Print Report

CEGL000894 Picea pungens / Alnus incana Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Gray Alder Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This spruce woodland occurs in montane-subalpine riparian areas in Colorado, Wyoming and possibly New Mexico. Elevation ranges from 1900 to 3200 m (6100-10,650 feet). Stands occur in deep, shaded canyons and narrow valleys along relatively straight stream reaches where it generally forms small patches, but can be continuous for several river miles. These canyon floodplains and stream benches are variable in width but are in areas with cold-air drainage and limited sunlight. Soils are generally shallow and range from loamy sand to silty clay loams with high organic matter content over gravel, cobbles, or boulders. Vegetation is characterized by a somewhat open to moderately dense canopy (20-70% cover) that is typically strongly dominated by Picea pungens with 10-70% cover in overstory. Other trees occur infrequently but may include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus angustifolia, Picea engelmannii, or Pinus ponderosa. Abies lasiocarpa may be present to codominant with 1-50% cover in higher elevation stands. There are typically many seedlings and saplings as well as mature trees. The thick shrub understory is confined to a narrow band lining the stream channel. Shrub species include 10-80% cover of Alnus incana, 0-40% cover of Salix drummondiana, 0-30% cover each of Salix monticola and Acer glabrum, and 0-10% cover each of Cornus sericea and Lonicera involucrata. Additional shrubs include Rosa woodsii, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Ribes lacustre, Salix monticola, and Sambucus racemosa, in addition to incidental shrubs more common in the surrounding uplands. The forb layer is species-rich with up to 40 species and dense, with a total of up to 50% cover. Forb species include Actaea rubra, Conioselinum scopulorum, Oxypolis fendleri, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, Osmorhiza berteroi, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Equisetum arvense. Graminoids often include Calamagrostis canadensis, Bromus ciliatus, and Carex spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a somewhat open to moderately dense canopy (20-70% cover) that is typically strongly dominated by Picea pungens with 10-70% cover in the overstory. Other trees occur infrequently but may include Juniperus scopulorum, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus angustifolia, Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, or Pinus ponderosa. Abies lasiocarpa may be present to codominant with 1-50% cover in higher elevation stands. The understory is typically dominated by a layer of the tall, broad-leaved deciduous shrub Alnus incana, varying in abundance from 10-80% cover. However, the understory is highly variable, with Alnus incana only present in some stands, and the shrub layer is dominated by other shrubs, such as Acer glabrum, Amelanchier utahensis, Cornus sericea, Lonicera involucrata, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Ribes lacustre, Rosa woodsii, Salix boothii, Salix drummondiana, Salix monticola, Salix wolfii, and Sambucus racemosa, in addition to incidental shrubs more common in the surrounding uplands. The herbaceous layer is well-developed and diverse in most stands and is dominated by the perennial herbs Equisetum arvense and Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), each with 5-25% cover. Additional forb species include Actaea rubra, Conioselinum scopulorum, Oxypolis fendleri, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Mertensia ciliata, Osmorhiza berteroi, and Rudbeckia laciniata. Common perennial graminoids include Bromus ciliatus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Calamagrostis canadensis. Some sedge species may be locally abundant, such as Carex geyeri and Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa). Most stands of this association have been impacted by livestock grazing and have increased coverage of invasive species, such as Poa pratensis and Taraxacum officinale.

Dynamics:  Picea pungens is likely a climax species in these cold canyon settings; it will remain until removed by catastrophic flooding event. With more frequent flooding the vegetation composition changes to ~Picea pungens / Equisetum arvense Riparian Woodland (CEGL000389)$$.
Environmental Description:  This montane riparian woodland is found in the southern Rocky Mountains and north to the Grand Tetons. Elevation ranges from 1900 to 3200 m (6100-10,650 feet). Stands occur along moderate-sized, gravel-bed rivers and streams in valleys that are typically narrow, rocky canyons where it generally forms small patches, but can be continuous for several river miles. These canyon floodplains and stream benches are variable in width but are in areas with cold-air drainage and limited sunlight. Soils are well-drained to poorly drained, are derived from coarse Quaternary alluvium, and are poorly developed, shallow loamy sand to silty clay loams with high organic matter content over gravel, cobbles or boulders. Other parent materials include Black Canyon schist and gneiss, and granite. Cover of litter and duff can be 20-40% of the ground surface. Rock cover is generally low, but cover of gravel may be high.
Geographic Range: This riparian woodland is found in the southern Rocky Mountains north to the Grand Tetons.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM?, WY


Confidence Level: High

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 CEGL000894 Blue Spruce / Gray Alder Riparian Woodland CEGL000894 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 pungens / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Picea pungens / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Woodland (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Picea pungens / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
< Picea pungens / Rosa woodsii Community Type (Cooper and Cottrell 1990)
= Blue Spruce/Thinleaf Alder-Wood Rose CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid

Author of Description: M.S. Reid, S.L. Neid and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-10-06
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