Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak / Thurber''s Fescue Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This tall-shrub association is only described from Curecanti National Recreation Area in west-central Colorado. Stands occur on moderately steep (29-48%) slopes and ridges, between 2667 and 2718 m elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. The unvegetated surface has high cover of litter. Parent materials are Tertiary volcanic rocks and metamorphic/granitic rocks. Soils are rapidly drained silty clay loams. The vegetation is characterized by an open to nearly closed shrub canopy 1-5 m tall dominated by Quercus gambelii, which contributes 6 to 100% cover, and the tall bunchgrass Festuca thurberi which provides 25 to 100% cover. The shrub layer is moderately diverse in terms of species composition and provides moderate to dense cover. Short and dwarf-shrubs include Amelanchier alnifolia, Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Occasionally Quercus gambelii will attain tree height (5-10 m tall) and structure. The herbaceous layer is diverse in terms of species composition and provides moderate to dense cover. Additional graminoids that provide sparse to low cover include Carex geyeri, Elymus elymoides, Bromus porteri, Poa fendleriana, and Poa pratensis. Forbs provide sparse cover and include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Arabis drummondii, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eriogonum umbellatum, Galium boreale, and Ligusticum porteri.

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