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CEGL000140 Pinus contorta / Carex (aquatilis, angustata) Swamp Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / (Water Sedge, Widefruit Sedge) Swamp Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This swamp woodland is found in Oregon. Pinus contorta is the dominant tree. Populus tremuloides, Pinus ponderosa, Abies lowiana, and Abies grandis, if present, are scattered individuals. Salix spp. are present in some wetter stands. The ground cover is dominated by a dense sward of Carex angustata or Carex aquatilis. Common grasses include Calamagrostis canadensis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Poa palustris, Poa pratensis, Hordeum brachyantherum, Elymus glaucus, Glyceria striata, and Phleum alpinum. Poa pratensis was present on all stands and will increase in cover with overgrazing or lowering of the water table. The rich forb component includes Achillea millefolium, Geum macrophyllum, Fragaria virginiana, Fragaria vesca, Polemonium occidentale, Platanthera dilatata, Ligusticum grayi, Trifolium longipes, Epilobium ciliatum, and Taraxacum officinale. Salix geyeriana and Spiraea douglasii are present on many stands but are low in cover. This association is strongly associated with deep pumice mantles. It is similar to ~Picea engelmannii / Carex angustata Swamp Forest (CEGL000359)$$ but occurs below the elevational distribution of Picea engelmannii. Elevations are low to moderate. Landforms include forested floodplains along streams, small forested basins, the margins of meadows, and shallow, concave, subirrigated drainages. The microrelief is flat to very slightly undulating to concave. Soils are deep pumice alluvia. This association is abundant in the southeastern East Cascades ecoregion and at moderate to high elevations in the central Blue Mountains ecoregion of Oregon. It is found in landforms supporting active floodplains, shores of lakes and ponds, and forested basins. Microtopography is flat, smooth to slightly undulating, or slightly concave. Valleys are flat, low- to moderate-gradient and moderately wide to wide. Surface textures range from sandy loam to silt loam. One plot had a thin layer of sedge peat on top of a sandy loam subsurface soil at the edge of a pond. Available water-holding capacity is moderate to high. The water table is near to slightly above the soil surface in June and is within 60 cm of the surface in August and September.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Compare this association with ~Pinus contorta / Carex aquatilis var. dives Treed Bog (CEGL003203)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Pinus contorta is the dominant tree. Populus tremuloides, Pinus ponderosa, Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana), and Abies grandis, if present, are scattered individuals. Salix spp. are present in some wetter stands. The ground cover is dominated by a dense sward of Carex angustata or Carex aquatilis. Common grasses include Calamagrostis canadensis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Poa palustris, Poa pratensis, Hordeum brachyantherum, Elymus glaucus, Glyceria striata, and Phleum alpinum. Poa pratensis was present on all stands and will increase in cover with overgrazing or lowering of the water table. The rich forb component includes Achillea millefolium, Geum macrophyllum, Fragaria virginiana, Fragaria vesca, Polemonium occidentale, Platanthera dilatata (= Habenaria dilatata), Ligusticum grayi, Trifolium longipes, Epilobium ciliatum, and Taraxacum officinale. Salix geyeriana and Spiraea douglasii are present on many stands but are low in cover.
Dynamics: With overuse by livestock, species such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Poa pratensis, Elymus glaucus, and a complex mixture of forbs become codominant. The soil surface is somewhat trampled and broken. With continued overuse, streambank erosion and streambed downcutting may lead to lowering of the water table. Under such hydrologic conditions the site potential is often changed to a lodgepole pine / Kentucky bluegrass community type. Wildfire was probably infrequent in this association. Lodgepole pine is sensitive to all but the coolest surface fire. The sedges will regenerate from rhizomes.
Environmental Description: This association is strongly associated with deep pumice mantles. It is similar to ~Picea engelmannii / Carex angustata Swamp Forest (CEGL000359)$$ but occurs below the elevational distribution of Picea engelmannii. Elevations are low to moderate. Landforms include forested floodplains along streams, small forested basins, the margins of meadows, and shallow, concave, subirrigated drainages. The microrelief is flat to very slightly undulating to concave. Soils are deep pumice alluvia. Most sites have a moderately deep surface horizon of organic loam. Others classify as sandy loams but still have considerable proportions of organic matter in their surface horizons. Subsurface soils are coarse, saturated, erosive pumice. Available water-holding capacity is moderately high. The water table is near to slightly above the soil surface in June and July and is within 60-90 cm of the soil surface in September. The local climate for this association is much drier (less precipitation and less snowfall), has a shorter frost-free period, and has greater temperature extremes than ~Picea engelmannii / Carex angustata Swamp Forest (CEGL000359)$$.
This association is abundant in the southeastern East Cascades ecoregion and at moderate to high elevations in the central Blue Mountains ecoregion of Oregon. It is found in landforms supporting active floodplains, shores of lakes and ponds, and forested basins. Microtopography is flat, smooth to slightly undulating, or slightly concave. Valleys are flat, low- to moderate-gradient and moderately wide to wide. Surface textures range from sandy loam to silt loam. One plot had a thin layer of sedge peat on top of a sandy loam subsurface soil at the edge of a pond. Available water-holding capacity is moderate to high. The water table is near to slightly above the soil surface in June and is within 60 cm of the surface in August and September.
This association is abundant in the southeastern East Cascades ecoregion and at moderate to high elevations in the central Blue Mountains ecoregion of Oregon. It is found in landforms supporting active floodplains, shores of lakes and ponds, and forested basins. Microtopography is flat, smooth to slightly undulating, or slightly concave. Valleys are flat, low- to moderate-gradient and moderately wide to wide. Surface textures range from sandy loam to silt loam. One plot had a thin layer of sedge peat on top of a sandy loam subsurface soil at the edge of a pond. Available water-holding capacity is moderate to high. The water table is near to slightly above the soil surface in June and is within 60 cm of the surface in August and September.
Geographic Range: This swamp woodland is found in Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687488
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4Q
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 | A3758 Sierra Lodgepole Pine - Tall Lodgepole Pine Swamp Forest Alliance | A3758 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000140 Lodgepole Pine / (Water Sedge, Widefruit Sedge) Swamp Woodland | CEGL000140 | 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: ? Pinus contorta / Carex aquatilis (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997)
= Pinus contorta / Carex aquatilis (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.43)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex eurycarpa (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.41)]
> Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Carex angustata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
> Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Carex aquatilis Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Pinus contorta / Carex aquatilis (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.43)]
= Pinus contorta / Carex eurycarpa (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.41)]
> Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Carex angustata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
> Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Carex aquatilis Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
- 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.
- Crowe, E. A., B. L. Kovalchik, and M. J. Kerr. 2004. Riparian and wetland vegetation of central and eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University, Portland. 473 pp. [http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/ publications.html]
- Crowe, E. A., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1997. Mid-montane wetland plant associations of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-22-97. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1987. Riparian zone associations - Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema national forests. Technical Paper 279-87. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 171 pp.
- Titus, J. H., and J. A. Christy. 1996a. Vegetation of Big Marsh, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. Report to Deschutes National Forest. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland.
- 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.