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CEGL000375 Picea engelmannii / Packera cardamine Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Engelmann Spruce / Bittercress Ragwort Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These mixed conifer forests have been described from the White Mountains and Blue Mountains of east-central Arizona, and in the Bearwallow and Mogollon mountains in west-central New Mexico. Elevations range from 2590-2865 m. Sites have moderately deep to deep loamy-textured soils derived from basalt, and often occur on gentle upland slopes and in drainages. Lower-elevation sites are restricted to the more mesic north slopes and drainages. This association has a closed conifer tree canopy often over 30 m tall with an abundant herbaceous layer. The tree canopy is a mixture of late-seral species such as Picea engelmannii, Picea pungens, Abies lasiocarpa, or Abies concolor, and the early-seral species Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus strobiformis with Pinus ponderosa and Populus tremuloides often present in disturbed stands. A sparse short-shrub layer composed of Lonicera utahensis and Rubus parviflorus is usually present, but the understory is dominated by the herbaceous layer. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense (>25% cover) and diverse, and is dominated by forb species such as Packera cardamine, Pteridium aquilinum, Hymenoxys hoopesii, Viola canadensis, Senecio wootonii, Erigeron eximius, and Geranium richardsonii. Common graminoids include Bromus ciliatus and Carex spp.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tree regeneration is mostly Picea engelmannii and/or Abies lasiocarpa or Abies concolor. The combined number of stems less than 25.4 cm (10 inches) dbh of Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa usually exceeds that of combined Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii by a ratio greater than 2:1. Shrubs are minor. The herbaceous layer is dominated by conspicuous patches of Packera cardamine. Abies lasiocarpa, Picea pungens, and Pinus ponderosa may be accidental trees in this type.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stuever and Hayden (1997a) identified two phases: Abies lasiocarpa phase: Abies lasiocarpa has light to moderate regeneration. Lonicera utahensis occurs most often in this phase. Abies concolor phase: Abies lasiocarpa is absent or sparse, while Abies concolor has light to moderate regeneration. Paxistima myrsinites, Mertensia franciscana, and Fragaria vesca ssp. bracteata are often present in this phase.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association has a closed conifer tree canopy often over 30 m tall with an abundant herbaceous layer. The tree canopy is a mixture of late-seral species such as Picea engelmannii, Picea pungens, Abies lasiocarpa, or Abies concolor, and the early-seral species Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus strobiformis with Pinus ponderosa and Populus tremuloides often present in disturbed stands. A sparse short-shrub layer composed of Lonicera utahensis and Rubus parviflorus is usually present, but the understory is dominated by the herbaceous layer. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense (>25% cover) and diverse, and is dominated by forb species such as Packera cardamine (= Senecio cardamine), Pteridium aquilinum, Hymenoxys hoopesii (= Helenium hoopesii), Viola canadensis, Senecio wootonii, Erigeron eximius, and Geranium richardsonii. Common graminoids include Bromus ciliatus and Carex spp.
Dynamics: Fire history is characterized by frequent, low-intensity fires interspersed by larger, higher-intensity surface fires. Mean annual fire interval is estimated at 22 years (Dieterich 1983). The long-term history (centuries) of such fires may be responsible for the mixture of such seral species as Pinus ponderosa, Populus tremuloides, Pinus strobiformis, and Pteridium aquilinum. Forest habitat type study site data indicated increased numbers of shade-tolerant species, i.e., Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa, as a result of the cessation of fire over past 50 years (Fitzhugh et al. 1987).
Environmental Description: Elevations range from 2590-2865 m. Sites have moderately deep to deep loamy-textured soils derived from basalt, and often occur on gentle upland slopes and in drainages. Lower-elevation sites are restricted to the more mesic north slopes and drainages.
Geographic Range: This forest association has been described from the White Mountains and Blue Mountains of northeastern Arizona, and from the Bearwallow and Mogollon mountains in west-central New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683934
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group | G218 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A3615 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A3615 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL000375 Engelmann Spruce / Bittercress Ragwort Forest | CEGL000375 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea engelmannii / Senecio cardamine (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea engelmannii / Senecio cardamine Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Senecio cardamine Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
- 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.
- Dieterich, J. H. 1983. Fire history of southwestern mixed conifer: A case study. Forest Ecology 6:13-31.
- Fitzhugh, E. L., W. H. Moir, J. A. Ludwig, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1987. Forest habitat types in the Apache, Gila, and part of the Cibola national forests. General Technical Report RM-145. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 116 pp.
- Larson, M., and W. H. Moir. 1986. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of southern New Mexico and central Arizona (north of the Mogollon Rim). USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. 76 pp.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997a. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico, edition 3. Volume 1: Forests. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Habitat Typing Guides. 291 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1986. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of southern New Mexico and central Arizona (north of the Mogollon Rim). USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 140 pp. plus insert.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.