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CEGL002910 Rhus trilobata Rocky Mountain Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Skunkbush Sumac Rocky Mountain Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in the montane and subalpine zones of the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur in patches on rock ledges, scree and other steep slopes (50-100%). Substrates are shallow, rocky, rapidly drained, coarse-textured soils derived from various parent materials such as granite. Ground surfaces have moderate to high cover of rock. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Rhus trilobata and a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by montane perennial graminoids. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs occurring in this stratum include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, and Artemisia frigida. Muhlenbergia montana is generally present. Other perennial graminoid species may include Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus, Carex geophila, Elymus elymoides, Elymus trachycaulus, and Festuca arizonica. Bromus tectorum cover is high in disturbed stands. Forb species occur at low percent cover and include Artemisia ludoviciana, Chenopodium berlandieri, Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum, Festuca arizonica, Helianthus pumilus, Heterotheca villosa, Mertensia lanceolata, Opuntia polyacantha, and Potentilla fissa. Rubus deliciosus, Juniperus scopulorum, and Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum also occur in the area of this association.
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 association is characterized by an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Rhus trilobata and a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by montane perennial graminoids. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs occurring in this stratum include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, and Artemisia frigida. Native and non-native graminoid species exhibit 20% or more cover with Muhlenbergia montana generally present. Other perennial graminoid species may include Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus (= Bromus pumpellianus), Carex geophila, Elymus elymoides, Elymus trachycaulus, and Festuca arizonica. Bromus tectorum cover is high in disturbed stands. Forb species occur at low percent cover in this stand (<1%) and include Artemisia ludoviciana, Chenopodium berlandieri, Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum, Festuca arizonica, Helianthus pumilus, Heterotheca villosa, Mertensia lanceolata, Opuntia polyacantha, and Potentilla fissa. Rubus deliciosus, Juniperus scopulorum, and Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum also occur in the area of this association (Komarkova 1986).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the montane and subalpine zones of the southern Rocky Mountains at 2360 to 2855 m (7750-9360 feet) elevation. Stands occur in patches on rock ledges, scree and other steep slopes (50-100%). Substrates are shallow, rocky, rapidly drained, coarse-textured soils derived from various parent materials such as granite. Ground surfaces have moderate to high cover of rock. One soil was classified as a Cryoghent (Komarkova 1986).
Geographic Range: This association is known from one stand in the montane zone in the southern Rocky Mountains from Rocky Mountain National Park and the Gunnison National Forest in Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688821
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup | M049 | 2.B.2.Nf.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a Gambel Oak - Serviceberry species - Chokecherry Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Group | G277 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
| Alliance | A3735 Gambel Oak - Mountain Snowberry Shrubland Alliance | A3735 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002910 Skunkbush Sumac Rocky Mountain Shrubland | CEGL002910 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rhus aromatica ssp. trilobata / Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Rhus aromatica ssp. trilobata / Muhlenbergia montana Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Rhus aromatica ssp. trilobata / Muhlenbergia montana Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- 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.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.