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CEGL000299 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Arnica latifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Daffodil Leopardbane Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is known from eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and northern Utah. It is dense forest canopy with low cover of shrub and herbaceous layers. It occurs on gentle to moderate terrain on all aspects, from 2255-2835 m (7400-9300 feet) elevation. Soils are from a wide range of parent materials and range from well-drained sandy clay loams to moderately well-drained silty clays. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominant this forested association. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, and Pinus albicaulis may be present. The shrub layer may have Ribes montigenum and Paxistima myrsinites, which can be common and occasionally dominates the undergrowth. Arnica latifolia dominates the forb layer that may include Eucephalus engelmannii and Pedicularis racemosa. Arnica latifolia can be difficult to distinguish from Arnica cordifolia. The leaves on flowering stems of Arnica latifolia are largest toward the middle and are short-petioled to sessile, whereas those of Arnica cordifolia are largest near the base and are distinctly petiolate. Arnica latifolia is restricted to relatively moist sites; Arnica cordifolia occurs on many dry forest sites.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Distinguishing Arnica cordifolia from Arnica latifolia can be confusing. Flowering plants are usually needed for positive identification. The leaves on flowering stems of Arnica latifolia are largest toward the middle and are short-petioled to sessile, whereas those of Arnica cordifolia are largest near the base and are distinctly petiolate. Arnica latifolia is restricted to relatively moist sites; Arnica cordifolia occurs on many dry forest sites.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominate this forested association. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, and Pinus albicaulis may be present. The shrub layer may have up to 20% cover and generally always includes Ribes spp. (Ribes montigenum and Ribes lacustre) and Paxistima myrsinites, which can be common and occasionally dominates the undergrowth. Other shrubs known to be present include Lonicera spp. and Vaccinium scoparium, each with 1 to 3% cover. Arnica latifolia dominates the forb layer that may include Eucephalus engelmannii (= Aster engelmannii) and Pedicularis racemosa. Other forbs encountered include Eucephalus engelmannii, Pedicularis bracteosa, Arnica cordifolia, and Osmorhiza depauperata. Graminoids do not compose a significant portion of the herbaceous canopy. Species with occasional substantive cover (>1%) include Elymus glaucus, Carex geyeri, and Carex rossii.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It occurs on gentle to moderate terrain on all aspects, from 2255-2835 m (7400-9300 feet) elevation. Soils are from a wide range of parent materials and range from well-drained sandy clay loams, silty clay loams, silty clays, and silt loams. Ground surface is covered in litter.
Geographic Range: This association is known from Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and may occur in Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, UT?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689554
Confidence Level: Low
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Lodgepole Pine Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Group | G219 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Alliance | A3643 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest Alliance | A3643 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Association | CEGL000299 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Daffodil Leopardbane Forest | CEGL000299 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Arnica latifolia (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Arnica latifolia Forest (Cooper and Pfister 1981)
= Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Arnica latifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Arnica latifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [(p.53)]
= Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Arnica latifolia Forest (Cooper and Pfister 1981)
= Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Arnica latifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Arnica latifolia Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [(p.53)]
- 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., and R. Pfister. 1981. Forest habitat types of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Review Draft, 5/21/81, for Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wind River Agency, Fort Washakie, WY.
- 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.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- 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.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.