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CEGL005853 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Heracleum maximum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Common Cow-parsnip Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This seral association has been identified only from Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park of the northern Rocky Mountains but has a high probability of occurring throughout this region. It has been described from montane to lower subalpine and even extending to mid subalpine habitats, from 1070 to 1585 m (3500-5200 feet). It encompasses relatively mesic to subhygric sites occurring on moderate to steep slopes with north- to east-facing aspects, as well as on toeslopes and footslopes where subsurface input may be a mitigating factor. Soils are mostly well-drained, fine-textured and derived from glacial drift or alluvium; because the type has been described from such a small geographic area, the only substrates sampled have been sedimentary siltstone and metamorphic (argillite). The canopy and subcanopy are Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated with a combined cover in excess of 60%. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii are represented in the seedling/sapling component, and Pinus contorta may have relatively high cover as a seral component. The shrub component is various but mostly dominated by a short-shrub layer in which Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia, and Symphoricarpos albus have high constancy and share dominance. Any of the following forbs having >3% canopy cover, singly or in any combination, is diagnostic for the type: Streptopus amplexifolius, Galium triflorum, Actaea rubra, Senecio triangularis, Angelica arguta, Angelica dawsonii, and/or Heracleum maximum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is very similar to ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Clintonia uniflora Forest (CEGL005850)$$ but occurs on sites where Clintonia uniflora and Tiarella trifoliata, for whatever reason(s), are lacking. This type is more apt to be found east of the Continental Divide because the distribution of neither of the forenamed forbs penetrates much beyond this divide (into the drier downslope rainshadow). However, it is more aptly characterized as a long-lived seral representation of ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum Forest (CEGL000311)$$ or ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Actaea rubra Forest (CEGL000295)$$, or even ~Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum Forest (CEGL002174)$$; in some of these stands the climax species Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii are slow to re-establish for undetermined reasons (one hypothesis is that the litter layer is thick and inimical to germination of conifer seeds), and these stands can remain Pseudotsuga-dominated for hundreds of years.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy and subcanopy are Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated with a combined cover in excess of 60%. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii are represented in the seedling/sapling component, and Pinus contorta may have relatively high cover as a seral component. The shrub component is various but mostly dominated by a short-shrub layer in which Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia, and Symphoricarpos albus have high constancy and share dominance. Any of the following forbs having >3% canopy cover, singly or in any combination, is diagnostic for the type: Streptopus amplexifolius, Galium triflorum, Actaea rubra, Senecio triangularis, Angelica arguta, Angelica dawsonii, and/or Heracleum maximum. The forb component is often dominated by Thalictrum occidentale, Arnica cordifolia, Eucephalus engelmannii (= Aster engelmannii), or in early spring Erythronium grandiflorum. Graminoids have negligible cover and constancy and nonvascular (bryoid) cover varies from zero to 40%.
Dynamics: Stands of this association occur well within the distribution of both Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii and are almost certainly seral to any of a number of associations defined by these climax dominants.
Environmental Description: This seral association [see Dynamics section] has been identified only from Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park of the northern Rocky Mountains but has a high probability for occurring throughout this region. It has been described from montane to lower subalpine and even extending to mid subalpine habitats, from 1070 to 1585 m (3500-5200 feet). It encompasses relatively mesic to subhygric sites occurring on moderate to steep slopes with north- to east-facing aspects, as well as on toeslopes and footslopes where subsurface input may be a mitigating factor. Soils are mostly well-drained, fine-textured and derived from glacial drift or alluvium; because the type has been described from such a small geographic area, the only substrates sampled have been sedimentary siltstone and metamorphic (argillite).
Geographic Range: This association is essentially found throughout the northern Rocky Mountains, but most abundantly east of the Continental Divide and could range to the middle Rocky Mountains and southward.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID, MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730900
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.3 Western Hemlock - Grand Fir - Western Larch Mesic Lower Montane Forest Macrogroup | M500 | 1.B.2.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a Grand Fir - Douglas-fir - Western Larch Central Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G211 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A3362 Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Central Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3362 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL005853 Douglas-fir / Common Cow-parsnip Forest | CEGL005853 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Cornus canadensis Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cornus canadensis Habitat Type (Roberts et al. 1979b)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Heracleum maximum Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Cornus canadensis Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cornus canadensis Habitat Type (Roberts et al. 1979b)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Heracleum maximum Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Roberts, D. W., J. I. Sibbernsen, and R. D. Pfister. 1979b. Forest habitat types of the Bear''s Paw Mountains. Final report to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Boy Agency, MT. #6C59-0100032, Amendment #1 (Contract No. YA-512-CT6-84). 60 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Williams, C. K., B. F. Kelly, B. G. Smith, and T. R. Lillybridge. 1995. Forest plant associations of the Colville National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-360. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 140 pp.