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CEGL000847 Pinus ponderosa / Aspidotis densa Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Indian''s Dream Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open woodland association has been described from the eastern side of the Cascade Range, a mountainous region in the rainshadow of the Cascade crest. Sites are hot and dry, and occur on steep, south- or southwest-facing slopes below 1070 m elevation. Soil parent material is colluvium derived from serpentine, and may contain some basalt. Soils are very stony and gravelly, usually shallow, poorly developed and with low water-holding capacity. These patchy woodlands are dominated by trees that are widely spaced with total canopy cover often less than 30%. The evergreen, needle-leaved tree Pinus ponderosa dominates the tree canopy with occasional Pseudotsuga menziesii trees present in favorable microsites. Occasional Pinus ponderosa seedlings and saplings can be found scattered throughout the stand. Shrubs are few to absent. The herbaceous layer has moderate cover, averaging 40-45%, and is dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata (20-30% cover). Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Eriogonum compositum, and Phacelia hastata. The fern Aspidotis densa is endemic to serpentine soils and is always present in stands of this association, and as such, is a reliable indicator species, although its cover is low.
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 is an woodland association; trees are widely spaced with total canopy cover often less than 30%. The evergreen needle-leaved tree Pinus ponderosa dominates, with Pseudotsuga menziesii occasionally present as a few individual trees in favorable microsites. A few Pinus seedlings and saplings can be found scattered throughout. Shrubs are few to not present. The herbaceous layer has moderate cover, averaging 40-45%, and dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata (20-30% cover). Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Eriogonum compositum, and Phacelia hastata. The fern Aspidotis densa is endemic to serpentine soils, is always present in stands of this association, and as such is a reliable indicator although its cover is low. Many other rare or unusual plant species or varieties are often present on serpentine-derived substrates, many of them endemic to serpentine. No others were specifically mentioned for this plant association, but the type is little studied and may have unusual taxa associated with it.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found on the eastern side of the Cascades Range, a mountainous region in the rainshadow of the Cascade crest. Ponderosa pine is very tolerant of hot and dry conditions. This association occurs on steep, south- or southwest-facing slopes below 1065 m (3500 feet) elevation. Sites are outcrops of serpentine. Soil parent material is colluvium derived from serpentine, and may contain some basalt. Soils are very stony and gravelly, usually shallow, poorly developed and with low water-holding capacity. These soils are unusual, having high concentrations of exchangeable magnesium, nickel and chromium, and low concentrations of calcium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Geographic Range: East Cascades of Washington; restricted to serpentine below 3500 feet.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685390
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.b Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine Central Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G210 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3395 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Herbaceous Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A3395 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000847 Ponderosa Pine / Indian''s Dream Woodland | CEGL000847 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Agropyron spicatum - Aspidotis densa (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [PIPO/AGSP-ASDE CPG142]
= Pinus ponderosa / Agropyron spicatum - Aspidotis densa (Williams and Smith 1990)
= Pinus ponderosa / Agropyron spicatum - Aspidotis densa (Williams and Smith 1990)
- 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.
- 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.
- Williams, C. K., and B. G. Smith. 1990. Forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished draft prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 217 pp.