Print Report

CEGL000418 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Rocky Mountain Maple Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This montane forest association occurs in the montane zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations vary from 1465 to 2654 m (4800-8700 feet). Sites are cool and moist, generally occurring on northern or eastern aspects, on steep, mid to lower slopes, and ravines or stream bottoms where cold-air drainage is a factor. Substrates are variable and may be gravelly or not, with soil texture ranging from sandy loam to clay derived from colluvium. The vegetation is characterized by a Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated tree canopy with Acer glabrum dominating or codominating the understory. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is generally moderately dense to dense (50-80% cover). Mature seral tree species such as Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa, Larix occidentalis, Populus angustifolia, or Populus tremuloides may be present to codominant. Abies concolor is typically absent. The tall-shrub layer is open (patchy) to moderately dense and dominated or codominated by Acer glabrum with other tall shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, Quercus gambelii, Prunus virginiana, Sorbus scopulina, Spiraea betulifolia, or Salix scouleriana. An open to moderately dense short-shrub layer is usually present and often dominated by Physocarpus malvaceus with other species such as Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa spp., Ribes cereum, Symphoricarpos albus, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The vine Clematis columbiana may also be present in small amounts. In some stands the tall- and short-shrub layers are not distinct. Herbaceous layer generally has low cover and is composed of diverse forbs with graminoids present to codominant.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: All phases of the Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Habitat Type are included in the concept of this association (Steele et al. 1981, 1983, Mauk and Henderson 1984).

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

Floristics: This minor Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by a Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated tree canopy with Acer glabrum dominating or codominating the understory. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is generally moderately dense to dense (50-80% cover), although occasionally the cover will be as low as 15%. Mature seral tree species such as Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa, Larix occidentalis, Populus angustifolia, or Populus tremuloides may be present to codominant. Abies concolor is typically absent. The tall-shrub layer is open (patchy) to moderately dense and dominated or codominated by Acer glabrum with other tall shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, Quercus gambelii, Prunus virginiana, Sorbus scopulina, Spiraea betulifolia, or Salix scouleriana. An open to moderately dense short-shrub layer is usually present and often dominated by Physocarpus malvaceus with other species such as Holodiscus dumosus, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Prunus virginiana, Rosa spp., Ribes cereum, Ribes inerme, Sambucus racemosa, Symphoricarpos albus, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The vine Clematis columbiana may also be present in small amounts. In some stands the tall- and short-shrub layers are not distinct. Herbaceous layer generally has low cover and is composed of diverse forbs with graminoids present to codominant. Species may include Agrostis scabra, Arnica cordifolia, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Cystopteris fragilis, Elymus glaucus, Erigeron speciosus, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Eurybia conspicua, Fragaria vesca, Galium triflorum, Mitella stauropetala, Moehringia macrophylla (= Arenaria macrophylla), Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Penstemon wilcoxii, Poa nervosa, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule, Thalictrum fendleri, or Thalictrum occidentale.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This montane forest association occurs in the montane zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations vary from 1465 to 2654 m (4800-8700 feet). Sites are cool and moist, generally occurring on northern or eastern aspects, on steep, mid to lower slopes, and ravines or stream bottoms where cold-air drainage is a factor. Substrates are variable and may be gravelly or not, with soil texture ranging from sandy loam to clay derived from colluvium. Parent materials include loess, basalt, diorite, dolomite, limestone, granite, quartz monzonite or sandstone. Ground surface has high cover of litter 3-7 cm deep, sometimes with significant cover of rock, and low cover of bare soil.
Geographic Range: This forest association occurs in the montane zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains from northern Colorado, through Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, extending into Oregon and Alberta, and possibly Montana.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CO, ID, MT?, OR, UT, WY


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.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 A3463 Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Mesic-Wet Forest Alliance A3463 1.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL000418 Douglas-fir / Rocky Mountain Maple Forest CEGL000418 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: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum / Physocarpus malvaceus Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Henderson et al. 1976)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Habitat Type, Pachistima myrsinites Phase (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum plant association (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz, G. Kittel and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-05-07
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