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CEGL000017 Abies lowiana - Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos patula - Mahonia spp. Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra White Fir - Ponderosa Pine / Greenleaf Manzanita - Barberry species Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association is found on flat to convex slopes and major ridges in Oregon''s eastern Cascades and may extend into adjacent California. Elevations range between 1525-1980 m (5000-6500 feet). Occurrences are found on all aspects and a variety of slopes (5-40%). Soils are coarse-textured sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Pinus ponderosa and Abies lowiana dominate the overstory with only occasional Pinus contorta. The shrub layer consists of Arctostaphylos patula, Mahonia spp., and Symphoricarpos mollis. The understory is typified by Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides and Poa wheeleri, with Fragaria sp. common. Stands become codominated by Abies lowiana when naturally frequent fire cycles are prolonged, and hence this association may be a result of fire suppression in this region. Certainly fire suppression has lead to an increase in area of the type.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is similar to Smith''s (1994b) Ponderosa - White Fir / Serviceberry - Snowbrush / Brome community in northeastern California but has Mahonia spp. while lacking Amelanchier pallida. In addition, Smith''s community is found on finer and moister soils. Dealy (1971) described a Pinus ponderosa - Abies concolor / Festuca idahoensis community which closely resembles this association by supporting nearly all the same species. However, Arnica cordifolia and Purshia tridentata are almost always present in his community.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Pinus ponderosa and Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana) dominate the overstory with only occasional Pinus contorta. The shrub layer consists of Arctostaphylos patula, Mahonia spp., and Symphoricarpos mollis. The understory is typified by Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides (= Sitanion hystrix) and Poa wheeleri, with Fragaria sp. common. Stands become codominated by Abies lowiana when naturally frequent fire cycles are prolonged, and hence this association may be a result of fire suppression in this region. Certainly fire suppression has lead to an increase in area of the type.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association is found on flat to convex slopes and major ridges in Oregon''s eastern Cascades and may extend into adjacent California. Elevations range between 1525-1980 m (5000-6500 feet). Occurrences are found on all aspects and a variety of slopes (5-40%). Soils are coarse-textured sandy loam or sandy clay loam.
Geographic Range: This forest association is found in Oregon''s eastern Cascades and may extend into adjacent California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687217
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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.2 Incense-cedar - Jeffrey Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest Macrogroup | M023 | 1.B.2.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a Incense-cedar - Sugar Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest & Woodland Group | G344 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A3677 Sierra White Fir - Ponderosa Pine Eastern Sierran Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3677 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL000017 Sierra White Fir - Ponderosa Pine / Greenleaf Manzanita - Barberry species Forest | CEGL000017 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor - Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos patula - Mahonia spp. Forest (Hopkins 1979a)
? Pinus ponderosa - Abies concolor / Festuca idahoensis (Dealy 1971)
? Ponderosa - White Fir / Serviceberry - Snowbrush / Brome (Smith 1994b)
? Pinus ponderosa - Abies concolor / Festuca idahoensis (Dealy 1971)
? Ponderosa - White Fir / Serviceberry - Snowbrush / Brome (Smith 1994b)
- 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.
- Dealy, J. E. 1971. Habitat characteristics of the Silver Lake mule deer range. Research Paper PNW-125. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 99 pp.
- Hopkins, W. E. 1979a. Plant associations of the Fremont National Forest. Technical Report R6-ECOL-79-004. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Smith, S. 1994b. Ecological guide to eastside pine plant associations, northeastern California. R5-ECOL-TP-004. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, San Francisco, CA. 174 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.