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CEGL000315 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Linnaea borealis Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Twinflower Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widespread forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations are 1145-2135 m (3750-7000 feet) throughout most of the range. Sites are relatively cool and moist, occurring on all aspects, but are typically found on northern slopes (especially mid to lowslopes), valley bottoms and benches. Soils are typically medium- to fine-textured and are derived from a variety of parent materials. Litter dominates ground surface often 3 cm deep with low cover of bare soil and rock (except boulders). The vegetation is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with Linnaea borealis present to dominant in the dwarf-shrub layer and Vaccinium scoparium and Xerophyllum tenax with less than 5% cover. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is moderately dense to dense (over 55% cover) and is typically dominated by Picea engelmannii and mature seral tree species, with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, and Pinus contorta. Undergrowth is variable; however, an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer is present and usually dominated or codominated by Linnaea borealis. Consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, Ribes lacustre, Rosa spp., Rubus parviflorus, Shepherdia canadensis, Spiraea betulifolia, Vaccinium membranaceum and Vaccinium scoparium. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is a mixture of graminoids and forbs such as Actaea rubra, Arnica spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Galium spp., Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza berteroi, Orthilia secunda, and Thalictrum occidentale.

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 Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with Linnaea borealis present to dominant in the dwarf-shrub layer and Vaccinium scoparium and Xerophyllum tenax with less than 5% cover. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is moderately dense to dense (over 55% cover) and is typically dominated by Picea engelmannii and mature seral tree species, with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, and Pinus contorta. Undergrowth is variable; however, an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer is present and usually dominated or codominated by Linnaea borealis. Consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, Ribes lacustre, Rosa spp., Rubus parviflorus, Shepherdia canadensis, Spiraea betulifolia, Vaccinium membranaceum and Vaccinium scoparium. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is a mixture of graminoids and forbs such as Actaea rubra, Arnica spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Galium spp., Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), and Thalictrum occidentale.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This widespread forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations are 1145-2600 m (3750-7000 feet) throughout most of the range, but extend up to 2135-2600 m (7000-8500 feet) in the southern extent. Sites are relatively cool and moist, occurring on all aspects, but typically are found on northern slopes (especially mid to lowslopes), valley bottoms and benches. Soils are typically medium- to fine-textured. Soils are derived from a variety of parent materials such as mixed colluvium, glacial till argillite, quartzite, gneiss, schist, basalt, andesite, granite and biotite granite, and calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary rocks (sandstone). Litter dominates ground surface often 3 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock (except boulders).
Geographic Range: This is a widespread subalpine forest association that occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from north-central Wyoming west to Oregon and north into Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, ID, MT, OR, UT?, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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.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 A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance A3614 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL000315 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Twinflower Forest CEGL000315 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: < Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Linnaea borealis Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [includes associations from Colorado.]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis var. longiflora Plant Association (Williams et al. 1990b)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis var. longiflora Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983)
? Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/LIBOL WEN CEF222]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type (Cooper 1975)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type, Linnaea borealis Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type, Linnaea borealis Phase (Steele et al. 1983)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type, Linnaea borealis Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Abies lasiocarpa-Picea engelmannii/Linnaea borealis Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Abies lasiocarpa/Linnaea borealis Association (Williams et al. 1995)
? Abies lasiocarpa/Linnaea borealis Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-11-04
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