Print Report
CEGL000459 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Common Snowberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This widespread forest association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from the mid montane zone down to upper foothill zone on cool aspects. Sites are warm and relatively dry to moist, gentle to steep, mid to lower slopes, benches, and terraces. Stands are found on southerly or easterly aspects throughout much of its range, but may occur on any aspect. Substrates are variable and may be very gravelly or not, with soil textures ranging from sandy loam to silt derived from alluvium, glacial till and outwash. Ground surface has high cover of litter, sometimes significant cover of rock, and low cover of bare soil. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (40-90% cover) evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy, dominated or codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with the short shrub Symphoricarpos albus dominating or codominating the understory. Mature Pinus ponderosa often codominates the tree canopy, but does not regenerate. Other mature seral tree species present to codominant may include Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, Larix occidentalis, Juniperus spp., or Populus tremuloides. Understory trees are almost exclusively Pseudotsuga menziesii. The short-shrub layer is dominated or codominated by the rhizomatous Symphoricarpos albus and other short shrubs such as Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes cereum, Rosa spp., Spiraea betulifolia, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Scattered tall shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, or Sorbus scopulina may form an open tall-shrub layer. A low cover to moderately dense herbaceous layer is present and is composed of diverse forbs with the graminoids Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Festuca idahoensis or Pseudoroegneria spicata present to codominant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: All phases of Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1981) are included in the concept of this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (40-90% cover). evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy dominated or codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with the short shrub Symphoricarpos albus dominating or codominating the understory. Mature Pinus ponderosa often codominates tree canopy, but does not regenerate. Other mature seral tree species present to codominant may include Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, Larix occidentalis, Juniperus scopulorum, Juniperus occidentalis (eastern Oregon and Washington), or Populus tremuloides. Understory trees are almost exclusively Pseudotsuga menziesii. The short-shrub layer is open (patchy) to moderately dense (25-50% cover) and is dominated or codominated by the rhizomatous Symphoricarpos albus and other short shrubs such as Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes cereum, Rosa spp., Spiraea betulifolia, Spiraea splendens, Shepherdia canadensis, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Scattered tall shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, or Sorbus scopulina may form an open tall-shrub layer, but it does not dominate the undergrowth. A low cover to moderately dense herbaceous layer is present and is composed of diverse forbs with the graminoids Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Festuca idahoensis or Pseudoroegneria spicata present to codominant. Forb species may include Achillea millefolium, Moehringia macrophylla (= Arenaria macrophylla), Arnica cordifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Fragaria spp., Hieracium spp., Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Penstemon wilcoxii, Poa nervosa, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule, and Thalictrum occidentale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This widespread forest association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from the mid montane zone down to upper foothill zone on cool aspects. Elevations range 820-2260 m (2700-7400 feet) in the central and northern Rocky Mountains and down to 680-1700 m (2230-5575 feet) in eastern Oregon and Washington. Sites are warm and relatively dry to moist, gentle to steep, mid to lower slopes, benches, and terraces. Stands are found on southerly or easterly aspects throughout much of its range, but may occur on any aspect. Substrates are variable and may be very gravelly or not, with soil textures ranging from sandy loam to silty clay derived from alluvium, glacial till and outwash. Parent materials include loess, various calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary rock, andesite, argillite, basalt, gneiss, granite, limestone, quartzite, quartz monzonite, rhyolite, sandstone or schist,. Ground surface has high cover of litter 4-8 cm deep, sometimes significant cover of rock, and low cover of bare soil.
Geographic Range: This widespread montane forest association occurs in the central and northern Rocky Mountains from southeastern Idaho and northwestern Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and eastern Oregon and Washington, extending into southern Alberta and British Columbia.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, BC?, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687474
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.2 Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Central Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Macrogroup | M501 | 1.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Forest & Woodland Group | G215 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
| Alliance | A3462 Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3462 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
| Association | CEGL000459 Douglas-fir / Common Snowberry Forest | CEGL000459 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated stands of this type in western Wyoming.]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Association (Brayshaw 1965) [according to Ogilvie (p.72).]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1962) [p.62; includes stands with a Symphoricarpos albus-dominated shrub layer.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus (Topik et al. 1988) [(p.67)]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1962) [p.63.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Zamora 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1985)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Williams et al. 1990b)
= Douglas fir/snowberry (McLean and Holland 1958) [according to Ogilvie (p.72).]
< ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir-snowberry-oceanspray community (Hall 1973)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Association (Brayshaw 1965) [according to Ogilvie (p.72).]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1962) [p.62; includes stands with a Symphoricarpos albus-dominated shrub layer.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus (Topik et al. 1988) [(p.67)]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1962) [p.63.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Zamora 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Williams and Lillybridge 1985)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Plant Association (Williams et al. 1990b)
= Douglas fir/snowberry (McLean and Holland 1958) [according to Ogilvie (p.72).]
< ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir-snowberry-oceanspray community (Hall 1973)
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