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CEGL000259 Abies lowiana - Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra White Fir - Ponderosa Pine / Antelope Bitterbrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland community is found in the East Cascade region of central and southern Oregon and extreme northern California. Typical elevations are between 1250-1800 m (4100-5886 feet). It occurs on a high variety of slopes and aspects with coarse sand and loamy sand soils. Pinus ponderosa generally dominates south aspects while Abies lowiana prevails on north aspects and higher elevations. Purshia tridentata is most common at lower slopes. At the upper elevations within its range, Arctostaphylos patula or Ceanothus velutinus may dominate. Common herbs include Chamerion angustifolium, Apocynum androsaemifolium, Carex rossii, and Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides. This association becomes increasingly dominated by Abies lowiana in the absence of fire, which typically kills the younger fire-sensitive firs.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type varies significantly in species composition and is therefore considered weakly defined. Any given occurrence may have only one of the three possible nominal species. This element has been described by Volland (1976) and Smith (1994b). It is similar to ~Abies lowiana - Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos patula - Mahonia spp. Forest (CEGL000017)$$, and some occurrences may be synonymous. When present, Purshia tridentata distinguishes it from CEGL000017. Dealy (1971) described a comparable association, Pinus ponderosa - Abies concolor / Festuca idahoensis but the shrub layer is dissimilar by lacking Ceanothus velutinus and Arctostaphylos patula.
In a presettlement landscape, many of these communities would have been difficult to distinguish from one of the many Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata associations which occur in southern Oregon and northern California, since frequent natural wildfires would have greatly reduced or eliminated Abies lowiana from many of these stands.
In a presettlement landscape, many of these communities would have been difficult to distinguish from one of the many Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata associations which occur in southern Oregon and northern California, since frequent natural wildfires would have greatly reduced or eliminated Abies lowiana from many of these stands.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Pinus ponderosa generally dominates south aspects while Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana) prevails on north aspects and higher elevations. Purshia tridentata is most common at lower slopes. At the upper elevations within its range, Arctostaphylos patula or Ceanothus velutinus may dominate. Common herbs include Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Apocynum androsaemifolium (= ssp. pumilum), Carex rossii, and Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides (= Sitanion hystrix).
Dynamics: This association becomes increasingly dominated by Abies lowiana in the absence of fire, which typically kills the younger fire-sensitive firs.
Environmental Description: This woodland community is found in the East Cascade region of central and southern Oregon and extreme northern California. Typical elevations are between 1250-1800 m (4100-5886 feet). It occurs on a high variety of slopes and aspects with coarse sand and loamy sand soils.
Geographic Range: This association is found from the Deschutes National Forest of central Oregon southward to the Lassen National Forest of California. A latitudinal range between 350 and 450 miles.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687435
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 | CEGL000259 Sierra White Fir - Ponderosa Pine / Antelope Bitterbrush Woodland | CEGL000259 | 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: ? Pinus ponderosa - Abies concolor / Festuca idahoensis (Dealy 1971)
- 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.
- DiPaolo, D. A., S. B. Smith, D. C. Odion, J. H. Ives, and D. A. Sarr. 2015. Vegetation classification and mapping: Lava Beds National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/LABE/NRR--2015/1098. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 262 pp.
- 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.
- Volland, L. A. 1976. Plant communities of the central Oregon pumice zone. USDA Forest Service R-6 Area Guide 4-2. Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 113 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.