Riparian Plants Flashcards
(38 cards)
Mottling
indicates presence of anaerobic conditions
Reddish color is sign of oxidation
Riparian zone features
saturated with water (high water table)
hydric soils
acts as a water filter
important source of biodiversity
Importance of riparian plants
potential to control stream systems
molds the stream to fit the power of the water
Reasons soil erosion may occur in riparian areas
- too strong of water flow
- water runoff
- invasive species (that lack deep roots)
- lowered water table
- overgrazing
three functional groups of riparian areas
- Stabilizers
- Colonizers
- Increasers/ invaders
Stabilizer group
- established along streams, rivers, lakes etc
- strong, fibrous, deep root system
- rhizomatous
- provide protection against waters energy
Colonizers
- usually the first plant to occupy a site
- critical for recovery and maintenance
- establish on freshly deposited soil, shallow open water and barren areas
- root systems are stolon or rhizomatous, shallow and relatively weak
Reed canarygrass SN
Phalaris arundinacea
Reed canarygrass description
tallgrass long scaly rhizomes sheathes are pinkish panicle seedhead awnless spikelets
Nebraska sedge SN
Carex nebrascensis
Nebraska sedge description
has long scaly rhizomes leaves are compressed at the base stems are triangular dioecious white midvein on flower
Beaked Sedge
short stout rhizomes
stems are triangular
plum flower seed with a “beak”
How to tell nebraska sedge vs beaked sedge
beaked sedge has a pointed tip
AND has long whisps on panicle
Baltic rush SN
Juncus balticus
Baltic rush description
grass like herp, creeping rhizomes leavesa re basal and bladeless twisted like wire perfect flowerr straw colored or brown
Mountain alder SN
Alnus incana
Mountain alder description
leaves ovate with prominent veins & abruptly pointed, sharply double toothed
mature catkins are oval, dark brown
woody (tiny pinecones)
Redosier Dogwood SN
Cornus sericea
Redosier Dogwood description
shrub, highly branched spread by stolon’s
stems smooth red
opposite leaves
ovate to oblong
leaves somewhat pubescent then glabrous at maturity
flowers are dull white, umbel like cymes
Coyote Willow SN
Salix exigua
Coyote willow description
shrub with long, thin leafy branches leaves linear to lineolate sage colored inflorescence is a catkin form leave axils white fluffy flowers
Salt Cedar SN
Tamarix ramosissima
Salt Cedar description
intro as ornamental shrub very small leaves compressed on branches feathery leaves accumulates salt on leaves dull pink or purple flowers
all of these species are… (perennial or annual)
perennial
