Print Report
G276 Cercocarpus montanus - Quercus x pauciloba - Rhus trilobata Foothill Shrubland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This foothills shrubland group occurs in the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau from lower montane zone to canyons and breaks in the western Great Plains and is characterized by an open to closed shrub layer of nearly pure Cercocarpus montanus or a mixed shrub layer with Amelanchier utahensis, Quercus x pauciloba, Purshia tridentata, Rhus trilobata, Ribes cereum, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak - Skunkbush Sumac Foothill Shrubland Group
Colloquial Name: Southern Rocky Mountain Mountain-mahogany - Mixed Foothill Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This Rocky Mountain foothill shrubland group ranges from southern New Mexico north into Wyoming, and west into the Intermountain West region. Cercocarpus montanus dominates pure stands in parts of Wyoming and Colorado. The vegetation is typically dominated by a variety of shrubs, including Amelanchier utahensis, Cercocarpus montanus, Quercus x pauciloba, Purshia tridentata, Rhus trilobata, Ribes cereum, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Yucca glauca. Grasses and sedges are dominant in the understory and may include Achnatherum scribneri, Bouteloua curtipendula, Carex geyeri, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Leymus ambiguus, Muhlenbergia montana, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Scattered trees or inclusions of grassland patches or steppe may be present. Stands are found in the foothills, canyon slopes and lower mountains of the Rocky Mountains and on outcrops and canyon slopes in the western Great Plains. These shrublands occur between 1500 and 2900 m elevation and are usually associated with exposed sites, rocky substrates, and dry conditions, which limit tree growth. It is common where Quercus gambelii is absent, such as the northern Colorado Front Range and in drier foothills and prairie hills. This group is generally drier than ~Southern Rocky Mountain Gambel Oak - Mixed Montane Shrubland Group (G277)$$, but may include mesic montane shrublands where Quercus gambelii does not occur. Fires play an important role in this group as the dominant shrubs usually have a severe die-back, although some plants will stump sprout. Cercocarpus montanus requires a disturbance such as fire to reproduce, either by seed sprout or root-crown sprouting. Fire suppression may have allowed an invasion of trees into some of these shrublands, but in many cases, sites are too xeric for tree growth.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Open to dense broadleaf shrublands or shrub-grasslands where Cercocarpus montanus occurs as the most often dominant shrub, but may be a codominant or be absent in some stands. Other characteristic shrubs include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus intricatus, Fallugia paradoxa, Fendlera rupicola, Glossopetalon spinescens, Purshia tridentata, Quercus x pauciloba, Ribes cereum, and Rhus trilobata. The herbaceous layer is characterized by an open to dense layer of grasses and sedges. Typical species include Achnatherum scribneri, Bouteloua curtipendula, Carex geyeri, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Leymus ambiguus, Muhlenbergia montana, and Pseudoroegneria spicata.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: While Cercocarpus montanus is the common dominant shrub in this group, it is not the only dominant, and in many occurrences is not found at all. In addition, in some occurrences, shrub cover is low, which allows for some stands to be graminoid-dominated. In Wyoming, stands where Cercocarpus montanus is a component of mixed shrublands are placed in ~Central Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland Group (G272)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Open to dense, broadleaf deciduous shrublands or shrub-grasslands with canopies 1-2 m tall. Occurrences are typically multi-layered shrub-dominated stands where grasses occur in canopy openings. In occurrences where shrub cover is open, grasses may attain higher cover than overstory shrubs.
Floristics: This group consists of two major cover types: those most commonly dominated by Cercocarpus montanus or by Purshia tridentata. Within these communities, either nominal may be dominant, codominant or absent. Other shrubs include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus intricatus, Fallugia paradoxa, Fendlera rupicola, Glossopetalon spinescens, Quercus x pauciloba, Rhus trilobata, Ribes cereum, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Yucca glauca. Grasses are prominent and include Andropogon gerardii, Achnatherum scribneri, Bouteloua curtipendula, Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Muhlenbergia montana, and Pseudoroegneria spicata.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This group is found on gentle to extremely steep slopes (5-60%) on slopes, ridges, canyons, mesas, and less often sand dunes. Sites are often subject to drought stress. Elevations range from 1500 to 2700 m. Geologic substrates can include sandstone, shale, basalt, and limestone. Soils are generally poorly developed, rapidly drained and include sand, sandy loam, coarse gravels, loams, and clay loams.
Geographic Range: This group is found in the foothills, canyon slopes and lower mountains of the southern Rocky Mountains and on outcrops and canyon slopes in the western and southern Great Plains. It ranges from southern New Mexico, extending north into Wyoming, and west into the Intermountain West region.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, MT, NE, NM, NV, SD, TX, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.836926
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup | M049 | 2.B.2.Nf.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak - Skunkbush Sumac Foothill Shrubland Group | G276 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
| Alliance | A3730 Apache Plume - Skunkbush Sumac Shrubland Alliance | A3730 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
| Alliance | A3731 Antelope Bitterbrush - Wax Currant Shrubland Alliance | A3731 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
| Alliance | A3732 Utah Serviceberry - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Littleleaf Mountain-mahogany Shrubland Alliance | A3732 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
| Alliance | A3733 Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak Shrubland Alliance | A3733 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Mountain Mahogany - Mixed Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
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