Print Report

CEGL000163 Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / Russet Buffaloberry Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is an abundant forest type in the lodgepole pine belt of southeastern Idaho, northwestern and southeastern Wyoming and north-central Colorado. It also occurs in northeastern Washington but is less common there. It occurs on cool to warm, dry sites, mostly on well-drained gentle toeslopes and benches, on slopes of 4-10% (32%). Elevation ranges from 2105 to 2960 m (6900-9700 feet) in the Rocky Mountains and from 790 to 1620 m (2600-5320 feet) in southeastern Washington. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, skeletal sandy to silty loams derived from sandstone, conglomerate or outwash materials. The vegetation is characterized by nearly pure stands of Pinus contorta. Stands in northeastern Wyoming and northeastern Washington are often mixed with other, later-seral conifers such as Abies lasiocarpa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Larix occidentalis, but the stands are still strongly dominated by Pinus contorta. Populus tremuloides can be present on more mesic sites. The low-shrub layer is dominated by Shepherdia canadensis with 30-60% cover. Other shrub species present may include Spiraea betulifolia, Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, Lonicera utahensis, Vaccinium scoparium, Juniperus communis, and Linnaea borealis. Tall shrubs when present are never abundant enough to form a tall-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is generally depauperate, ranging from scattered individuals to as much as 10% cover each, and includes graminoids Carex geyeri, Calamagrostis rubescens, exotic grasses Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis, and forbs Eurybia conspicua, Osmorhiza berteroi, Orthilia secunda, Geranium viscosissimum, Thalictrum occidentale, Arnica cordifolia, Fragaria virginiana, and Galium boreale.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Many lower subalpine, spruce-fir and upper montane Douglas-fir forest and woodland stands include Pinus contorta trees in a mixed-conifer canopy. To clarify classification, only stands with tree canopies strongly dominated by Pinus contorta (usually >2/3 tree canopy) are considered to be Pinus contorta woodland and forest associations.

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

Floristics: This association is dominated by nearly pure stands of Pinus contorta. Stands in northeastern Wyoming and northeastern Washington are often mixed with other, later-seral conifers such as Abies lasiocarpa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Larix occidentalis. Populus tremuloides can be present on more mesic sites. The low-shrub layer is dominated by Shepherdia canadensis with 30-60% cover. Other shrub species present may include Spiraea betulifolia, Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, Lonicera utahensis, Vaccinium scoparium, Juniperus communis, and Linnaea borealis. Tall shrubs when present are never abundant enough to form a tall-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is generally depauperate, from scattered individuals to as much as 10% cover each, and includes graminoids Carex geyeri, Calamagrostis rubescens, Phleum pratense, and Poa pratensis; and forbs Eurybia conspicua, Osmorhiza berteroi, Orthilia secunda, Geranium viscosissimum, Thalictrum occidentale, Arnica cordifolia, Fragaria virginiana, and Galium boreale.

Dynamics:  Most stands of this association are even-aged, post-fire stands. In southeastern Wyoming and north-central Colorado, Pinus contorta is reproducing successfully, and few other conifer species are present, indicating a stable, climax, fire-responsive forest. In northwestern Wyoming and northeastern Washington, the reproductive presence of other conifers indicates that in cooler, more moist climates, with lower fire frequencies, this is a long-lived seral stage to other forested associations.
Environmental Description:  This is an abundant forest type in the lodgepole pine belt of southeastern Idaho, northwestern and southeastern Wyoming and north-central Colorado. It also occurs in northeastern Washington but is less common there. It occurs on cool to warm dry sites, mostly on well-drained gentle toeslopes and benches, on slopes of 4-10% (32%). Elevation ranges from 2110 to 2850 m (6900-9700 feet) in the Rocky Mountains and from 790 to 1620 m (2600-5320 feet) in southeastern Washington. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, skeletal sandy to silty loams derived from sandstone, conglomerate, or outwash materials.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in north-central Colorado, southeastern and northwestern Wyoming, southeastern Idaho, and northwestern Washington. It may also occur in Montana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, NM, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup M020 1.B.2.Nb.5
Group 1.B.2.Nb.5.a Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group G220 1.B.2.Nb.5.a
Alliance A3366 Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Alliance A3366 1.B.2.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL000163 Lodgepole Pine / Russet Buffaloberry Forest CEGL000163 1.B.2.Nb.5.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Williams et al. 1990b)
= Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Habitat Type (Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-03-05
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  • Alexander, R. R., G. R. Hoffman, and J. M. Wirsing. 1986. Forest vegetation of the Medicine Bow National Forest in southeastern Wyoming: A habitat type classification. Research Paper No. RM-271. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.
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