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CEGL002801 Holodiscus dumosus Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rockspirea Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated association is described from Curecanti National Recreation Area and nearby Gunnison National Forest in western Colorado, but it likely occurs elsewhere in the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands are found on the upper edges and ledges of mesa cliffs, talus deposits below cliffs, on cliffs in canyons or gorges, boulder fields and on ridgetop outcrops. Sites are moderately sloped to steep (20-140% slopes) and occur between 2205 and 3075 m (7230-10,080 feet) elevation. Stands occur on all aspects but are mostly southerly at higher elevations. The ground surface has high cover of bedrock, large and small rocks, and bare soil. Soils are rapidly drained gravelly sandy loams. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to open canopy of Holodiscus dumosus up to 2 m tall. Scattered trees such as Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus contorta, Pinus edulis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii are occasionally present as saplings from 1.5-3 m tall. The tall shrub Acer glabrum may be present and provide sparse cover. The associated short and dwarf-shrubs are diverse and include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia frigida, Brickellia grandiflora, Fendlera rupicola, Mahonia repens, Philadelphus microphyllus, Prunus virginiana, Ribes cereum, Ribes inerme, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer is a moderately diverse to depauperate mixture of graminoids and forbs contributing low to moderate cover. Common graminoids include Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus porteri, Carex geyeri, Elymus elymoides, Muhlenbergia montana, Piptatheropsis micrantha, Poa fendleriana, Poa pratensis, and Poa secunda; various forbs may include Antennaria parvifolia, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia ludoviciana, Artemisia michauxiana, Eriogonum cernuum, Galium spp., Heterotheca villosa, Penstemon teucrioides, Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana, Saxifraga odontoloma, and Selaginella sp.
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 vegetation is characterized by a sparse to open canopy of Holodiscus dumosus up to 2 m tall. Scattered trees such as Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus contorta, Pinus edulis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii are occasionally present as saplings from 1.5-3 m tall. The tall shrub Acer glabrum may be present and provide sparse cover. The associated short and dwarf-shrubs are diverse and include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia frigida, Brickellia grandiflora, Fendlera rupicola, Mahonia repens, Philadelphus microphyllus, Prunus virginiana, Ribes cereum, Ribes inerme, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer is a moderately diverse to depauperate mixture of graminoids and forbs contributing low to moderate cover. Common graminoids include Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus ciliatus, Bromus porteri, Carex geyeri, Elymus elymoides, Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia montana, Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Piptatherum micranthum), Poa fendleriana, Poa pratensis, and Poa secunda; various forbs may include Achillea millefolium, Antennaria parvifolia, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia ludoviciana, Artemisia michauxiana, Eriogonum cernuum, Galium spp., Heterotheca villosa, Penstemon teucrioides, Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana, Saxifraga odontoloma, and Selaginella sp. Lichens and mosses are common to abundant on the rocks and bare soil.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sparsely vegetated association is described from Curecanti National Recreation Area and nearby Gunnison National Forest in western Colorado, but it likely occurs elsewhere in the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands are found on the upper edges and ledges of mesa cliffs, talus deposits below cliffs, on cliffs in canyons or gorges, boulder fields and on ridgetop outcrops. Sites are moderately sloped to steep (20-140% slopes) and occur between 2205 and 3075 m (7230-10,080 feet) elevation. Stands occur on all aspects but are mostly southerly at higher elevations (Shepherd 1975). The ground surface has high cover of bedrock, large and small rocks, and bare soil. Soils are rapidly drained gravelly sandy loams. Parent materials are variable and include Tertiary volcanic rocks, metamorphic/granitic rocks, and Quaternary landslide deposits.
Geographic Range: This association is described from Curecanti National Recreation Area, Gunnison and Rio Grande national forests in south-central Colorado, but it likely occurs elsewhere in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.785183
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Nb Western North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D052 | 6.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Nb.1 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Moss Western North American Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M887 | 6.B.1.Nb.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b Nonvascular Rocky Mountain Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G565 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A3740 Rocky Mountain Indian-parsley - Rockspirea - American Red Raspberry Cliff, Scree & Rock Alliance | A3740 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002801 Rockspirea Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002801 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Holodiscus dumosus - Ribes cereum Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [Plot 116 from Taylor Canyon.]
= Holodiscus dumosus Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation (Tendick et al. 2010)
= Habitat Type 1- Holodiscus dumosus, Ribes cereum, Muhlenbergia montana (Shepherd 1975) [Occurs on Trickle Mountain.]
< Oceanspray-common juniper-shrubby cinquefoil-skunkbush-wax currant-raspberry-extremely rocky Ecological Type (Johnston 2001) [One plot (#116) has oceanspray-currant with sparse to very sparse cover.]
= Holodiscus dumosus Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation (Tendick et al. 2010)
= Habitat Type 1- Holodiscus dumosus, Ribes cereum, Muhlenbergia montana (Shepherd 1975) [Occurs on Trickle Mountain.]
< Oceanspray-common juniper-shrubby cinquefoil-skunkbush-wax currant-raspberry-extremely rocky Ecological Type (Johnston 2001) [One plot (#116) has oceanspray-currant with sparse to very sparse cover.]
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Johnston, B. C. 2001. Ecological types of the Upper Gunnison Basin. Technical Report R2-RR-2001-01. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Denver, CO.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Shepherd, H. R. 1975. Vegetation of two dissimilar bighorn sheep ranges in Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife Report 4. 223 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.