Print Report

CEGL000062 Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos patula - Ceanothus velutinus Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Greenleaf Manzanita - Snowbrush Ceanothus Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is a ponderosa pine woodland known from interior valleys in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. This association consists of a physiognomic mosaic of patches dominated by evergreen shrubs and, alternatively, grasses. It primarily occurs on southern and southwestern aspects between 1040 and 1710 m (3400-5600 feet) elevation. Pinus ponderosa is the only dominant tree, but individuals of Pseudotsuga menziesii or Abies grandis can occasionally be found. Arctostaphylos patula and Ceanothus velutinus are the dominant shrubs, although Chrysolepis chrysophylla (which can be a tall shrub or a tree) may gain importance on western and southwestern exposures. Important grasses include Carex inops, Bromus orcuttianus, Festuca idahoensis and Elymus elymoides. Pteridium aquilinum is one of many forbs or ferns which are found in this community.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Sherman (1969) refers to this community as Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos patula - Ceanothus velutinus / Pteridium aquilinum. Johnson (1961a) describes it as Pinus ponderosa / Castanopsis chrysophylla / Arctostaphylos patula / Ceanothus velutinus. Franklin et al. (1972) describe a similar "Pacific ponderosa pine" association.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association consists of a physiognomic mosaic of patches dominated by evergreen shrubs and, alternatively, grasses. Pinus ponderosa is the only dominant tree, but individuals of Pseudotsuga menziesii or Abies grandis can occasionally be found. Arctostaphylos patula and Ceanothus velutinus are the dominant shrubs, although Chrysolepis chrysophylla (= Castanopsis chrysophylla) (which can be a tall shrub or a tree) may gain importance on western and southwestern exposures. Important grasses include Carex inops, Bromus orcuttianus, Festuca idahoensis and Elymus elymoides. Pteridium aquilinum is one of many forbs or ferns which are found in this community.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This is a ponderosa pine woodland known from interior valleys in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It primarily occurs on southern and southwestern aspects between 1040 and 1710 m (3400-5600 feet) elevation.

Geographic Range: This woodland is known from interior valleys in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA?, OR




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G1

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: ? Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos patula - Ceanothus velutinus / Pteridium aquilinum (Sherman 1969)
? Pinus ponderosa / Castanopsis chrysophylla / Arctostaphylos patula / Ceanothus velutinus (Johnson 1961a)
? Pacific ponderosa pine association (Franklin et al. 1972)

Concept Author(s): M.P. Murray

Author of Description: M.P. Murray

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97

  • Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
  • Dealy, J. E. 1971. Habitat characteristics of the Silver Lake mule deer range. Research Paper PNW-125. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 99 pp.
  • Dyrness, C. T. 1960. Soil-vegetation relationships within the ponderosa pine type in the central Oregon pumice region. Unpublished dissertation. Oregon State College, Corvallis.
  • Dyrness, C. T., and C. T. Youngberg. 1966. Soil-vegetation relationships within the ponderosa pine type in the central Oregon pumice region. Ecology 47:122-138.
  • Franklin, J. F., F. C. Hall, C. T. Dyrness, and C. Maser. 1972. Federal Research Natural Areas in Oregon and Washington: A guidebook for scientists and educators. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR.
  • Johnson, J. M. 1961a. Taxonomy and ecology of the vascular plants of Black Butte, Oregon. M.S. thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 193 pp.
  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
  • Sherman, R. J. 1969. Spatial and developmental patterns of vegetation of Black Butte, Oregon. Unpublished dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 80 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.