Print Report

CEGL000574 Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis Riparian Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Bluejoint Riparian Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These lush, deciduous, riparian forests occur in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and possibly Wyoming. Elevations range from 850 to 3170 m (2800-10,400 feet). Sites are riparian, occurring along stream terraces or floodplains, or upland on wet flats, benches, and gentle toeslopes where groundwater emerges as seeps. Substrates are often coarse-loamy soils over coarse alluvium. Stands have a moderately dense to dense tree canopy that is dominated by Populus tremuloides. Other trees present with low cover (<10%) may include Pinus contorta, or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa. The shrub layer is sparse to moderate (cover ranging from 0 to 30% cover) and composed of any of a variety of shrubs, such as Alnus incana, Rosa spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, and several Salix spp., including Salix geyeriana, Salix bebbiana, and Salix monticola. Shorter shrub species present include Symphoricarpos albus, Ribes lacustre, and Rosa acicularis. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense to dense depending on shrub cover. It is dominated by the wet-site perennial graminoid Calamagrostis canadensis. Other frequently occurring species include Bromus ciliatus, Carex siccata, Equisetum arvense, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum spp., Ligusticum porteri, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, Senecio triangularis, and Viola spp. These are usually in low abundance but occasionally can have as much as 30% cover individually. The introduced species Poa pratensis, Poa palustris, and Taraxacum officinale may be present. The abundant and near uniform cover of the Calamagrostis canadensis-dominated herbaceous layer in the understory separates this type from other Populus tremuloides forests.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type.

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

Floristics: Stands have a moderately dense to dense tree canopy that is dominated by Populus tremuloides. Other trees present with low cover (<10%) may include Pinus contorta or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa. The shrub layer is sparse to moderately dense (cover ranging from 0 to 50% cover), and composed of a variety of shrubs such as Alnus incana, Rosa spp., Symphoricarpos spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, and several Salix spp., including Salix geyeriana, Salix bebbiana, and Salix monticola. Shorter shrub species present include Symphoricarpos albus, Ribes lacustre, and Rosa acicularis. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense to dense depending on shrub cover. It is dominated by the wet-site perennial graminoid Calamagrostis canadensis. Other common species include Bromus ciliatus, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Equisetum arvense, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum spp., Ligusticum porteri, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, Senecio triangularis, Senecio hydrophiloides, Viola spp., Vicia americana, Lathyrus ochroleucus, and Galium boreale. These are usually low in cover, but occasionally occur with as much as 30% cover individually. Introduced species Poa pratensis, Poa palustris, and Taraxacum officinale may be present. The abundance and nearly uniform cover of the Calamagrostis canadensis-dominated herbaceous layer in the understory separates this type from other Populus tremuloides forests.

Dynamics:  This Populus tremuloides riparian forest is slowly successional to conifer-dominated (primarily Abies concolor, Picea engelmannii, or Abies lasiocarpa) riparian forests.
Environmental Description:  These lush deciduous forests occur in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and possibly Wyoming. Elevations range from 850 to 3170 m (2800-10,400 feet). Sites are riparian, occurring along stream terraces or floodplains, or upland on wet flats, benches, and gentle toeslopes where groundwater seeps. Substrates range from coarse loamy soils to silty clay, clay or silty clay loams with very little gravel or rock. The soil is typically deep, moist and well-developed.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the mountains of eastern Washington and Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and possibly Wyoming. It also is found in southern Alberta, Canada.

Nations: CA,US

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


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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D195 1.B.3.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup M034 1.B.3.Nc.1
Group 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group G506 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Alliance A3760 Quaking Aspen Riparian Forest Alliance A3760 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000574 Quaking Aspen / Bluejoint Riparian Forest CEGL000574 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Abies lasiocarpa / Calamagrostis canadensis Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis (Baker 1984a)
= Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [(p.84)]
= Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis (Huckaby and Moir 1998)
= Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [(p.232)]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz, G. Kittel, S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-21-05
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