Print Report

CEGL000388 Picea pungens / Cornus sericea Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian woodland association is best developed on cool, narrow floodplains in the montane zone of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Scattered, isolated stands also occur in canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Sites flood periodically and range from nearly flat on broader floodplains to moderately steep in the narrowest canyons. In Colorado, the association occurs between 2100 and 2600 m (7000-8500 feet) elevation and in New Mexico between approximately 2500 and 3230 m (8200-10,600 feet). Soils tend to be poorly developed coarse alluvium. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy has 10 to 80% cover, is dominated by Picea pungens, and shades an open to dense shrub layer dominated by Cornus sericea. Other tree species may be present in the canopy, including Populus angustifolia, Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, and Abies lasiocarpa. Other components of the shrub layer include Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Betula occidentalis, Alnus incana, Crataegus rivularis, Salix monticola, Salix geyeriana, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier spp., and Prunus virginiana. The herbaceous layer is variable in cover and composition depending on the density of the canopy and shrub layers and the frequency of flooding. Common herbaceous species include Equisetum hyemale, Equisetum arvense, Chamerion angustifolium, Heracleum maximum, and Maianthemum stellatum. ~Picea pungens / Cornus sericea Riparian Woodland (CEGL000388)$$ was once a more common type and represents slightly more stable habitats than those of ~Picea pungens / Alnus incana Riparian Woodland (CEGL000894)$$.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Found in wet canyons and well-watered sites, the overstory may contain a mixture of species but Picea pungens and Pseudotsuga menziesii are usually codominant and successfully reproducing. The shrub layer is the dominant undergrowth component and Cornus sericea is the dominant shrub species. Ground vegetation layer is subordinate to shrubs.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Most of the available information for this association comes from Colorado stands.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy has 10 to 80% cover, is dominated by Picea pungens, and shades the open to dense shrub layer dominated by Cornus sericea. Other tree species may be present in the canopy, including Populus angustifolia, Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, and Abies lasiocarpa. Cornus sericea is not tolerant of deep shade (Crane 1989); its presence in closed-canopy stands is usually limited to the margins and to openings. In more open stands, the red-osier dogwood understory may be quite dense. Other components of the shrub layer include Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Betula occidentalis, Alnus incana, Crataegus rivularis, Salix monticola, Salix geyeriana, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier spp., and Prunus virginiana. The herbaceous layer is variable in cover and composition depending on the density of the canopy and shrub layers and the frequency of flooding. Common herbaceous species include Equisetum hyemale, Equisetum arvense, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Heracleum maximum, and Maianthemum stellatum.

Dynamics:  Cornus sericea requires a seasonally high water table. As floodplain terraces become isolated from the water table, the dominance of this shrub diminishes.

Presence of Pinus ponderosa and Populus tremuloides stands scattered throughout the type is indicative of past fire occurrence. Fires are probably less frequent in these streambottoms and moist benches than on adjoining sideslopes or warmer, drier environments. In riparian areas where Picea pungens occurs, intervals between fires are about 350 to 400 years (Crane 1982). Based on fire scar data from the White Mountains of Arizona, successive fires may prevent Picea pungens from dominance because it is fire-intolerant. Historical fire frequency in mixed-conifer forests was about 22 years (Dieterich 1983).
Environmental Description:  This riparian woodland association is best developed on cool, narrow floodplains in the montane zone of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Scattered, isolated stands also occur in canyons of the Colorado Plateau. It is likely to occur in northern Arizona. Sites flood periodically and range from nearly flat on broader floodplains to moderately steep in the narrowest canyons. In Colorado, the association is restricted to the montane zone, between 2100 and 2600 m (7000-8500 feet) (Carsey et al. 2003a). In New Mexico, this association occurs between approximately 2500 and 3230 m (8200-10,600 feet) (Dick-Peddie 1993). Soils tend to be poorly developed coarse alluvium.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from New Mexico, Utah, central and western Colorado. It is likely to occur in northern Arizona.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, NM, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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 A3761 Blue Spruce Riparian Forest Alliance A3761 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000388 Blue Spruce / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Woodland CEGL000388 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea pungens / Amelanchier alnifolia - Swida sericea (Johnston 1987)
= Picea pungens / Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea pungens / Cornus sericea Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Picea pungens / Cornus sericea Woodland (Padgett et al. 1988a)
= Picea pungens / Poa pratensis (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
Concept Author(s): M.C. Stuever and J.S. Hayden (1997a)

Author of Description: J. Coles and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-21-18
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