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CEGL000195 Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Antelope Bitterbrush / Idaho Fescue Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a widespread woodland community which is a dominant part of the landscape in the eastern Cascades, and occurs as patches throughout the Blue Mountains, and in Idaho, northeastern Washington and Montana. Elevations vary between 780-1740 m (2550-5700 feet) on all aspects with slopes usually less than 35%. Soils are a mixture of sand, loam, and silt. These woodlands are dominated by Pinus ponderosa with occasional Pinus contorta, Juniperus occidentalis, or Cercocarpus ledifolius. The shrub layer is characterized by Purshia tridentata with occasional Arctostaphylos patula, Ericameria bloomeri, and Ceanothus integerrimus. The herbaceous layer is usually dominated by Festuca idahoensis with minor herbs such as Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides, Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale, Lupinus spp., Achillea millefolium, and Fragaria virginiana. Fires have historically maintained Pinus ponderosa while thinning fire-sensitive subordinate trees and shrubs.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association has been extensively sampled by numerous authorities. Regionally, the classification of this type is confusing. Both ~Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata Woodland (CEGL000197)$$ and ~Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis Woodland (CEGL000195)$$ are very similar, and in fact are classified as the same community (but as different phases) by references from other states. Given the range of the type, three separate associations are distinguished from the northwestern U.S.: Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis Woodland, restricted to the Cascades of Oregon, Washington, California and the Blue Mountains, getting into western Idaho and Montana; Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata Woodland, which occurs in all the states, but as a rare, small-patch community, and a proposed Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Festuca scabrella, which appears to be restricted to Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. This last type, for the time being, will continue to be called ~Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata Central Rocky Mountain Woodland (CEGL005648)$$ until further review of data can be completed. These types have been called either different phases of Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata, or Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata by various authors (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992, Daubenmire 1968, Pfister 1977, Steele et al. 1981, Clausnitzer and Zamora 1987).

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

Floristics: These woodlands are dominated by Pinus ponderosa (5-60% cover) with occasional Pinus contorta, Juniperus occidentalis, or Cercocarpus ledifolius (less than 10% cover). The shrub layer is characterized by Purshia tridentata up to 50% cover with occasional Arctostaphylos patula, Ericameria bloomeri, and Ceanothus integerrimus. The herbaceous layer is usually dominated by Festuca idahoensis (5-40% cover) with minor herbs such as Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides (= Sitanion hystrix), Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis), Lupinus spp., Achillea millefolium, and Fragaria virginiana.

Dynamics:  Fires have historically maintained Pinus ponderosa while thinning fire-sensitive subordinate trees and shrubs.
Environmental Description:  This association is a widespread woodland community which is a dominant part of the landscape in the eastern Cascades, and occurs as patches throughout the Blue Mountains, and in Idaho, northeastern Washington and Montana. Elevations vary between 780-1740 m (2550-5700 feet) on all aspects with slopes usually less than 35%. Soils are a mixture of sand, loam, and silt.
Geographic Range: This community is widely distributed and common in the eastern Cascades of Oregon and Washington, in California''s Modoc Plateau, and the eastern Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe. It occurs as a rarer community in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, in northeastern Washington, in central and western Idaho, and in western Montana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, ID?, MT, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.a Ponderosa Pine Central Rocky Mountain Open Woodland Group G213 1.B.2.Nb.2.a
Alliance A3446 Ponderosa Pine / Shrub Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance A3446 1.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL000195 Ponderosa Pine / Antelope Bitterbrush / Idaho Fescue Woodland CEGL000195 1.B.2.Nb.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [PIPO/PUTR/AGSP ASSOCIATION CPS241]
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pfister 1977)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata (Daubenmire 1968a)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata (Clausnitzer and Zamora 1987)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata (Pfister 1977)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata (Daubenmire 1968a)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata (Clausnitzer and Zamora 1987)
? Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
? Ponderosa Pine / Bitterbrush / Bunchgrass (Volland 1985)
= Ponderosa Pine / Bitterbrush / Fescue (Volland 1985)
= Ponderosa Pine / Bitterbrush / Fescue (Hopkins 1979a)
= Ponderosa Pine / Bitterbrush / Fescue (Hopkins 1979b)
Concept Author(s): M.P. Murray

Author of Description: M.P. Murray

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97
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