Print Report
CEGL000457 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Shinyleaf Meadowsweet Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This montane to lower subalpine forest association is known from the central and northern Rocky Mountains from northwestern Wyoming, to eastern Oregon, Idaho and western Montana, and extending into Canada. Elevations range from 1010 to 2470 m (3300-8100 feet). Stands occur on a variety of sites from steep colluvial slopes to gentle rolling terrain on relatively warm, dry sites. Sites at lower elevation and latitude are typically restricted to northerly aspects or limestone substrate. Higher elevation sites occur on a variety of aspects with the most northerly stands restricted to dry southern aspects. Parent materials are various. Soils tend to be coarser-textured, gravelly loam or sandy loam. Tree litter, often 4-6 cm deep, dominates the ground cover. Vegetation is characterized by an overstory tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with Spiraea betulifolia prominent in the understory. Pinus ponderosa may be codominant in the overstory tree canopy, and Pinus contorta or Populus tremuloides may be present in the subcanopy. Spiraea betulifolia is a major component in the short-shrub layer with Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, or Paxistima myrsinites sometimes abundant. Other common shrubs include Acer glabrum, Lonicera utahensis, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana, Shepherdia canadensis, Sorbus scopulina, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Symphoricarpos albus. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer may be dominated by graminoids Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Festuca idahoensis, or Pseudoroegneria spicata, with a variety of forbs.
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: This forest association is characterized by an overstory tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with Spiraea betulifolia prominent in the understory. Pinus ponderosa may be codominant in the overstory tree canopy, and Pinus contorta or Populus tremuloides may be present in the subcanopy. Spiraea betulifolia is a major component in the short-shrub layer with Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, or Paxistima myrsinites sometimes abundant. Other common shrubs include Acer glabrum, Lonicera utahensis, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana, Shepherdia canadensis, Sorbus scopulina, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Symphoricarpos albus. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is typically dominated by graminoids Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Festuca idahoensis, or Pseudoroegneria spicata, with a variety of forbs. The most common species are Arnica cordifolia, Astragalus miser, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eurybia conspicua, Fragaria virginiana, Fragaria vesca, Goodyera oblongifolia, Maianthemum racemosum, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), and Thalictrum occidentale.
Dynamics: Occurrences are typically mid-seral stands initiated by fire. The understory composition and the common presence of burned stumps and charcoal reflect the disturbance history of this type.
Environmental Description: This montane to lower subalpine forest association is known from the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 1000 to 2500 m (3300-8100 feet). Stands occur on a variety of sites from steep colluvial slopes to gentle rolling terrain on relatively warm, dry sites. Sites at lower elevation and latitude are typically restricted to northerly aspects or limestone substrate. Higher elevation sites occur on a variety of aspects with the most northerly stands restricted to dry southern aspects. Parent materials are various, typically composed of colluvium or residuum derived from andesite, basalt, granites, gneiss, quartzite, schist phyllite, or limestone. Soils tend to be coarser-textured, gravelly loam or sandy loam. Tree litter, often 4-6 cm deep, dominates ground cover.
Geographic Range: This subalpine forest association is known from the central and northern Rocky Mountains from northwestern Wyoming, to eastern Oregon, Idaho and western Montana, and extending into Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID, MT, OR, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688247
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 | CEGL000457 Douglas-fir / Shinyleaf Meadowsweet Forest | CEGL000457 | 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 / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated stands of this type.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Spiraea betulifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- 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.
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- 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]
- Head, S. C. 1959. Plant taxonomy and ecology of the East Eagle Creek Drainage of the Wallowa Mountains, Northeast Oregon. Unpublished dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 249 pp.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Horton, L. E. 1971. Vegetation and ecological relationships, west slope of the Teton study area, Targhee National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region. Unpublished mimeographed report. 50 pp. plus appendices.
- Johnson, C. G., Jr., and S. A. Simon. 1987. Plant associations of the Wallowa-Snake Province Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-255A-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 399 pp. plus appendices.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- 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.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Oswald, E. T. 1966. A synecological study of the forested moraines of the valley floor of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Unpublished thesis, Montana State University, Bozeman. 101 pp.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- 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.
- Steele, R., S. V. Cooper, D. M. Ondov, D. W. Roberts, and R. D. Pfister. 1983. Forest habitat types of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. General Technical Report INT-144. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 122 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and W. F. Mueggler. 1981. Aspen community types on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. Research Paper INT-272. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 34 pp.