Print Report

CEGL000851 Pinus ponderosa / Cercocarpus montanus Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Pinus ponderosa woodland occurs on dry rocky slopes in the southern Rocky Mountains and upper plateaus of southern Utah, from 1700 to 2710 m (5570-8900 feet) elevation. Typically, this association occurs just above the shrubland zone on shallow, rocky, poorly developed soils. Aspects are predominately south-, southeast-, and southwest-facing slopes that are moderate to steep (18-60%). This association is an open woodland with scattered Pinus ponderosa trees, generally with less than 50% cover, over a matrix of shrubs. Juniperus scopulorum and Pseudotsuga menziesii individuals may be present. The community is strongly dominated by Cercocarpus montanus. Other shrubs present may include Acer grandidentatum, Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia frigida, Ceanothus martinii, Rhus trilobata, Ribes cereum, Purshia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Yucca glauca. Herbaceous cover ranges from 10-70%, depending on shrub density. Grasses are typically more abundant than forbs and commonly include one or more of the following species: Bromus tectorum, Elymus albicans, Festuca arizonica, Carex rossii, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia montana, and Koeleria macrantha. Forb species include Artemisia ludoviciana, Geranium caespitosum, Heterotheca villosa, Leucocrinum montanum, Allium textile, Grindelia subalpina, Argentina anserina, Cryptantha thyrsiflora, and Eriogonum umbellatum. Exposed bedrock outcrops or bare ground are common, comprising approximately 25-35% cover.

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 woodland type comprises dry foothills vegetation with scattered Pinus ponderosa trees, generally with less than 50% cover. Juniperus scopulorum and Pseudotsuga menziesii individuals may be present but never abundant. The community is open in appearance and characterized by a matrix of shrubs, strongly dominated by Cercocarpus montanus. Other shrubs present may include Rhus trilobata, Ribes cereum, Artemisia frigida, Purshia tridentata, Yucca glauca, and Quercus gambelii. Herbaceous cover ranges from 10-70%, depending on shrub density. Grasses are typically more abundant than forbs and commonly include one or more of the following species: Bromus tectorum, Elymus albicans, Festuca arizonica, Carex rossii, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia montana, and Koeleria macrantha (= Koeleria cristata). Forb species include Artemisia ludoviciana, Geranium caespitosum, Heterotheca villosa, Leucocrinum montanum, Allium textile, Grindelia subalpina, Argentina anserina, Cryptantha thyrsiflora, and Eriogonum umbellatum.

Dynamics:  This is an association in a fire-dependent system. Pinus ponderosa generally has low reproductive success in this association under natural conditions.
Environmental Description:  This woodland occurs on the driest aspects that support coniferous woodlands of Pinus ponderosa in the southern Rocky Mountains at 1700 to 2710m (5570-8900 feet) elevation. Typically, this association occurs on dry rocky hillsides just above the shrubland zone on shallow, rocky, poorly developed soils. Aspects are predominately south-, southeast-, and southwest-facing, on slopes that are moderate to steep (18-60%). At higher elevations, the association occupies ridgetops and adjacent upper slopes. Exposed bedrock outcrops or bare ground are common, comprising approximately 25-35% cover.
Geographic Range: This association is known primarily from the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It is thought to occur north to Wyoming and south to New Mexico. It may occur disjunctly in the Black Hills (eastern Wyoming, South Dakota).

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM?, SD?, 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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup M022 1.B.2.Nb.1
Group 1.B.2.Nb.1.b Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group G228 1.B.2.Nb.1.b
Alliance A3398 Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance A3398 1.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL000851 Ponderosa Pine / Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland CEGL000851 1.B.2.Nb.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Pinus ponderosa / Cercocarpus montanus / Carex rossii Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
> Pinus ponderosa / Cercocarpus montanus / Muhlenbergia montana Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
= Pinus ponderosa / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pinus ponderosa / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pinus ponderosa / Cercocarpus montanus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Pinus ponderosa / Quercus gambelii Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
>< Pinus ponderosa Shrubland (Peet 1981)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel and S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-15-08
  • Baker, W. L. 1984a. A preliminary classification of the natural vegetation of Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 44(4):647-676.
  • 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.
  • 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/]
  • DeVelice, R. L., J. A. Ludwig, W. H. Moir, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1986. A classification of forest habitat types of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. General Technical Report RM-131. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 59 pp.
  • Hess, K. 1981. Phyto-edaphic study of habitat types of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 558 pp.
  • Hess, K., and C. H. Wasser. 1982. Grassland, shrubland, and forest habitat types of the White River-Arapaho National Forest. Unpublished final report 53-82 FT-1-19. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 335 pp.
  • Hess, K., and R. R. Alexander. 1986. Forest vegetation of the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests in northcentral Colorado: A habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-266. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 48 pp.
  • 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.
  • Kahler, L. J. 1973. Correlation of slope exposure with differences in the composition of the vegetation community at 7000 feet in Clear Creek Canyon west of Golden, Colorado. Unpublished thesis, University of Colorado, Boulder. 105 pp.
  • Lynn, R., M. Larson, D. Hoeft, L. Todd, T. Raetz, L. Fager, and G. Barranco. No date. Black Hills National Forest ecological land units study. USDA Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest, SD.
  • Owns, T., project coordinator, et al. 2004. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. 390 pp.
  • Peet, R. K. 1975. Forest vegetation of the east slope of the northern Colorado Front Range. Unpublished dissertation, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
  • Peet, R. K. 1981. Forest vegetation of the Colorado Front Range. Vegetatio 45:3-75.
  • 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.).
  • Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Thilenius, J. F. 1971. Vascular plants of the Black Hills of South Dakota and adjacent Wyoming. General Technical Report RM-71. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Thilenius, J. F. 1972. Classification of the deer habitat in the ponderosa pine forest of the Black Hills, South Dakota. Research Paper RM-91. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 28 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.