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CEGL000301 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Calamagrostis rubescens Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Pinegrass Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is known from northeastern Oregon and central and eastern Washington, Idaho, northern Utah, northwestern Wyoming to east of the Continental Divide in Montana. This forest is often on moderate to steep slopes and ranges in elevation from 1372 to 1800 m (4500-5900 feet) in Oregon and Washington, and from 1768 to 2590 m (5800-8500 feet) in the Rocky Mountains. Soils are skeletal and range from silts to loams. This association is a montane forested community in cool and dry areas in the western part of its range, and in mesic areas in the northern and eastern portion of its range. Abies lasiocarpa is the dominant overstory tree, often with Picea engelmannii. Pinus contorta and Pseudotsuga menziesii are often codominant to more abundant than Abies. In Washington and Oregon, Larix occidentalis and Abies grandis may also be present. The shrub layer is minor. Paxistima myrsinites is most often present and can have as much as 15% cover. The herbaceous layer is generally described as a mat or sward of Calamagrostis rubescens, with 40-50% cover. Carex geyeri can be present and abundant. Other forbs commonly present include Arnica cordifolia, Thalictrum occidentale, Osmorhiza berteroi, Orthilia secunda, Arnica latifolia, and Carex rossii. Where Calamagrostis rubescens is less than 5% cover and Carex geyeri is 5% and greater, the stand represents ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Carex geyeri Forest (CEGL000304)$$.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: While most of the stands in the literature are dominated by Pinus contorta (in the Rocky Mountains) or Pseudotsuga menziesii (in eastern Oregon and Washington), with Abies lasiocarpa in the understory canopy, where it is considered the "indicated climax" (Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1983, Williams and Lillybridge 1983), the concept of this association is existing stands dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Stands from Teton National Park are dominated by Abies lasiocarpa in the overstory canopy.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is a montane forested community in cool and dry areas in the western part of its range, and in mesic areas in the northern and western portion of its range. Abies lasiocarpa is the dominant overstory tree, often with Picea engelmannii. Pinus contorta and Pseudotsuga menziesii are often codominant to more abundant than Abies. In Washington and Oregon, Larix occidentalis and Abies grandis may also be present. The shrub layer is minor. Paxistima myrsinites is most often present and can have as much as 15% cover. Other shrubs may be present but in very low amounts include Lonicera utahensis, Amelanchier alnifolia, Juniperus communis, and Spiraea betulifolia. The herbaceous layer is generally described as a mat or sward of Calamagrostis rubescens, with 40-50% cover. Carex geyeri can be present and abundant. Other forbs commonly present include Arnica cordifolia, Thalictrum occidentale, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Arnica latifolia, and Carex rossii. Where Calamagrostis rubescens is less than 5% cover and Carex geyeri is 5% and greater, the stand represents ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Carex geyeri Forest (CEGL000304)$$.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest is often on moderate to steep slopes and ranges in elevation from 1372 to 1800 m (4500-5900 feet) in Oregon and Washington, and from 1768 to 2590 m (5800-8500 feet) in the Rocky Mountains. Soils are skeletal and range from silts to loams.
Geographic Range: This association is known from eastern Oregon and Washington, northern Utah, Idaho, western Montana, and northwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID?, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683146
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Lodgepole Pine Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Group | G219 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Alliance | A3643 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest Alliance | A3643 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Association | CEGL000301 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Pinegrass Forest | CEGL000301 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/CARU ASSOCIATION CEG311]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [(p.101)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [(p.57)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987) [(p.16) mentioned in the key to types, no description or distribution information, and refers to Pfister et al. (1977).]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984) [(p.45)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Williams et al. 1990b) [(p.72)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Smith 1990) [(p.126)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987) [(p.276)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983) [(p.58)]
? Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium - Calamagrostis rubescens (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/VASC/CARU CES413]
= Abies lasiocarpa-Pseudotsuga menziesii/Calamagrostis rubescens Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Calamagrostis rubescens (Clausnitzer and Zamora 1987)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Calamagrostis rubescens (John et al. 1988)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium scoparium-Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [(p.101)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [(p.57)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987) [(p.16) mentioned in the key to types, no description or distribution information, and refers to Pfister et al. (1977).]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984) [(p.45)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Williams et al. 1990b) [(p.72)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Smith 1990) [(p.126)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987) [(p.276)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983) [(p.58)]
? Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium - Calamagrostis rubescens (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/VASC/CARU CES413]
= Abies lasiocarpa-Pseudotsuga menziesii/Calamagrostis rubescens Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Calamagrostis rubescens (Clausnitzer and Zamora 1987)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Calamagrostis rubescens (John et al. 1988)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium scoparium-Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983)
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