Barclay's willow / Rich
	Salix barclayi /  Rich
	n = 43
	II.C.1.b. Low Willow
	Ecosystem: Discharge Slope

This type has been described for Chugach National Forest (DeVelice et. al., 1999), Copper River Basin (Boggs, 2000) and Yakutat Forelands (Shephard, 1995), but is absent from The Alaska Vegetation Classification (Viereck, et. al., 1992).

Found primarily on the discontinuous dense till covering plateaus above 500 meters elevation, or on foot and toeslopes of terraced moraines higher than 350 meters (1200’), Barclay's willow (Salix barclayi) / rich is common south of Clam Gulch. On these slopes, groundwater discharge or dense till often supports a water table near the surface. 

Barclay's willow / rich communities are characterized by a dense low thicket of Barclay's willow topping a diverse assemblage of graminoids and forbs. Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) and Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis) are present, and field horsetail (Equisetum arvense), valerian (Valeriana capitata), arctic blackberry (Rubus arcticus), fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium),  Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium acutiflorum) and felwort (Swertia perennis) are often present.  

About a third of the sites visited had at least a histic epipedon, while another third had shallow water tables, while nearly a third are probably not wetlands.  The pH at the three sites measured ranged from extremely (4.4) to strongly acid (5.4).   

Table 1. Frequency of soil series occurrence and hydric status at NRCS holes.  Bold type indicates soils on the NRCS Alaska hydric soils list.

Table 2.  Summary of plant frequency and average cover for plants occurring in more than 50% of plots.

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