Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir - (Douglas-fir) / Gambel Oak / Fendler''s Meadowrue Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This forest association is only known to occur at Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico, at elevations from 2100 to 2800 m (6950-9250 feet) and likely occurs throughout parts of the southern Rocky Mountains and high plateaus and mountains in the Colorado Plateau. Sites are relatively mesic and are found on cool northeasterly to warm southwesterly aspects of moist canyon toeslopes shifting to mostly southerly lower backslopes at higher elevations. Slopes are generally moderately steep to very steep (25-80%) but can range as low as 10%. The ground surface is typically dominated by thick leaf litter and dense herbaceous cover, although some sites can have abundant rock. Substrates are derived from volcanic andesite, rhyolite, and rhyolitic tuffs. The vegetation is characterized by an open to closed (25-90% cover) tree canopy dominated by Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii, a tall-shrub layer dominated by Quercus gambelii (>5% cover), and a diverse and productive herbaceous layer. Quercus gambelii may occur occasionally as mature trees in the canopy. Younger, post-fire stands are sometimes represented by pole-sized Abies concolor. Additional shrubs may be present to diverse, with Jamesia americana and Rosa woodsii being two common species. The productive herbaceous layer is a diverse mixture of mesic forbs and graminoids approaching 10-15% cover. Thalictrum fendleri is the most constant, with Maianthemum stellatum, Artemisia franserioides, Galium aparine, and Oreochrysum parryi as common associates. Graminoids include Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex rossii, and Carex siccata, along with Koeleria macrantha, Bromus anomalus, and Bromus ciliatus.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association was formerly considered part of the more broadly defined ~Abies concolor / Quercus gambelii Forest (CEGL000261)$$, but was subsequently refined for New Mexico and now includes relatively dry stands as indicated by the presence of Carex rossii. Rangewide review of ~Abies concolor / Quercus gambelii Forest (CEGL000261)$$ is needed to break out and reclassify these more xeric stands from relatively dry types such as ~Abies concolor - (Pseudotsuga menziesii) / Quercus gambelii / Carex rossii Forest (CEGL005351)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available