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

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This mesic mixed montane conifer association is known from Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico and likely occurs on mesic sites elsewhere in the southern Rocky Mountains. Sites are typically cool and moist and occur on northerly to northeasterly aspects at lower elevations shifting to southeasterly through southwesterly aspects at higher elevations. Elevations range from 1890-2990 m (6200-9800 feet). Slopes vary from very gentle rolling mesatops to steep mountain backslopes and canyon sideslopes (0-55%). Substrates are derived from volcanic andesite, rhyolite, and rhyolitic tuffs. Ground cover is typically characterized by deep leaf litter layers and herbaceous cover with little exposed soil, although some sites can be rocky or have significant accumulation of large woody debris. The vegetation is characterized by an open to closed tree canopy (25-90%) dominated by Abies concolor with seedlings and saplings in the understory. Pseudotsuga menziesii is typically a codominant in the canopy or subcanopy. Other conifers can be common to well-represented, but are subdominants, and include Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, Pinus flexilis, and occasionally Picea pungens. Populus tremuloides is often well-represented as seedlings and saplings, or as a codominant in the canopy. Shrub and subshrub composition and cover are variable; shrubs are often absent but cover can range as high as 15%. The most frequent species are Juniperus communis, Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus, and Rubus parviflorus. However, the understory is characterized by a moderate to dense (25% or over 50% cover) herbaceous layer with high species richness dominated by a combination of mesic graminoids and forbs. The most abundant graminoids are Bromus ciliatus, Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex occidentalis, and Carex siccata. Forbs can reach 30% cover and are characterized by Thalictrum fendleri and a mixture of other mesic forbs such as Achillea millefolium, Fragaria vesca, Galium aparine, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus, Maianthemum stellatum, and Viola canadensis. Erigeron eximius is generally absent in this type. When present, Carex siccata does not form a dense sod that dominates the understory.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This mesic mixed montane conifer association is known from Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico and likely occurs on mesic sites elsewhere in the southern Rocky Mountains. This broadly defined association is similar to the mesic ~Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Erigeron eximius Forest (CEGL000247)$$ that is characterized by an understory dominated by Erigeron eximius, Lathyrus spp., or Valeriana arizonica and the generally wetter ~Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex siccata Forest (CEGL000244)$$ that is characterized by an understory of dense Carex siccata sod.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available