alnus oblongifolia, Alnus viridis, Betula occidentalis, Betula glandulosa, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Salix bebbiana, Salix boothii, Salix brachycarpa, Salix drummondiana, Salix eriocephala, Salix geyeriana, Salix monticola, Salix planifolia</i>, and <i>Salix wolfii</i>. Generally the upland vegetation surrounding these wet shrublands is either conifer or aspen forest. Stands occur on streambanks, stream benches and alluvial terraces in steep narrow to wide, low-gradient valley bottoms and floodplains with sinuous stream channels, as well as steep moist avalanche chutes. This group is generally found at higher elevations, but can be found anywhere from 1500-3475 m, and may occur at even lower elevations in the Canadian Rockies. Occurrences can also be found around seeps, fens, and isolated springs on hillslopes away from valley bottoms. Many of the plant associations found within this group are associated with beaver activity.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40208-{2600E610-54EC-41F5-8126-D45505DEF3FC}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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