Print Report
A3370 Pseudotsuga menziesii Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes evergreen forests dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii occurring on the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Douglas-fir Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes evergreen forests dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii occurring on the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Canopy associates may include Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, and Populus tremuloides. Shrub cover ranges from sparse to abundant, the most common species being Acer grandidentatum. Other associated shrubs may include Acer glabrum, Frangula betulifolia, Holodiscus dumosus, Jamesia americana, Lonicera arizonica, Mahonia repens, Physocarpus monogynus, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus gambelii, Quercus hypoleucoides, Quercus rugosa, Ribes pinetorum, Rubus neomexicanus, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer may be moderate to lush and most commonly dominated by graminoids. Common dominant species may include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Brickellia grandiflora, Bromus ciliatus, Carex rossii, Cystopteris fragilis, Erigeron eximius, Galium asprellum, Maianthemum stellatum, Muhlenbergia montana, Oreochrysum parryi, Poa fendleriana, Thalictrum fendleri, Trisetum spicatum, and Vicia americana. These forests are known from ridges, upper slopes and stream terraces from 1500-3000 m in elevation.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These forests are distinguished by canopies dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii occurring in the Colorado Plateau in mesic conditions.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Associations attributed to this alliance are not well-sampled and little descriptive material is available. Therefore, this alliance is considered to be conceptually weak and the description incomplete.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These forests are characterized by a multi-tiered needle-leaved evergreen tree canopy up to 50 m high, with between 60-100% cover. A sparse subcanopy of cold-deciduous or evergreen trees is often present, particularly in northwestern coastal stands. Downed wood may also be abundant in older stands. Shrub cover is dominated by ericaceous or cold-deciduous species and can be dense. The herbaceous understory is composed of either shade-tolerant forbs to xerophytic forbs and grasses in drier stands.
Floristics: Canopies are dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii. Associates may include Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, and Populus tremuloides. Shrub cover ranges from scarce to abundant, the most common species being Acer grandidentatum. Other associated shrubs may include Acer glabrum, Frangula betulifolia (= Rhamnus betulifolia), Holodiscus dumosus, Jamesia americana, Lonicera arizonica, Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens), Physocarpus monogynus, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus gambelii, Quercus hypoleucoides, Quercus rugosa, Ribes pinetorum, Rubus neomexicanus, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer may be moderate to lush and most commonly dominated by graminoids. Common dominant species may include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis (= Achillea lanulosa), Brickellia grandiflora, Bromus ciliatus, Carex rossii, Cystopteris fragilis, Erigeron eximius, Galium asprellum, Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Muhlenbergia montana, Oreochrysum parryi, Poa fendleriana, Thalictrum fendleri, Trisetum spicatum (= Trisetum montanum), and Vicia americana.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests are known from ridges, upper slopes and stream terraces from 1500-3000 m in elevation.
Geographic Range: This alliance is described from the Colorado Plateau of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899494
Confidence Level: Low
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.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d White Fir - Blue Spruce - Douglas-fir Mesic Southern Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G225 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Alliance | A3370 Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest Alliance | A3370 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000419 Douglas-fir / Bigtooth Maple Forest | CEGL000419 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000428 Douglas-fir / Fringed Brome Forest | CEGL000428 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: A.157, in part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IA1a. Douglas Fir - Pine Forest (Allard 1990)
>< Interior Douglas-fir: 210 (Eyre 1980)
>< Interior Douglas-fir: 210 (Eyre 1980)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Bassett, D., M. Larson, and W. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- 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, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.