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CEGL000153 Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / Twinflower Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the upper montane and subalpine zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains. It is more common near and east of the Continental Divide. It typically occurs on cool, moist sites, often on north aspect middle to toeslopes, alluvial terraces and flats and benches. However, stands may occur on gentle to very steep slopes on any aspect. Soils are moderately well-drained, moderately deep silt or sandy loams, silts or silty clay loams derived from a variety of noncalcareous parent materials. Ground cover is mostly litter, often with duff over 6 cm deep. The vegetation is characterized by a Pinus contorta-dominated tree canopy with Linnaea borealis common in the understory. The tree canopy varies from moderately dense to nearly closed (40-90% cover) and may be solely dominated by Pinus contorta. However, some stands have scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Larix occidentalis, Picea engelmannii, Picea glauca, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus ponderosa, Populus tremuloides, or Pseudotsuga menziesii trees present, especially in the subcanopy. Some stands have tall- or short-shrub layers composed of tree saplings, Amelanchier alnifolia, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, and Vaccinium membranaceum. Linnaea borealis (indicator species) is common in the dwarf-shrub layer. Other dwarf-shrubs may include Juniperus communis (usually found on dry sites), Paxistima myrsinites, and Vaccinium scoparium. The sparse to moderately dense (30-50% cover) herbaceous layer is variable and may be dominated or codominated by perennial graminoids such as Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, and Oryzopsis asperifolia, or forbs like Arnica cordifolia, Campanula rotundifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, and Maianthemum stellatum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association may also occur in Idaho or Nevada.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This forest association is characterized by a Pinus contorta-dominated tree canopy with Linnaea borealis common in the understory. The tree canopy varies from moderately dense to nearly closed (40-90% cover) and is often solely dominated by Pinus contorta. However, in some stands scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Larix occidentalis, Picea engelmannii, Picea glauca, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus ponderosa, Populus tremuloides, or Pseudotsuga menziesii trees may be present, especially in the subcanopy. Some stands have open to moderately dense tall- or short-shrub layers composed of tree saplings, Amelanchier alnifolia, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, and/or Vaccinium membranaceum. Linnaea borealis (indicator species) is common in the dwarf-shrub layer. Other dwarf-shrubs may include Juniperus communis (usually found on dry sites), Paxistima myrsinites, and Vaccinium scoparium. The sparse to moderately dense (30-50% cover) herbaceous layer is variable and may be dominated or codominated by perennial graminoids or forbs. Common graminoids include Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, or Oryzopsis asperifolia, and common forbs include Arnica cordifolia, Campanula rotundifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Lupinus argenteus, Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Thalictrum occidentale, and Viola spp.
Dynamics: The dominance of Pinus contorta in stands of this association is related to fire history and topo-edaphic conditions (Cooper 1975, Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1981, 1983, Cooper et al. 1987). Following stand-replacing fires, Pinus contorta will rapidly colonize and develop into dense stands of even-aged trees. Over time, many of these stands can succeed to dominance by other, more shade-tolerant conifer species. Most forests in this alliance are early- to mid-successional forests which developed following fires and are considered seral to ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Linnaea borealis Forest (CEGL000315)$$ or ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Linnaea borealis Forest (CEGL000441)$$ (Cooper 1975, Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1981, 1983), while other stands have a canopy that is dominated by more persistent Pinus contorta that is successfully regenerating, especially on more extreme sites with only scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Picea glauca, or Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Environmental Description: This association is found in the upper montane and subalpine zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains. It is more common near and east of the Continental Divide. Elevations range from 1280 m (4200 feet) in the Little Rocky Mountains of north-central Montana to 2260 m (7400 feet) in Idaho and northwestern Wyoming. It typically occurs on cool, moist sites, often on north-aspect middle to toeslopes, alluvial terraces and flats and benches. However, stands may occur on gentle to very steep slopes on any aspect. Soils are moderately well-drained, moderately deep silt or sandy loams, silts or silty clay loams derived from a variety of noncalcareous parent materials such as glacial till, andesite, basalt colluvium, ash, (Cooper 1975, Pfister et al. 1977, Roberts 1980, Steele et al. 1981). Ground cover is mostly litter, often with duff over 6 cm deep.
Geographic Range: This forest association is found in the upper montane and subalpine zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains and is more common near and east of the Continental Divide.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, OR, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685969
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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 | CEGL000153 Lodgepole Pine / Twinflower Forest | CEGL000153 | 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: < Abies grandis / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987) [Includes seral Pinus contorta-dominated stands with indicator species Linnaea borealis.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Association (Johnson and Simon 1987) [Includes seral Pinus contorta-dominated stands with indicator species Linnaea borealis.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type (Cooper 1975) [Includes seral Pinus contorta-dominated stands with indicator species Linnaea borealis.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Community Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Community Type (Roberts 1980)
= Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Community Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Association (Johnson and Simon 1987) [Includes seral Pinus contorta-dominated stands with indicator species Linnaea borealis.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type (Cooper 1975) [Includes seral Pinus contorta-dominated stands with indicator species Linnaea borealis.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Linnaea borealis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Community Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Community Type (Roberts 1980)
= Pinus contorta / Linnaea borealis Community Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- 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.
- Cooper, S. V. 1975. Forest habitat types of northwestern Wyoming and contiguous portion of Montana and Idaho. Unpublished dissertation, Washington State University, Pullman. 190 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
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- Johnson, C. G., Jr., and S. A. Simon. 1987. Plant associations of the Wallowa-Snake Province Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-255A-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 399 pp. plus appendices.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
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- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Roberts, D. W. 1980. Forest habitat types of the Bear''s Paw Mountains and Little Rocky Mountains, Montana. Unpublished thesis, Department of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 116 pp.
- Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
- Steele, R., S. V. Cooper, D. M. Ondov, D. W. Roberts, and R. D. Pfister. 1983. Forest habitat types of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. General Technical Report INT-144. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 122 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.