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CEGL005841 Pinus ponderosa / Vaccinium cespitosum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Dwarf Bilberry Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the montane zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains from western Montana, Idaho and northeastern Washington. Elevations range from 700-1370 m (2300-4500 feet) extending to 1950 (6400 feet) east of the Continental Divide. Sites are relatively warm and moist, typically with cold nights, often occurring where cold air accumulates causing high diurnal temperature fluctuations, high daily maximum temperatures and frequent summer frosts. Topography is flat to gently undulating or moderately sloping terrain typically occurring on valley bottoms, terraces, lower slopes, and benches on all aspects. Soils are typically excessively well-drained, moderately deep, acidic, gravelly, sandy loam or loam, derived from a variety of noncalcareous parent materials, especially glacial till. Ground cover is mostly tree litter, often with duff over 4 cm deep. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense tree canopy that is dominated by Pinus ponderosa. In some stands scattered Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, or Pinus contorta trees may be present. Vaccinium cespitosum and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (indicator species) are common to dominant in the patchy to continuous dwarf-shrub layer. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include low cover of Amelanchier alnifolia, Linnaea borealis (on more mesic sites), Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Spiraea betulifolia, or Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense (to 30% cover) and is typically dominated or codominated by perennial graminoids in the openings such as Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, or Festuca spp. Forbs generally have sparse cover but may be diverse and include Arnica cordifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Fragaria virginiana, Heuchera cylindrica, Maianthemum racemosum, Tiarella trifoliata, and Thalictrum occidentale.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of this Pinus ponderosa-dominated woodland association were included in concepts of Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum habitat types described in Cooper et al. (1987), Pfister et al. (1977), and Steele et al. (1981) and the Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum plant association (Williams et al. 1995).
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 tree canopy that is dominated by Pinus ponderosa. In some stands scattered Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, or Pinus contorta trees may be present. Vaccinium cespitosum and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (indicator species) are common to dominant in the patchy to continuous dwarf-shrub layer. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include low cover of Amelanchier alnifolia, Linnaea borealis (on more mesic sites), Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Spiraea betulifolia, or Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense (to 30% cover) and is typically dominated or codominated by perennial graminoids in the openings such as Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, or Festuca spp. Forbs generally have sparse cover but may be diverse and include Arnica cordifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Fragaria virginiana, Heuchera cylindrica, Maianthemum racemosum, Tiarella trifoliata, and Thalictrum occidentale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found in the montane zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 700-1370 m (2300-4500 feet) extending to 1950 (6400 feet) east of the Continental Divide. Sites are relatively warm and moist, typically with cold nights, often occurring where cold air accumulates causing high diurnal temperature fluctuations often with frequent summer frosts and high daily maximum temperatures. Topography is flat to gently undulating or moderately sloping terrain typically occurring on valley bottoms, terraces, lower slopes, and benches on all aspects. Soils are typically excessively well-drained, moderately deep, acidic, gravelly, sandy loam or loam, derived from a variety of noncalcareous parent materials, especially glacial till. Ground cover is mostly tree litter, often with duff over 4 cm deep.
Geographic Range: This association is found in the montane zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains from western Montana, Idaho and northeastern Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.732561
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.2 Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Central Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Macrogroup | M501 | 1.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.2.a Ponderosa Pine Central Rocky Mountain Open Woodland Group | G213 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3446 Ponderosa Pine / Shrub Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A3446 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.a |
| Association | CEGL005841 Ponderosa Pine / Dwarf Bilberry Woodland | CEGL005841 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Vaccinium caespitosum Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this habitat type.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this habitat type.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this habitat type.]
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum plant association (Williams et al. 1995) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this association.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this habitat type.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this habitat type.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this habitat type.]
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum plant association (Williams et al. 1995) [Pinus ponderosa-dominated stands of this association.]
- 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]
- 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.
- Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 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.