Print Report

A3797 Pinus ponderosa - Juniperus scopulorum - Abies concolor Riparian Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of conifer-dominated canopies of low-elevation riparian areas characterized by an open canopy of the conifers Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus scopulorum, and/or Abies concolor. These woodlands can occur as broad, extensive stands on wider floodplain terraces or as narrow, long ribbons. They are found throughout the Rocky Mountains, south into Arizona and New Mexico, and west into eastern mountain valleys of Washington and Oregon.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine - Rocky Mountain Juniper - White Fir Riparian Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Ponderosa Pine - Rocky Mountain Juniper - White Fir Riparian Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Vegetation included in this riparian alliance is characterized by an open canopy of conifers. Dominant species include Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus scopulorum, and/or Abies concolor. Other conifer or deciduous trees may be present but the stand remains characterized by conifer dominance. Typically a tall-shrub layer is present, with species such as Alnus spp., Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Crataegus douglasii, Juglans major, Prunus virginiana, Quercus garryana, or Salix spp. The herbaceous layer can be dominated by either graminoids or forbs. This alliance occurs on low-elevation streams in valleys that vary from V-shaped to trough-shaped or broad and flat, and stream gradients are typically moderate. These woodlands can occur as broad, extensive stands on wider floodplain terraces or as narrow, long ribbons. Sites include mountain valleys, foothill ravines, terraces and alluvial benches of major streams and rivers. In southern Arizona, stands occur along smaller perennial streams and washes. Soils are cobbly, coarse-textured and derived from alluvium. This alliance is found throughout the Rocky Mountains, south into Arizona and New Mexico, and west into the Columbia Basin of Washington and Oregon.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this semi-riparian alliance are woodland stands dominated by Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus scopulorum, or Abies concolor with brief seasonal flooding during the growing season.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Conifer-dominated riparian woodlands tend to be in areas of lower elevation than is typical for the conifer species, or in wide valley bottoms.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The tree canopy is dominated by a 5- to 10-m tall coniferous layer. The canopy is relatively open with an understory of widely scattered to dense shrubs. The tall-shrub stratum is moderately dense with 10-25% cover.

Floristics: These are riparian woodlands dominated by conifer trees. Dominant tree species include Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus scopulorum, and/or Abies concolor. Other trees present may include Acer negundo, Juniperus deppeana, Pinus discolor, Pinus edulis, Populus angustifolia, Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Quercus spp. Some stands contain no shrub layers, others have luxurious growth of shrubs including Alnus incana, Alnus rhombifolia, Amelanchier alnifolia, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Crataegus douglasii, Frangula betulifolia (= Rhamnus betulifolia), Holodiscus discolor, Juglans major, Physocarpus malvaceus, Prunus virginiana, Quercus garryana, Rhus aromatica, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Salix spp., Solanum dulcamara, Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Toxicodendron rydbergii and/or Vitis arizonica. Herbaceous undergrowth can be absent or, if present, may occur both beneath the tree canopy or on exposed point bars. Native graminoids include Bromus ciliatus var. richardsonii (= Bromus richardsonii), Panicum bulbosum, Panicum virgatum, Pascopyrum smithii, and Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Oryzopsis micrantha). Forbs can include Achillea millefolium, Apocynum androsaemifolium, Galium boreale, Galium mexicanum ssp. asperrimum (= Galium asperrimum), Geranium caespitosum, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Maianthemum stellatum, Potentilla spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Thalictrum fendleri, and the fern ally Equisetum arvense.

Dynamics:  Flooding events that create bare mineral seedbeds on newly created alluvial terraces may be necessary for reproduction of conifers in these riparian sites (Muldavin et al. 1996), as grasses and forbs may compete with conifer seedlings for space and water. Conifer species grow within the flood zone of desert stream reaches, where they are able to germinate and grow on fresh, moist alluvium in the absence of competing grasses (Muldavin et al. 1996).
Environmental Description:  These are riparian streamside stands that occur on both wide floodplains and narrow valleys with little floodplain development. It can form extensive stands on older alluvial terraces of floodplains of major streams or rivers and others are narrow bands in V-shaped canyons. These woodlands are intolerant of frequent and prolonged flooding; however, they are tolerant of periodic flooding and high water tables. Typically, the soils are shallow, derived from coarse alluvial substrates. Soil textures are sandy clay loams to sandy loams with a high percentage of coarse fragments.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on lower foothills and canyon bottoms of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Wyoming and Montana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D195 1.B.3.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup M034 1.B.3.Nc.1
Group 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group G506 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Alliance A3797 Ponderosa Pine - Rocky Mountain Juniper - White Fir Riparian Woodland Alliance A3797 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000746 Rocky Mountain Juniper / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Woodland CEGL000746 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000853 Ponderosa Pine / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Woodland CEGL000853 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000855 Ponderosa Pine / Black Hawthorn Riparian Woodland CEGL000855 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000866 Ponderosa Pine / Common Snowberry Riparian Woodland CEGL000866 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL002638 Ponderosa Pine / Gray Alder Riparian Woodland CEGL002638 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL002754 Douglas-fir / Box-elder Riparian Woodland CEGL002754 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL002766 Ponderosa Pine Riparian Woodland CEGL002766 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL005367 White Fir - Box-elder / Thinleaf Alder Riparian Forest CEGL005367 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL005384 Ponderosa Pine / Stretchberry Riparian Woodland CEGL005384 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Pinus ponderosa Series (Muldavin et al. 1996)
>< Ponderosa Pine Series (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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