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<br />2 <br /> <br />PHREATOPHYTES IN COLORADO <br /> <br />In Colorado, and in the Arkansas Valley in particular, phreatophytes <br /> <br />playa significant role. Several types of phreato;>hytes have existed along <br /> <br />2 <br />streams for long times, several centuries before the entrance of E~ropeans. <br /> <br />However, one of the most widespread phreatophytes, known as the salt cedar <br /> <br />or tamari sk, I<as introduced no earl ier than the 17th century j'n North <br /> <br />America. The first record of the presence of the salt cedar in the Arkansas <br /> <br />Valley was in 1913 at Lamar. <br /> <br />Because it now covers more area than most <br /> <br />other phreatophytes, the durability and hardiness of this plant is apparent. <br /> <br />Apart from the salt cedar, some other common phreatophytes are the <br /> <br />Cottonl'lood, WiIIO\<, Salt-grass and Aide". The follO\<ing table shol"s the <br /> <br />areas of types of phreatophytes in the Arkansas River Valley and for the <br /> <br />State of Colorado as a l<hole.3 <br /> <br />TABLE <br /> <br />AREAL EXTENT OF PHREATOPHYTES AND HYDROPHYTES IN WESTERN STATES <br />(Va 1 ues in Acres) <br /> <br /> Cot tonwood, Total Phreato- <br />Loca t j on Sal t Cedar Alder, Wi 110\< Sal t-qrass phyte Area <br />Arkansas River Va Iley 34,400 9,300 18, 100 43,000 <br />State of Colorado 15,900 311.500 Id:J,jOO 2,000,000 <br /> <br />There is some feel ing that a differentiation should be made betl'ieen <br /> <br />the "natural" phreatophytes, re;>resented by native species such as cotton- <br /> <br />wood, \.,i 110\< and grasses, and"artificial"phreatophytes, represented by <br /> <br />the recently introdu~ed salt ceaar. A comparison of areas of salt cedar <br /> <br />in the state at different perioas indicates thal the salt cedar is increasing. <br /> <br />Tnis is pal"tiaily due to the ability of the s.Jll cedar to resist insects <br /> <br />cJnd disease. <br />