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CEGL000751 Abies lasiocarpa - Pinus albicaulis / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Whitebark Pine / Kinnikinnick Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs at high elevations within a narrow portion of the range of Pinus albicaulis in north-central Washington, perhaps extending into adjacent British Columbia, Canada. This woodland appears mostly on southwest aspects at high elevations. Shallow soil and exposed rock are characteristic of this type. Canopies are open with a mix of Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus albicaulis, and Pseudotsuga menziesii trees. Larix occidentalis and Pinus contorta trees may also be present. The understory is often dominated by patches of the matted evergreen dwarf-shrub Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. It is always present with over 5% cover and usually associated with Paxistima myrsinites. Herbaceous plants are sparsely represented, although Calamagrostis rubescens or Carex rossii is usually present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Similar associations include ~Pinus albicaulis / Calamagrostis rubescens Woodland (CEGL000753)$$ and ~Pinus albicaulis / Juniperus communis Woodland (CEGL000756)$$ of Lillybridge et al. (1995). No other reference in Washington lists Arctostaphylos uva-ursi as important in Pinus albicaulis or Abies lasiocarpa types although one of Lillybridge et al.''s (1995) Pinus albicaulis / Calamagrostis rubescens plots has Arctostaphylos uva-ursi at 50% cover. Personal communications with Lillybridge and with Clausnitzer indicate that this type is rare, and plots representing it were lumped into other Pinus albicaulis types on the Wenatchee and Okanogan national forests. It is considered rare and narrowly defined by exposed rock and shallow soil.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Canopies are open with a mix of Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus albicaulis, and Pseudotsuga menziesii trees. Larix occidentalis and Pinus contorta trees may also be present. The understory is often dominated by patches of the matted evergreen dwarf-shrub Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. It is always present with over 5% cover and usually associated with Paxistima myrsinites. Herbaceous plants are sparsely represented, although Calamagrostis rubescens or Carex rossii is usually present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland appears mostly on southwest aspects at high elevations. Shallow soil and exposed rock are characteristic of this type.
Geographic Range: This association occurs at high elevations within a narrow portion of the range of Pinus albicaulis in north-central Washington, perhaps extending into adjacent British Columbia, Canada.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: BC?, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685004
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2Q
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.g Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Northern Rocky Mountain Woodland Group | G223 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Alliance | A3368 Whitebark Pine Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3368 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Association | CEGL000751 Subalpine Fir - Whitebark Pine / Kinnikinnick Woodland | CEGL000751 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pinus albicaulis / Calamagrostis rubescens (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [PIAL/CARU ASSOCIATION CAG112]
? Pinus albicaulis / Juniperus communis (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [PIAL/JUCO4 ASSOCIATION CAS421]
? Pinus albicaulis / Juniperus communis (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [PIAL/JUCO4 ASSOCIATION CAS421]
- 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.
- Clausnitzer, R. R., and B. A. Zamora. 1987. Forest habitat types of the Colville Indian Reservation. Unpublished report prepared for the Department of Forest and Range Management, Washington State University, Pullman. 110 pp.
- Lillybridge, T. R., B. L. Kovalchik, C. K. Williams, and B. G. Smith. 1995. Field guide for forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-359. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 335 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.