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CEGL000380 Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum Swamp Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Engelmann Spruce / Bog Blueberry Swamp Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is located in the Elkhorn Mountains of the Blue Mountains ecoregion and in the East Cascades ecoregion of Oregon. Sites are in wet basins at moderately high to high elevations. Geomorphic surfaces are hummocky with approximately 30-60 cm height between the top of the hummocks (where the conifers and Vaccinium uliginosum occur) and the bottom of the swales (where the Carex scopulorum occurs). Valleys are north- to east-facing with low to moderate gradient. Soils are histosols that remain wet to saturated throughout the growing season. Trees (Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Pinus contorta) are generally dwarfed and confined to hummocks. The open nature of the tree canopy will promote codominance of these overstory members. Much of the cover consists of stunted, older trees that would be taller on more favorable sites. This type is unique among forested types in that the trees do not form a continuous canopy and do not account for a great amount of total canopy cover. It is very distinctive in physiognomy and structure on the landscape, however, and is easily recognizable as an association. Vaccinium uliginosum dominates the shrub layer; Kalmia microphylla, Vaccinium scoparium, and Phyllodoce empetriformis are associated shrubs. Carex scopulorum creates a dense sward in the microswales on the site with mean coverage of 65%. Height of the shrub layer averages 30 cm. Height of the herbaceous layer averages 33 cm. Herbaceous biomass averages 567 lbs/acre, ranging from 200-933 lbs/acre. These sites are generally stable. With severe fire that kills the conifers, shrubs will increase in cover and this may result in long-term dominance of the site by a Vaccinium uliginosum - Vaccinium scoparium-dominated association.
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: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This association is located in the Elkhorn Mountains of the Blue Mountains ecoregion and in the East Cascades ecoregion of Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685941
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.Ng Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D193 | 1.B.3.Ng |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Ng.1 Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M035 | 1.B.3.Ng.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b Mountain Hemlock - Fir species / Willow species Montane Riparian Woodland Group | G507 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b |
| Alliance | A3767 Engelmann Spruce Cascadian Swamp Woodland Alliance | A3767 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b |
| Association | CEGL000380 Engelmann Spruce / Bog Blueberry Swamp Woodland | CEGL000380 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium uliginosum / Carex scopulorum Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
? Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum / forb (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.51)]
> Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum / Carex angustata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
? Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum / Carex eurycarpa (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.53)]
> Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
? Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum / forb (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.51)]
> Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum / Carex angustata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
? Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum / Carex eurycarpa (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.53)]
> Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
- 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.
- Crowe, E. A., B. L. Kovalchik, and M. J. Kerr. 2004. Riparian and wetland vegetation of central and eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University, Portland. 473 pp. [http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/ publications.html]
- Crowe, E. A., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1997. Mid-montane wetland plant associations of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-22-97. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1987. Riparian zone associations - Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema national forests. Technical Paper 279-87. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 171 pp.
- Titus, J. H., M. Kerr, E. Crowe, and B. Kovalchik. 1998. Riparian zones of eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland.
- Titus, J. H., and J. A. Christy. 1996a. Vegetation of Big Marsh, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. Report to Deschutes National Forest. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.