Print Report

CEGL000430 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Geyer''s Sedge Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association has been found in the montane zone of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Stands occur at lower montane elevations of these mountainous regions, on sites typically drier than most other Pseudotsuga menziesii associations. Site slope and aspect vary greatly. Slopes where this association is found in Colorado are reported to be steep to very steep (45-80%). Parent materials include granitics, conglomerates, sandstones, basalts, and shales. Exposed bare ground is low (less than 30%), and litter/duff is relatively thin, usually less than 5 cm deep. Vegetation is characterized by the dominance of Pseudotsuga menziesii, with a relatively closed canopy, as well as stands that are more open or have a mixed conifer tree canopy. Pseudotsuga is self-regenerating in this association. Several other conifers may be present to codominant, including Pinus ponderosa or Juniperus scopulorum in southern Rocky Mountain stands, and Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta, or Populus tremuloides in stands farther north. These species are typically present only in early-seral stands of this association. There is no shrub layer, although several shrub species are typically present with low cover. These include the evergreen needle-leaved Juniperus communis and the broad-leaved cold-deciduous Amelanchier alnifolia, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Purshia tridentata, Spiraea betulifolia, Vaccinium membranaceum, Vaccinium scoparium, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer is dominated by the perennial sedge Carex geyeri (averaging 35% cover). No other herbaceous species are well-represented, but many different forbs can occur in low amounts.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Some stands had an open tree canopy (40% cover) that could be classified as a woodland, but were included in this forest association until review of this association is completed rangewide. Stands included in this association from Colorado may be different from stands in the northwestern United States and northern Rocky Mountains and need to be re-analyzed.

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

Floristics: This is an association dominated by the evergreen needle-leaved tree Pseudotsuga menziesii, with a relatively closed canopy. Pseudotsuga is self-regenerating in this association. Several other canopy trees may be present, including Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus scopulorum, and Populus tremuloides, with Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, or Abies lasiocarpa more typical in stands further north. These species are typically present only in early-seral stands of this association (Steele et al. 1981). It is reported that in some Idaho stands the canopy may be more open, with larger, more widely spaced trees in late-seral stands. There is no shrub layer, although several shrub or dwarf-shrub species are typically present with low cover. These include the evergreen needle-leaved Juniperus communis and the broad-leaved, cold-deciduous Amelanchier spp., Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Prunus virginiana, Purshia tridentata, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus depending on geographic region. The herbaceous layer is dominated by the perennial sedge Carex geyeri. Typically no other herbaceous species are well-represented, but many different forbs can occur in low amounts, including Fragaria spp., Arnica cordifolia, Achillea millefolium , Antennaria parvifolia, Osmorhiza spp., and Astragalus spp. Other graminoids can include Poa spp., Bromus porteri, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), and Calamagrostis rubescens.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association has been found throughout much of the Rocky Mountains. Stands occur at lower montane elevations of these mountainous regions, on sites typically drier than most other Pseudotsuga menziesii associations. Elevations range from 1480-1500 m (4854-4920 feet) in Alberta, to 1860-2315 m (6100-7600 feet) in southern Montana, 2315-2800 m (7600-9200 feet) in central Colorado, and from 1125-2650 m (3700-8700 feet) in Idaho. Slope and aspect of sites vary greatly. Slopes vary from gentle to very steep (3-80%) but are generally moderate to steep (20-45%). Parent materials include granitics, conglomerates, sandstone, siltstone, rhyolite, basalt, and shale. Soils are rapidly drained loamy sand to silty clay loams. Exposed bare ground is low (less than 30%), and litter/duff is relatively thin, usually less than 5 cm deep.
Geographic Range: This association has been found in the montane zone throughout much of the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, and west into Oregon and Washington.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?

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 CEGL000430 Douglas-fir / Geyer''s Sedge Forest CEGL000430 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: < Abies lasiocarpa / Carex geyeri Habitat Type, Pseudotsuga menziesii Phase (Steele et al. 1983) [Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated stands of this type.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Carex geyeri Habitat Type, Pseudotsuga menziesii Phase (Steele et al. 1981) [Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated stands of this type.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Carex geyeri Habitat Type, Pseudotsuga menziesii Phase (Pfister et al. 1977) [Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated stands of this type.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri (Topik et al. 1988) [(p.51)]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Williams and Smith 1990)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Komarkova et al. 1988a)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Douglas-fir / Geyer’s Sedge Forest (Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex geyeri Forest) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-10-06
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