Print Report
CEGL000449 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Mountain Ninebark Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Rocky Mountain forest association occurs from the Sangre de Cristo Range and San Mateo Mountains in northern and central New Mexico to the Wind River Range and Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming and into Montana east of the Continental Divide. Elevations range from 1800-2900 m (5900-9500 feet) in Colorado and 1860-2015 m (6100-6600 feet) in northern Wyoming. These forests occupy moderate to steep slopes with cool northwestern and eastern aspects and extend into drainages at lower elevations where there is cold-air drainage. Substrates are rocky and range from sandy loam to silty loam soils. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense conifer tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii or a mixed montane conifer tree canopy. Pseudotsuga menziesii is the dominant tree species in the overstory and often in the understory as well. Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Pinus contorta, or Juniperus scopulorum may be present to codominant, and scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Populus tremuloides may be present on moister or higher elevation sites. The moderately dense shrub layer is dominated by Physocarpus monogynus. Other shrubs may include Acer glabrum, Jamesia americana, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, and Rosa spp. The herbaceous cover is variable, ranging from sparse to moderate, and is composed of a mixture of montane forbs and graminoids.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The dominant tree species is Pseudotsuga menziesii. Pinus ponderosa is either absent or an early- to mid-succession species. Abies concolor, Populus tremuloides, Picea pungens, and Pinus edulis are absent or accidental. The understory is essentially shrubby, although herbs may be well-represented.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming and south-central Montana, this association is near the northern extent of this its range, where it occurs in similar habitats as ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus Forest (CEGL000447)$$, which may be a geographic replacement (Hoffman and Alexander 1976, Steele et al. 1983).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a moderately dense conifer tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii or a mixed montane conifer tree canopy. Pseudotsuga menziesii is the dominant tree species in the overstory and often in the understory as well. Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Pinus contorta, or Juniperus scopulorum may be present to codominant, and scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Populus tremuloides may be present on moister or higher elevation sites. The moderately dense shrub layer is dominated by Physocarpus monogynus. Other shrubs may include Acer glabrum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Jamesia americana, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, and Rosa spp. The herbaceous cover is variable and ranges from low to moderate depending on overstory cover. It is composed of a mixture of species, such as the forbs Achillea millefolium, Arnica cordifolia, Campanula rotundifolia, Delphinium nuttallianum (= Delphinium nelsonii), Galium boreale, Pulsatilla patens, Potentilla fissa, Solidago simplex, and Solidago speciosa, along with montane graminoids Carex rossii, Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii), Elymus spp., Muhlenbergia montana, and Poa spp.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This Rocky Mountain forest association occurs from the Sangre de Cristo Range in northern New Mexico to the Wind River Range and Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming and into Montana east of the Continental Divide. Elevations range from 1800-2900 m (5900-9500 feet) in Colorado and 1860-2015 m (6100-6600 feet) in northern Wyoming. These forests occupy moderate to steep slopes with cool northwestern and eastern aspects and extend into drainages at lower elevations where there is cold-air drainage. Substrates are rocky and range from sandy loam to silty loam soils derived from a variety of parent materials including granite, gneiss, and schist colluvium. Cover of rock and litter is usually moderate (to 50% cover).
Geographic Range: This Rocky Mountain montane forest association occurs from south-central Montana to central New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, NM, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686319
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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3454 Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3454 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000449 Douglas-fir / Mountain Ninebark Forest | CEGL000449 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1976)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1976)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
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