Print Report

CEGL000429 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Pinegrass Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This lower to mid montane woodland association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from western Montana to northeastern Washington and British Columbia, and south to western Wyoming, Idaho and eastern Oregon. Elevations range from 825 to 2400 m (2700-7900 feet). Stands occur on cool, dry sites on mid to upper slopes and benches on all aspects at middle elevations. At lowest elevations stands are restricted to north aspects, and at upper elevations stands are found on warm and dry southerly exposures. Substrates are variable (sandy to clayey), but are generally well-drained, coarser-textured gravelly soils and derived from a variety of noncalcareous, acidic parent materials. Surface rock usually is low to moderate, and litter cover high. The typically open tree canopy is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii alone or codominated by Pinus ponderosa or Larix occidentalis. Large Pinus albicaulis or Pinus contorta trees may be present in the upper tree canopy. The subcanopy is Pseudotsuga menziesii. Scattered shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Paxistima myrsinites, Sorbus scopulina, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus and dwarf-shrubs such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Mahonia repens may also be present. The dense to moderately dense (20-60% cover) perennial graminoid layer characteristically dominates the understory. Calamagrostis rubescens typically is the dominant, with Carex geyeri, Festuca idahoensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata often present to codominant. There is often a high diversity of forbs, but typically all have low cover. Forb species present are highly variable, but the most common forbs species are Achillea millefolium, Antennaria spp., Arnica cordifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eurybia conspicua, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, and Geum triflorum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association typically has an open tree canopy that is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii alone or codominated by Pinus ponderosa or Larix occidentalis. Large Pinus albicaulis or Pinus contorta trees may be present in the upper tree canopy. The subcanopy is Pseudotsuga menziesii. Scattered shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Paxistima myrsinites, Sorbus scopulina, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus and dwarf-shrubs such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Mahonia repens may also be present. The dense to moderately dense (20-60% cover) perennial graminoid layer characteristically dominates the understory. Calamagrostis rubescens typically is the dominant, with Carex geyeri, Festuca idahoensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata often present to codominant. Although some stands may have only Calamagrostis rubescens. There is often a high diversity of forbs, but typically all have low cover. The most common forbs species are Achillea millefolium, Antennaria spp., Arnica cordifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eurybia conspicua, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, and Geum triflorum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This lower to mid montane woodland association occurs in central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 825 to 2400 m (2700-7900 feet). Stands occur on cool, dry sites on mid to upper slopes and benches on all aspects at middle elevations. At lowest elevations stands are restricted to north aspects, and at upper elevations stand are found on warm and dry southerly exposures. Substrates are variable (sandy to clayey) but are generally well-drained, coarser-textured gravelly soils and derived from a variety of noncalcareous, acidic parent materials including andesite, basalt, granites, quartzite, quartz monzonite, and glacial drift. Surface rock usually is low to moderate, and litter cover is high. Some stands can have up to 30% exposed bedrock.
Geographic Range: This lower to mid montane woodland association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from western Montana to northeastern Washington and British Columbia, and south to western Wyoming, Idaho and eastern Oregon.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.2 Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Central Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Macrogroup M501 1.B.2.Nb.2
Group 1.B.2.Nb.2.b Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine Central Rocky Mountain Forest Group G210 1.B.2.Nb.2.b
Alliance A3395 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Herbaceous Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance A3395 1.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL000429 Douglas-fir / Pinegrass Woodland CEGL000429 1.B.2.Nb.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Cole 1982)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Smith 1990)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1985)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Williams et al. 1990b)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-07-05
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