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CEGL000962 Cercocarpus ledifolius / Festuca idahoensis Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany / Idaho Fescue Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: In Montana this type has been documented from the Beaverhead Mountains Section, where it occurs on moderate to steep, rocky and north-facing slopes of varying parent materials; elevations range upward from 1800 m (5900 feet) to at least 2745 m (9000 feet). It occurs on comparable settings in the Challis Volcanics and Idaho Batholith sections of central Idaho. In Montana this association has been sampled on steep cool slopes composed of granitic and metamorphic (schist) colluvium which weathers to shallow, poorly developed and excessively drained soils. It has been noted on sedimentary (quartzite and limestones) substrates as well and thus parent material is thought not to be a controlling factor. Cercocarpus ledifolius is dominant, growing as a small tree, ranging in height from 1.8-3.7 m (6-12 feet), depending in part on site quality and intensity of past browsing; Cercocarpus ledifolius cover also ranges widely (10-30% plus). Numerous other shrubs are present, including Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia frigida, Ericameria nauseosa, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Eriogonum microthecum, though their combined canopy cover does not exceed 5-10%. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse, with the combined canopy cover not exceeding 30%, of which most is xeric-adapted, cool-season grasses such as Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum hymenoides, Hesperostipa comata, and Poa secunda, any one of which may occur with higher canopy cover than the indicator species for the type, Festuca idahoensis (which needs to be well-represented, >5% canopy cover for type recognition). The ground surface is characterized by exposed soil, gravel and cobbles generally in excess of 70% cover, but in contrast to Cercocarpus ledifolius / Pseudoroegneria spicata of southerly exposures, these northerly exposures favor the development of an intermittent mat of mosses and lichens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association differs from ~Cercocarpus ledifolius / Pseudoroegneria spicata Scrub (CEGL000967)$$ by (1) having Festuca idahoensis present with at least 5% canopy cover (relaxing this criteria to only 1% if grazing is judged to be intensive), and (2) occurring on northerly aspects and not warmer insolation regimes. It generally occurs on rockier substrates (excessively drained) than either Artemisia spp.-dominated or forested environments, which are the major types in the landscape. Stands of this type are generally abruptly set apart from adjacent vegetation types or constitute an ecotone between types.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Cercocarpus ledifolius is dominant, growing as a small tree, ranging in height from 1.8-3.7 m (6-12 feet), depending in part on site quality and intensity of past browsing; Cercocarpus ledifolius cover also ranges widely (10-30% plus). Numerous other shrubs are present, including Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia frigida, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Eriogonum microthecum, though their combined canopy cover does not exceed 5-10%. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse, with the combined canopy cover not exceeding 30%, of which most is xeric-adapted, cool-season grasses such as Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), and Poa secunda (= Poa sandbergii), any one of which may occur with higher canopy cover than the indicator species for the type, Festuca idahoensis (which needs to be ''well-represented,'' >5% canopy cover for type recognition). The ground surface is characterized by exposed soil, gravel and cobbles generally in excess of 70% cover, but in contrast to Cercocarpus ledifolius / Pseudoroegneria spicata of southerly exposures, these northerly exposures favor the development of an intermittent mat of mosses and lichens.
Dynamics: There is no known disturbance regime associated with perpetuation of this type; however, reproduction of Cercocarpus ledifolius has been noted to be episodic. Most stands constitute important winter range for deer and are heavily browsed, including the seedling and sapling size classes, which potentially could pose a threat to reproduction. On the other hand, this species is extremely long-lived (up to 400 years for Nevada specimens), affording ample opportunity to exploit a window of reproductive opportunity.
Environmental Description: This association occurs on moderate to steep, rocky and north-facing slopes of varying parent materials; elevations range upward from 1800 m (5900 feet) to at least 2745 m (9000 feet). It occurs on comparable settings in the Challis Volcanics and Idaho Batholith sections of central Idaho. In Montana this association has been sampled on steep cool slopes composed of granitic and metamorphic (schist) colluvium which weathers to shallow, poorly developed and excessively drained soils. It has been noted on sedimentary (quartzite and limestones) substrates as well and thus parent material is thought not to be a controlling factor.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the Beaverhead Mountains (M332E), Challis Volcanics (M332F), and Idaho Batholith (M332A) Sections of Bailey''s Middle Rocky Mountain Steppe-Coniferous Forest-Alpine Meadow Province (M332) (McNab and Avers 1994, Nesser et al. 1997), including the states of Montana and Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, NV, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686655
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division | D010 | 1.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nc.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup | M896 | 1.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland & Scrub Group | G249 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Alliance | A3570 Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Grassy Woodland Alliance | A3570 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000962 Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany / Idaho Fescue Woodland | CEGL000962 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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