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CEGL000427 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Heartleaf Leopardbane Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from the lower to mid montane zone. Elevations range from 1430 to 2900 m (4690-9500 feet). Sites are variable but generally on dry aspects. Substrates are variable and may be very gravelly or not, with soil textures ranging from sandy loam to silt. Ground surface has high cover of litter, often 4-7 cm deep, relatively low cover of surface rock (<10%), and low cover of bare soil. The vegetation is characterized by a relatively dense (60-90% cover), evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy strongly dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with Arnica cordifolia or Astragalus miser dominating or codominating the sparse to moderately dense understory. Other mature seral tree species present include Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, or Juniperus scopulorum. The dense canopy limits understory development so only scattered shrubs may be present, not enough to form a shrub layer. The herbaceous layer, whether depauperate or moderately dense, dominates the forest floor and is dominated or codominated by Arnica cordifolia and Astragalus miser.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: All phases of the Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type are included in the concept of this associations (Steele et al. 1981, 1983).
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 a relatively dense (60-90% cover). evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy strongly dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with Arnica cordifolia or Astragalus miser dominating or codominating the sparse to moderate dense understory. Other mature seral tree species present include Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, or Juniperus scopulorum. The dense canopy limits understory development so only scattered shrubs may be present, not enough to form a shrub layer. Shrub species may include Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Ribes cereum, Shepherdia canadensis, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and occasional clumps of Juniperus communis. The herbaceous layer, whether depauperate or moderately dense, dominates the forest floor. Arnica cordifolia or Astragalus miser dominate or codominate this patchy herbaceous layer often with low cover of other herbaceous species such as Antennaria microphylla, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Packera streptanthifolia (= Senecio streptanthifolius), Carex rossii, Festuca idahoensis, Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii), Festuca campestris (= Festuca scabrella), Poa nervosa, or Pseudoroegneria spicata.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from the lower to mid montane zone. Elevations range from 1800-2900 m (5900-9500 feet) in the central and 1430-2620 m (4690-8600 feet) in the northern Rocky Mountains. Sites are variable and tend to occur on dry aspects. Substrates are variable and may be very gravelly or not, with soil textures ranging from sandy loam to silt. Parent materials include loess, various calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary rock, andesite, argillite, dacite, gneiss, granite, limestone, quartzite, quartz monzonite, rhyolite, sandstone or schist. Ground surface has high cover of litter 4-7 cm deep, relatively low cover of surface rock (<10%), and low cover of bare soil.
Geographic Range: This forest association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from the lower to mid montane zone.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684590
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.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 | CEGL000427 Douglas-fir / Heartleaf Leopardbane Forest | CEGL000427 | 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 / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arnica cordifolia Plant Association (Johnston 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.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- 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.