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CEGL000203 Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Common Snowberry Forest

Colloquial Name: Ponderosa Pine / Snowberry Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: The overstory of this community is dominated by Pinus ponderosa. There are lesser amounts of Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera, Quercus macrocarpa, Juniperus scopulorum, Picea glauca, Pinus flexilis, and Pseudotsuga menziesii successfully reproducing. The shrub layer is prominent and approximately 0.5-1.0 m tall. The most prevalent shrubs are Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, Shepherdia canadensis, Mahonia repens, Spiraea betulifolia, Juniperus communis, and Prunus virginiana. The herbaceous layer is also well-developed. Typical species found in this layer are Achillea millefolium, Campanula rotundifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Galium spp., and Euthamia occidentalis. This ponderosa pine community type occurs in the mountains of the northwestern United States, from the eastern Cascades and northern Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills. It is found on moderate, undulating slopes with loamy soils. Most stands are on slopes with more northerly aspects. Surface fires are a regular occurrence but regeneration after these events is rapid.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Hoffman and Alexander (1987) described two phases of this type, Oryzopsis asperifolia phase which is now (at least tentatively) identified as ~Pinus ponderosa / Oryzopsis asperifolia Woodland (CEGL002123)$$ and the Balsamorhiza sagittata phase which remains part of this type (see Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000). Additionally, there is some ambiguity between this type as a forest or woodland; in increasingly dense stands, this type has >60% canopy closure. Johnston (1987) reports that this community is also in Nebraska, but its presence there seems doubtful.

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

Floristics: The overstory of this community is dominated by successfully reproducing Pinus ponderosa. There are lesser amounts of Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera, Quercus macrocarpa, Juniperus scopulorum, Picea glauca, Pinus flexilis, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Hoffman and Alexander (1987) sampled 12 stands of this type that averaged 35.8 m2/ha basal area. The shrub layer is prominent, with cover approaching 100% in some stands (Daubenmire 1952). The common shrubs in this community are Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, Shepherdia canadensis, Mahonia repens, Spiraea betulifolia, Juniperus communis, and Prunus virginiana. The herbaceous layer is also well-developed. Typical species found in this layer are Achillea millefolium, Campanula rotundifolia, Galium spp., and Euthamia occidentalis (= Solidago occidentalis). The description of this type relies heavily on data from the Black Hills. Pinus flexilis and Pseudotsuga menziesii are common in this type outside the Black Hills. Periodic surface fires move through the lower strata of this community. Regeneration after these events is rapid. Within a few years the signs of a fire may be difficult to detect (Daubenmire 1952).

Dynamics:  Fire was likely an important factor in the regulation of stand structure historically. Periodic surface fires have been reported to move through the lower strata of this community.
Environmental Description:  This community is found on moderate slopes with non-calcareous soils (Johnston 1987). The soils are usually loams with a high water-holding capacity, but they can be stony or sandy. If they are the latter, they tend to occur on north-facing slopes with more mesic microclimates (Daubenmire 1952).
Geographic Range: This ponderosa pine community type occurs from the mountains of the northwestern United States (eastern cascades and northern Sierras) to the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills, extending from eastern Washington south to northern California, east to South Dakota and north to Montana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, ID, MT, OR, SD, WA, WY


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.a Ponderosa Pine Central Rocky Mountain Open Woodland Group G213 1.B.2.Nb.2.a
Alliance A3446 Ponderosa Pine / Shrub Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance A3446 1.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL000203 Ponderosa Pine / Common Snowberry Forest CEGL000203 1.B.2.Nb.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Pinus ponderosa / Shepherdia canadensis / Symphoricarpos albus / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Habitat Unit (Thilenius 1972)
? Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus - floodplain (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.27)]
> Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Habitat Unit (Thilenius 1972)
= Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1987)
= Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos rivularis Association (Daubenmire 1952) [Symphoricarpos rivularis is synonymous with Symphoricarpos albus.]
= Ponderosa Pine / Common Snowberry Forest Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-21-95
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