Print Report

CEGL000189 Pinus ponderosa / Physocarpus malvaceus Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Mallow Ninebark Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant association is known from stands within the Idaho Batholith, Bitterroot Mountains, and Palouse Prairie ecoregional sections. The association is found on moderately steep northwest- to northeast-facing slopes, below 915 m (3000 feet) elevation. The natural fire disturbance regime is one of frequent, low-intensity fire events. Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus is found on adjacent hotter, drier south-facing slopes. Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus is adjacent on more moist sites. Pinus ponderosa occurs with a structurally and compositionally diverse understory shrub layer. Symphoricarpos albus, Spiraea betulifolia, and Mahonia repens form an understory low-shrub canopy. Physocarpus malvaceus or Holodiscus discolor dominate the understory tall-shrub layer; Ceanothus sanguineus, Philadelphus lewisii, Prunus virginiana, and Amelanchier alnifolia are often associated. Highly consistent herbaceous species include Galium boreale, Moehringia macrophylla, Osmorhiza berteroi, Erythronium grandiflorum, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Carex geyeri.

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: Pinus ponderosa occurs with a structurally and compositionally diverse understory shrub layer. Symphoricarpos albus, Spiraea betulifolia, and Mahonia repens form an understory low-shrub canopy. Physocarpus malvaceus or Holodiscus discolor dominate the understory tall-shrub layer; Ceanothus sanguineus, Philadelphus lewisii, Prunus virginiana, and Amelanchier alnifolia are often associated. Highly consistent herbaceous species include Galium boreale, Moehringia macrophylla (= Arenaria macrophylla), Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Erythronium grandiflorum, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Carex geyeri.

Dynamics:  The natural fire disturbance regime is one of frequent, low-intensity fire events.

Environmental Description:  This plant association is known from stands within the Idaho Batholith, Bitterroot Mountains, and Palouse Prairie ecoregional sections. The association is found on moderately steep northwest- to northeast-facing slopes, below 915 m (3000 feet) elevation.

Geographic Range: The plant association is relatively widespread with occurrences in the Idaho Batholith, Bitterroot Mountains, and Palouse Prairie ecoregional sections.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  BC?, ID, MT, WA




Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G2

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Physocarpus malvaceus Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pinus ponderosa / Physocarpus malvaceus Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)

Concept Author(s): S.K. Rust

Author of Description: S.K. Rust

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97

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  • Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
  • Cooper, S. V., and R. D. Pfister. 1985. Forest habitat types of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Unpublished termination report prepared for Bureau of Indian Affairs, Billings Area Office by USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 118 pp.
  • Crane, M. F., and W. C. Fischer. 1986. Fire ecology of the forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-218. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO. 86 pp.
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  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • McLean, A. 1970. Plant communities of the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, and their relationships to soils. Ecological Monographs 40(4):403-424.
  • Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
  • WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
  • Williams, C. K., and T. R. Lillybridge. 1985. Forested plant associations of the Colville National Forest. Draft. Unpublished field guide prepared for USDA Forest Service.