Print Report
G249 Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland & Scrub Group
Type Concept Sentence: This Cercocarpus ledifolius-dominated woodland and shrubland group occurs in hills and mountain ranges of the intermountain western U.S. from the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada northeast to the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains and includes both tree and shrub forms of Cercocarpus ledifolius with Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Purshia tridentata, and species of Arctostaphylos, Ribes, or Symphoricarpos often present to codominant in the shrub layer.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland & Scrub Group
Colloquial Name: Intermountain Basins Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland & Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This woodland and shrubland group includes stands dominated by either the tree or shrub form of Cercocarpus ledifolius. Scattered junipers or pines may also occur. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Purshia tridentata, along with species of Arctostaphylos, Ribes, or Symphoricarpos are often present to codominate in the shrub layer. Herbaceous undergrowth is often sparse and dominated by bunchgrasses, usually Pseudoroegneria spicata and Festuca idahoensis. Stands occur in hills and mountain ranges of the Intermountain West basins from the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada northeast to the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. It typically occurs from 600 m to over 2650 m in elevation on rocky outcrops or escarpments and forms small- to large-patch stands in forested areas. Most stands occur as shrublands on ridges and steep rimrock slopes, but they may be composed of small trees in steppe areas. The tree form of Cercocarpus ledifolius is more common in the western range extent. Cercocarpus ledifolius is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant species that generally does not resprout after burning and needs the protection from fire that rocky sites provide.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Cercocarpus ledifolius is the diagnostic and dominant species of this woodland and shrubland group. Scattered pinyon or juniper trees may be present with low cover in woodland stands. If pinyon and juniper trees are codominant, then the stand is pinyon-juniper woodland. In shrubland stands, other shrubs, especially Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Purshia tridentata, or Symphoricarpos spp., may be present to codominant.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Within this group, the Cercocarpus ledifolius woodland and shrubland alliances are poorly distinguished in the literature, as most authors describe the species as having either a tall-shrub or small-tree growth form within a single association. Some associations may have shrub-dominated stands in one area and also have a woodland physiognomy in another. The woodland physiognomy appears to be more typical, based on available literature. Near the northern edge of its range in Montana and Idaho, Cercocarpus ledifolius is described as occurring primarily in the shrub form (Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Tisdale 1986). These northern variants are the only described stands which appear to be clearly distinct from the woodland alliance. The woodland alliance may have a different subspecies (or variety) as a dominant than the shrubland. Woodland stands tend to occur in the more western portion of the species range and are largely attributed to Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intercedens (= Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus), whereas Cercocarpus ledifolius var. ledifolius is found in the eastern and northern portions of the range and typically occurs as a shrubland.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Structure in this group is variable as Cercocarpus ledifolius stands may form an open to dense short-tree canopy (3-5 m tall), a tall-shrub layer (3-4 m tall), or a short-shrub layer (1-2 m tall). Herbaceous layers are variable depending on density of woody canopy and type of substrate.
Floristics: This group includes both woodlands and shrublands dominated by Cercocarpus ledifolius. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Purshia tridentata, along with Arctostaphylos patula, Holodiscus dumosus, Mahonia repens, and species of Ribes or Symphoricarpos are often present. Undergrowth is often sparse and dominated by bunchgrasses, usually Pseudoroegneria spicata with Calamagrostis rubescens, Festuca idahoensis, Leymus salinus, or Poa secunda. Scattered junipers or pines may also occur.
Dynamics: Cercocarpus ledifolius is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant species that can inhabit very poor sites, such as cliffs and outcrops. Stands are often small and clumped near ridgetops. These sites may also afford the species some protection from fire. The species is highly susceptible to fire damage and generally does not resprout. Cercocarpus ledifolius is highly favored by native ungulates for winter range, and many individual shrubs show evidence of highlining by deer or elk.
Environmental Description: This woodland and shrubland group occurs in hills and mountain ranges of the Intermountain West basins from the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada northeast to the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. It typically occurs from 600 m to over 2650 m in elevation on rocky outcrops or escarpments and forms small- to large-patch stands in forested areas. Most stands occur as shrublands on ridges and steep rimrock slopes, but they may be composed of small trees in steppe areas.
Geographic Range: This woodland and shrubland group occurs in hills and mountain ranges of the Intermountain West basins from the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada northeast to the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833248
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division | D010 | 1.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nc.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup | M896 | 1.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland & Scrub Group | G249 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Alliance | A0586 Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Shrubby Woodland Alliance | A0586 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Alliance | A0828 Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Scrub Alliance | A0828 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Alliance | A3570 Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Grassy Woodland Alliance | A3570 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Curlleaf Mountain-Mahogany (415) (Shiflet 1994)
> Curlleaf Mountain-Mahogany - Bluebunch Wheatgrass (322) (Shiflet 1994)
> Curlleaf Mountain-Mahogany - Bluebunch Wheatgrass (322) (Shiflet 1994)
- Dealy, J. E. 1975. Ecology of curl-leaf mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.) in Oregon and adjacent areas. Unpublished dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 168 pp.
- Dealy, J. E. 1978. Autecology of curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius). Pages 398-400 in: Proceedings of the First International Rangeland Congress. Society of Range Management, Denver, CO.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Holland, V. L., and D. J. Keil. 1995. California vegetation. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, IA. 516 pp.
- Knight, D. H. 1994. Mountains and plains: Ecology of Wyoming landscapes. Yale University Press, New Haven, MA. 338 pp.
- Knight, D. H., G. P. Jones, Y. Akashi, and R. W. Myers. 1987. Vegetation ecology in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Unpublished report prepared for the USDI National Park Service and University of Wyoming-National Park Service Research.
- Lewis, M. E. 1975b. Flora of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Humboldt National Forest. Unpublished report compiled for USDA Forest Service, Region IV, Ogden, UT. 19 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.