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CEGL000141 Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / Geyer''s Sedge Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a vast cold and dry forest of the Yellowstone Plateau, common on the granitic substrates of central Idaho and in the lodgepole pine belt of Colorado. This forest association occurs on near-flat to rolling terrain (slopes range from 5-25%) on generally deeper soil than other Pinus contorta types. Elevation range is from 2130 to 2800 m (6993-9200 feet). It occupies vast rhyolitic flows in Yellowstone National Park. In general this type occupies the cool, dry aspects of relatively gentle terrain. Soils are well-drained silt loams, sandy clay loams or sandy loams, are moderately permeable and moderately deep. The ground cover is primarily litter and duff; exposed rock is generally less than 10%. This is a dry to submesic, high-elevation forest distinguished by dominance of Pinus contorta in the tree layer and by Carex geyeri in the herbaceous layer. Pinus contorta is the sole dominate tree and is successfully reproducing. If other conifers such as Abies lasiocarpa or Pinus albicaulis are present, they have less than 10% cover. Shrub cover is sparse throughout its range. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Carex geyeri. Other graminoids that may be present include Danthonia intermedia, Calamagrostis rubescens, Elymus glaucus, Achnatherum nelsonii, and Poa wheeleri. Forb cover is generally low (1-3%). This forest association is distinguished from similar types by the dominance of Pinus contorta (at least 10% cover, has a higher cover than that of other conifers if present, and is successfully reproducing).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Many lower subalpine, spruce-fir and upper montane Douglas-fir forest and woodland stands include Pinus contorta trees in a mixed-conifer canopy. To clarify classification, only stands with tree canopies strongly dominated by Pinus contorta (usually >2/3 tree canopy) are considered to be Pinus contorta woodland and forest associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a dry to submesic, high-elevation forest distinguished by dominance of Pinus contorta in the tree layer and by Carex geyeri in the herbaceous layer. Pinus contorta is the sole dominate tree (30-60% cover) and is successfully reproducing. If other conifers such as Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus albicaulis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Populus tremuloides are present, they have less than 10% cover. This forest type has moderate species diversity and a closed tree canopy, generally higher canopy coverage in the overstory than in the herbaceous growth, but this ratio can be variable. In the northern distribution in Idaho and western Wyoming, the herbaceous understory is better developed with higher abundance of Carex geyeri and greater forb diversity. Shrub cover is sparse throughout its range. In Colorado, shrub cover is low and includes Juniperus communis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Rosa woodsii, Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens), Physocarpus monogynus, and Ribes cereum. In Idaho and Wyoming, shrub species also include Amelanchier alnifolia and Spiraea betulifolia. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Carex geyeri. Other graminoids that may be present include Danthonia intermedia, Calamagrostis rubescens, Elymus glaucus, Achnatherum nelsonii, and Poa wheeleri. Forb cover is generally low (1-3%) and can include Campanula rotundifolia, Viola sp., Arnica cordifolia, and Lupinus spp. This forest association is distinguished from similar types by the dominance of Pinus contorta (at least 10% cover, has a higher cover than that of other conifers if present, and is successfully reproducing).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs on near-flat to rolling terrain (slopes range from 5-49%) on generally deeper soils than other Pinus contorta types. Elevation range is from 2130 to 2800 m (6993-9200 feet). It occupies vast rhyolitic flows in Yellowstone National Park. In generally this type occupies the cool, dry aspects of relatively gentle terrain. Soils are well-drained, silt loams, sandy clay loams or sandy loams, are moderately permeable and moderately deep. The ground cover is primarily litter and duff; exposed rock is generally less than 10%.
Geographic Range: This Rocky Mountain forest type is know from central and eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, to central Colorado. Stands of very closely related types occur in Montana. One stand has been identified in the Blue Mountains of Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, NM, OR?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685294
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G220 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Alliance | A3366 Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Alliance | A3366 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Association | CEGL000141 Lodgepole Pine / Geyer''s Sedge Forest | CEGL000141 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus albicaulis / Carex geyeri Habitat Type, Pinus contorta Phase (Cooper 1975) [(p.46)]
= Pinus contorta - (Abies lasiocarpa) / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) [(p.43) one plot dominated by Pinus contorta and Carex geyeri with Artemisia tridentata, Carex rossii, and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata).]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Community Type (Steele et al. 1983) [(p.73)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982) [(p.44)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982) [(p.54)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [(p.103)]
= Pinus contorta - (Abies lasiocarpa) / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) [(p.43) one plot dominated by Pinus contorta and Carex geyeri with Artemisia tridentata, Carex rossii, and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata).]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Community Type (Steele et al. 1983) [(p.73)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982) [(p.44)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982) [(p.54)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [(p.103)]
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