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CEGL000394 Picea pungens / Lonicera involucrata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Twinberry Honeysuckle Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs along rivers and streams of the west-central and southwestern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Elevations range from roughly 2285-2625 m (7500-8600 feet). The valleys where it is found are narrow to moderately wide. It occurs on narrow alluvial terraces and benches adjacent to the channel, usually 1-2 m above the high-water mark. Parent materials are gravel and cobble alluvial material, usually within 1 m of the soil surface. Soils are highly stratified due to depositional events. This is a riparian forest association, characterized by a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees in the canopy. Picea pungens codominates, and the most important deciduous tree is Populus angustifolia. Populus tremuloides is present in small amounts. The shrub layer is primarily composed of deciduous species, with both tall and short shrubs abundant. Lonicera involucrata is the most abundant and constant, and Alnus incana commonly lines the riverbanks. Other shrubs present in smaller amounts include Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, Ribes inerme, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. The herbaceous layer is dominated by mesic-site perennial forbs, including Maianthemum stellatum, Equisetum arvense, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum maximum, and Rudbeckia laciniata. Graminoids are generally sparse. Total herbaceous cover commonly exceeds 35%.
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 a riparian forest association, characterized by a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees in the canopy. The needle-leaved evergreen tree Picea pungens codominates and has canopy cover from 10% to over 25%. The most important deciduous tree is Populus angustifolia, with cover varying from 11% to over 35%. Populus tremuloides, also deciduous, is present in small amounts. The shrub layer is primarily broad-leaved deciduous and well-developed, with both tall and short shrubs abundant. Lonicera involucrata (1-2 m tall) is the most abundant and constant, with an average cover of 15-20%. The tall-shrub Alnus incana commonly lines the riverbanks and has cover values of 9-16%. Other shrubs present in smaller amounts include Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, Ribes inerme, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Several species of Salix may occasionally be common, such as Salix ligulifolia and Salix drummondiana. The herbaceous layer is dominated by mesic-site perennial forbs, including Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Equisetum arvense, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), and Rudbeckia laciniata. Graminoids are generally sparse; Bromus ciliatus is the most common. Total herbaceous cover commonly exceeds 35%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This type is found in a mountainous region, along moderate-sized streams and rivers, from roughly 2300 to 2600 m (7500-8600 feet) elevation. Climate is continental and varied, with warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation falls primarily as snow during the winter and spring, although summer convective showers make a significant contribution to the total. The valleys are narrow to moderately wide. It occurs on narrow alluvial terraces and benches adjacent to the channel, usually 1-2 m above the high water mark. Parent materials are gravel and cobble alluvial material, usually within 1 m of the soil surface. Soils are highly stratified due to depositional events. They are typically shallow loamy sands and silts over up to 0.5 m of loam or sandy clay with alternating dark and light bands. Depth to water table varies from 0 to greater than 77 cm, but averages 45 cm.
Geographic Range: It occurs along rivers and streams of the west-central and southwestern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685674
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d White Fir - Blue Spruce - Douglas-fir Mesic Southern Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G225 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Alliance | A0165 Blue Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest Alliance | A0165 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000394 Blue Spruce / Twinberry Honeysuckle Forest | CEGL000394 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Picea pungens-(Populus angustifolia)/Alnus incana (Baker 1986a)
= Picea pungens-Populus angustifolia/Alnus incana- Lonicera involucrata (Baker 1989b)
>< Picea pungens-Populus angustifolia/Lonicera involucrata (Baker 1986a)
>< Populus angustifolia-(Pseudotsuga menziesii/Alnus incana-Cornus sericea- Lonicera involucrata (Baker 1986a)
= Picea pungens-Populus angustifolia/Alnus incana- Lonicera involucrata (Baker 1989b)
>< Picea pungens-Populus angustifolia/Lonicera involucrata (Baker 1986a)
>< Populus angustifolia-(Pseudotsuga menziesii/Alnus incana-Cornus sericea- Lonicera involucrata (Baker 1986a)
- Baker, W. L. 1986a. Riparian vegetation of the montane and subalpine zones in west-central and southwestern Colorado: Final report prepared for The Nature Conservancy and Colorado Natural Areas Program, Boulder.
- Baker, W. L. 1989a. Macro- and micro-scale influences on riparian vegetation in western Colorado. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 79(1):65-78.
- Baker, W. L. 1989b. Classification of the riparian vegetation of the montane and subalpine zones in western Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 49(2):214-228.
- 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.
- Kittel, G. M., and N. D. Lederer. 1993. A preliminary classification of the riparian vegetation of the Yampa and San Miguel/Dolores river basins. Unpublished report prepared for Colorado Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency by The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Field Office, Boulder.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.