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G573 Pinus monticola / Arctostaphylos nevadensis Vancouverian Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group is found on steep slopes, cliff faces, and rock outcrops, where the vegetation is highly variable, sparse and scattered, and dominated by mosses and lichens, and occasionally woody species. It occurs in the eastern Cascades, subalpine elevations of the Sierra Nevada, and the Klamath Mountains.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western White Pine / Pinemat Manzanita Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group
Colloquial Name: Southern Vancouverian Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is known from the Wenatchee Mountains in the east Cascades, subalpine elevations throughout the Sierra Nevada, and Klamath Mountains. Sites include steep slopes, steep cliff faces, narrow canyons, and rock outcrops. Substrates include thin rocky, ultramafic (peridotite, serpentinite) soils in the Cascades, and unstable scree below cliff faces in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Range. Parent materials are derived from various igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic bedrock. Vegetation is highly variable and typically sparse and scattered, varying from areas dominated by mosses and lichens to occasional closed forests in the Cascades. Species in the Cascades may include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, and Pinus monticola trees with a sparse ground cover with Aspidotis densa, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata at low-elevation sites. Higher elevations have Pinus contorta var. latifolia, Pinus albicaulis, Abies lasiocarpa, and Tsuga mertensiana with Juniperus communis, Ledum glandulosum, Vaccinium scoparium, Poa curtifolia, and Festuca viridula. Scattered vegetation in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains may include Abies magnifica, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus jeffreyi, Populus tremuloides, or Pinus monophylla, Juniperus osteosperma, and Cercocarpus ledifolius at lower elevations. There may be shrubs, including species of Arctostaphylos or Ceanothus. Soil development is limited as is herbaceous cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparsely vegetated to rarely forested mixed shrub and tree vegetation occupying cliffs, steep cliff faces, bald ridgetops and shoulder outcrops, narrow canyons, smaller rock outcrops and scree slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range and Klamath Mountains. The importance of nonvascular species such as mosses and lichens are one of the defining characteristics which distinguish this group from surrounding shrub or treed groups.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group (G573) and ~North Vancouverian Montane Bedrock, Cliff & Talus Vegetation Group (G318)$$ both represent Vancouverian cliff, scree and rock vegetation. They are distinguished as northern and southern analogs; this group being the latter. However, more work is required to delineate a more accurate geographic distribution between the two. This group, as well as other lithomorphic types of vegetation, may be better defined by nonvascular species. However, insufficient information is available to validate this possibility.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Highly variable structure and physiognomy ranging from sparse woody vegetation consisting of open tree and shrub strata or exclusively shrubs to closed canopy forests. Herbs contribute little cover.
Floristics: Vegetation is highly variable and typically sparse and scattered with occasional closed forests in the Cascades. Species in the Cascades may include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, and Pinus monticola trees with a sparse ground cover with Aspidotis densa, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata at low-elevation sites. Higher elevations have Pinus contorta var. latifolia, Pinus albicaulis, Abies lasiocarpa, and Tsuga mertensiana with Juniperus communis, Ledum glandulosum, Vaccinium scoparium, Poa curtifolia, and Festuca viridula. Vegetation in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains may include Abies magnifica, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus jeffreyi, Populus tremuloides, or Pinus monophylla, Juniperus osteosperma, and Cercocarpus ledifolius at lower elevations. There may be shrubs, including species of Arctostaphylos or Ceanothus. Herbaceous cover is limited.
Dynamics: Poor soil development, high levels of exposure and steep sites impede the establishment of species from surrounding communities and maintain occurrences of this group.
Environmental Description: This group is known from the Wenatchee Mountains in the east Cascades, subalpine elevations throughout the Sierra Nevada, and Klamath Mountains. Sites include steep slopes, steep cliff faces, narrow canyons, and rock outcrops. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Substrates include thin rocky, ultramafic (peridotite, serpentinite) soils in the Cascades, and unstable scree below cliff faces in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains. Parent materials are derived from various igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic bedrock. Soil development is limited.
Geographic Range: This group is known from the Wenatchee Mountains in the east Cascades, subalpine elevations throughout the Sierra Nevada, and Klamath Mountains.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CA, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.849149
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Nb Western North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D052 | 6.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Nb.1 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Moss Western North American Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M887 | 6.B.1.Nb.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c Western White Pine / Pinemat Manzanita Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G573 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3787 Lemmon''s Needlegrass - Dense Rock Moss Sparse Rock Vegetation Alliance | A3787 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3788 Indian''s Dream - Little Mountain Bluegrass Serpentine Rock Vegetation Alliance | A3788 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3789 Ledge Stonecrop - Mountain Pride Rock Alliance | A3789 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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