Print Report
CEGL000389 Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Riparian Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Field Horsetail Riparian Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is restricted to narrow canyons and cool ravines on stream benches and streambanks in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Stands occur at elevations of 2135-2745 m (7000-9000 feet) and are characterized by dominance of Picea pungens with a thick understory of Equisetum arvense and few shrubs. Other tree species possibly present include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, and Picea engelmannii. Shrub cover is minor, yet diverse and may include Betula glandulosa, Salix geyeriana, Salix monticola, and Rosa woodsii. The herbaceous undergrowth typically consists of few species including Equisetum arvense, Carex aquatilis, and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis. Frequent flooding appears important to maintaining the species in the herbaceous layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is known from Colorado and Utah, and western Wyoming as part of the Conifer/Equisetum arvense and the Picea / Equisetum arvense community types (Padgett et al. 1989, Youngblood et al. 1985a, respectively). These closely related forest communities have tree canopies dominated by either Picea engelmannii or Picea pungens, or codominated by both species. Hansen et al. (1995) also reported a Picea / Equisetum arvense community type, but in Montana these are either Picea engelmannii or Picea glauca or hybrids of the two.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These riparian stands are dominated by an overstory canopy of Picea pungens. Sometimes Picea engelmannii also occurs, as well as a few scattered Abies lasiocarpa individuals. Populus tremuloides and Pseudotsuga menziesii may also be present. The shrub layer is sparse, with such shrubs as Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, Betula glandulosa, Lonicera involucrata, Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Salix monticola, and Salix geyeriana. The herbaceous layer can be monotypic with Equisetum arvense (sometimes Equisetum hyemale) the sole dominant. Other herbaceous species that may be present include Carex aquatilis, Carex disperma, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus var. montanus), Elymus glaucus, Glyceria striata (= Glyceria elata), Geranium richardsonii, Senecio triangularis, Galium boreale, Orthilia secunda, and Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in cool, narrow canyons or north-facing aspects on poorly drained flats, stream terraces, gentle toeslopes, or on seeps. It occurs at elevations ranging from 878 to 2805 m (2880-9200 feet). Soils are continually saturated or moderately well-drained. The water table is within 50 cm of the surface. Textures are highly variable and range from loamy skeletal, sandy skeletal, fine loamy to silt loam and clay loam.
Geographic Range: This minor association is known from Colorado and Utah, and likely occurs in southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686920
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group | G506 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3761 Blue Spruce Riparian Forest Alliance | A3761 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000389 Blue Spruce / Field Horsetail Riparian Woodland | CEGL000389 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Picea / Equisetum arvense Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a) [Includes stands dominated by Picea engelmannii and not Picea pungens.]
= Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985) [(p.38)]
= Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Woodland (Padgett et al. 1988b)
< Conifer / Equisetum arvense Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [Includes stands dominated by Picea engelmannii and not Picea pungens.]
= Picea pungens/Equisetum arvense (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985) [(p.38)]
= Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Woodland (Padgett et al. 1988b)
< Conifer / Equisetum arvense Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [Includes stands dominated by Picea engelmannii and not Picea pungens.]
= Picea pungens/Equisetum arvense (Kittel et al. 1999b)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Carsey, K., G. Kittel, K. Decker, D. J. Cooper, and D. Culver. 2003a. Field guide to the wetland and riparian plant associations of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO.
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- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, A. McMullen, and J. Sanderson. 1999b. A classification of riparian and wetland plant associations of Colorado: A user''s guide to the classification project. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO. 70 pp. plus appendices.
- Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, and A. McMullen. 1996. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the Lower South Platte and parts of the Upper Arkansas River basins, Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins. 243 pp.
- Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1988b. Riparian community type classification of Utah. Publication R4-ECOL-88-01. USDA Forest Service, Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah and southeastern Idaho. Research Paper R4-ECOL-89-0. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Tendick, A., B. Friesen, G. Kittel, P. Williams, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Cedar Breaks National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/470. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985a. Riparian community type classification of eastern Idaho-western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-85-01. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 78 pp.
- Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.