Print Report

CEGL000596 Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Chokecherry Forest

Colloquial Name: Aspen / Chokecherry Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This aspen forest type is found in the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills of the western United States. It occurs on slope crests and midslopes with sandy loam, loam, or clay loam soils from approximately 1545 to 2720 m (5100-8980 feet) in elevation. Aspects are highly variable, and slopes are primarily gentle (0-20%) but may also be steep (50-100%). This association is dominated by Populus tremuloides. Conifers are sparse when present and can include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, and Picea glauca in the Black Hills. The shrub layer can be a rich multilayered mixture of medium- and low-height shrubs. Prunus virginiana is often dominant or codominant with Amelanchier alnifolia. Additional shrub associates can include Acer grandidentatum, Ribes inerme, Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. setosum, Rosa woodsii, Cornus sericea, Paxistima myrsinites, Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Herbaceous species can have low cover due to the well-developed shrub layer but commonly include Agastache urticifolia, Aralia nudicaulis, Bromus carinatus, Carex sprengelii, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Elymus glaucus, Fragaria virginiana, Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza depauperata, Osmorhiza berteroi, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Senecio serra, and Thalictrum fendleri. Diagnostic features of this association are Populus tremuloides dominant in the canopy and Prunus virginiana well-represented in the shrub layer.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type appears to be most common in riparian areas (Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000). This type seems equivalent to ~Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Woodland (CEGL002130)$$.

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

Floristics: This association is dominated by Populus tremuloides. Conifers are sparse (<25% of the tree canopy) when present and can include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, and Picea glauca in the Black Hills. The shrub layer can be a rich multilayered mixture of medium- and low-height shrubs. Prunus virginiana is often dominant or codominant with Amelanchier alnifolia. Additional shrub associates can include Acer grandidentatum, Amelanchier utahensis, Cornus sericea, Mahonia repens, Ribes inerme, Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. setosum (= Ribes setosum), Rosa woodsii, Paxistima myrsinites, Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Herbaceous species have low cover due to the well-developed shrub layer but commonly include Agastache urticifolia, Aralia nudicaulis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Bromus carinatus, Carex sprengelii, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Elymus glaucus, Fragaria virginiana, Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza depauperata, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Piptatherum micranthum), Rudbeckia occidentalis, Senecio serra, Thermopsis divaricarpa, and Thalictrum fendleri. Exotic graminoids, such as Agropyron cristatum, Bromus tectorum, Phleum pratense, and Poa pratensis, may dominate disturbed herbaceous layers. Diagnostic features of this association are Populus tremuloides dominant in the canopy and Prunus virginiana well-represented in the shrub layer.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This aspen forest type occurs on slope crests and midslopes with sandy loam, loam, or clay loam soils from approximately 1545 to 2720 m (5100-8980 feet) in elevation. Aspects are highly variable, and slopes are primarily gentle (0-20%) but may be steep (50-100%). In the Black Hills, stands occur along mesic valley bottoms. The slopes can vary from steep (at the bottom of the hillslope) to gentle (along the valley bottom) (H. Marriott pers. comm. 1999). In the southern Rocky Mountains, a stand occurs on a steep, southeasterly midslope on granitic substrates, and on the Colorado Plateau a stand occurs at the end of a box canyon on a steep northwesterly slope on sandstone colluvium.
Geographic Range: This aspen forest type is found in the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills of the western United States, ranging from South Dakota west to Wyoming and Oregon, and south to Colorado and Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, ND, OR, SD, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group G222 1.B.2.Nb.5.d
Alliance A2036 Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance A2036 1.B.2.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL000596 Quaking Aspen / Chokecherry Forest CEGL000596 1.B.2.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Populus tremuloides - Abies lasiocarpa / Prunus virginiana Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981)
= Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia - Prunus virginiana Habitat Type (Komarkova et al. 1988b)
>< Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
>< Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia / Thalictrum fendleri Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
= Populus tremuloides / Padus virginiana Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
> Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana / Carex geyeri Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986)
> Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana / Senecio serra Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986)
= Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981)
= Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Quaking Aspen / Chokecherry Forest (Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Forest) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake, S.L. Neid and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-09-07
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