Print Report
CEGL000897 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a widespread association found only occasionally in small patches in central Oregon, Idaho, western Wyoming and Montana, Utah and northwestern Colorado. It is generally found on ridgetops, plateau rims or colluvial upper slopes. Elevations range from 1220 m (4000 feet) in central Oregon to over 2750 m (9025 feet) in southern Utah. Sites are often subject to year-round winds and intense insolation, which contribute to reduced snowpacks and dry conditions. Parent materials vary widely. In Oregon, it occurs on basalts. Farther east it is found on limestone, shale, sandstone, pumice, quartz monzonite and quartzite. Soil textures vary, but the sites are characterized by extensive areas of exposed soil and rock, up to 40% at many sites. Trees are generally widely spaced, with Pseudotsuga menziesii generally the only tree present. At the western portions of the range, Juniperus occidentalis is often present, with occasional Pinus ponderosa trees found. Farther east, these habitats have Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus edulis, Pinus longaeva, and occasional Pinus flexilis. The understory is characterized by a tall-shrub layer dominated by Cercocarpus ledifolius. Other shrubs include Symphoricarpos spp.(Symphoricarpos albus in the western part of the range and Symphoricarpos oreophilus in the eastern part), Spiraea betulifolia, Mahonia repens, Artemisia tridentata, and Amelanchier spp.. Graminoids, including Pseudoroegneria spicata, Carex geyeri, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and/or Festuca idahoensis, comprise most of the sparse herbaceous layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a moderately defined type. It is clearly different from other associations in the classification, given the canopy dominants and the ecological setting. However, given the very large geographic range and the significantly different floristics represented within the range, it is likely that it represents two different types, an eastern, higher elevation, drier type with Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius - Symphoricarpos oreophilus and a western, lower elevation type with Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius - Symphoricarpos albus. The fact that habitat probably exists in northwestern California and Nevada for this type also implies that additional distinction is required. For now, since the occurrences appear so small and not all that common, additional splitting does not appear to be necessary.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Trees are generally widely spaced, with Pseudotsuga menziesii generally the only tree present. At the western portions of the range, Juniperus occidentalis is often present, with occasional Pinus ponderosa trees found. Farther east and south, these habitats may have Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus edulis, Pinus longaeva, and Pinus flexilis. The understory is characterized by a tall-shrub or subcanopy layer dominated by Cercocarpus ledifolius. Other shrubs include Symphoricarpos spp. (Symphoricarpos albus in the western part of the range and Symphoricarpos oreophilus in the east and south), Spiraea betulifolia, Mahonia repens, Purshia tridentata, Artemisia tridentata, Amelanchier utahensis, and Amelanchier alnifolia. Graminoids, including Pseudoroegneria spicata, Carex geyeri, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and/or Festuca idahoensis, provide most of the sparse herbaceous undergrowth.
Dynamics: Fire plays a minor role in these stands, as even mature Pseudotsuga menziesii are usually killed by anything other than a cool surface fire. Cercocarpus ledifolius will sprout and re-seed following fire, but re-establishment of the original association following a fire would require centuries without fire. The understory in these stands is relatively depauperate because of xeric conditions.
Environmental Description: This is a widespread association found only occasionally in small patches in central Oregon, Idaho, western Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, Utah and Montana. It is generally found on ridgetops, plateau rims or upper colluvial slopes. Elevations range from 1220 m (4000 feet) in central Oregon to over 2750 m (9025 feet) in southern Utah. Sites are often subject to year-round winds and intense insolation, which contribute to reduced snowpacks and dry conditions. Parent materials vary widely. In Oregon, it occurs on basalts. Farther east it is found on limestone, shale, sandstone, pumice, quartz monzonite and quartzite. Soil textures vary, but the sites are characterized by extensive areas of exposed soil and rock, up to 40% at many sites.
Geographic Range: This is a fairly uncommon and patchily distributed association, which is very widely distributed, from central Oregon east to Montana, and south to southern Utah and northwestern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683759
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.c Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Forest & Woodland Group | G215 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
| Alliance | A3462 Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3462 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
| Association | CEGL000897 Douglas-fir / Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland | CEGL000897 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius (DeVelice 1992)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cercocarpus ledifolius Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
- 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.
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L. 1992. Classification of the plant communities of Beaverhead, Silver Bow, and Madison counties, Montana. Volume I (text). Prepared for the Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 35 pp.
- Johnson, C. G., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1992. Plant associations of the Blue and Ochoco mountains. R6-ERW-TP-036-92. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 163 pp. plus appendices.
- 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.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Mauk, R. L., and J. A. Henderson. 1984. Coniferous forest habitat types of northern Utah. General Technical Report INT-170. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
- Steele, R., S. V. Cooper, D. M. Ondov, D. W. Roberts, and R. D. Pfister. 1983. Forest habitat types of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. General Technical Report INT-144. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 122 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.