Name:
Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These lush deciduous forests occur in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and possibly Wyoming. Elevations range from 850 to 3170 m (2800-10,400 feet). Sites are riparian, occurring along stream terraces or floodplains, or upland on wet flats, benches, and gentle toeslopes where groundwater seeps. Substrates are often coarse-loamy soils over coarse alluvium. Stands have a moderately dense to dense tree canopy that is dominated by Populus tremuloides. Other trees present with low cover (<10%) may include Pinus contorta, or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa. The shrub layer is sparse to moderate (cover ranging from 0 to 30% cover), and composed of any of a variety of shrubs such as Alnus incana, Rosa spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, and several Salix spp., including Salix geyeriana, Salix bebbiana, and Salix monticola. Shorter shrub species present include Symphoricarpos albus, Ribes lacustre, and Rosa acicularis. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense to dense depending on shrub cover. It is dominated by the wet-site perennial graminoid Calamagrostis canadensis. Other common species include Bromus ciliatus, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Equisetum arvense, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum spp., Ligusticum porteri, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, Senecio triangularis, and Viola spp. These are usually in low abundance, but occasionally can have as much as 30% cover individually. The introduced species Poa pratensis, Poa palustris, and Taraxacum officinale may be present. The abundant and near uniform cover of the Calamagrostis canadensis-dominated herbaceous layer in the understory separates this type from other Populus tremuloides forests.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.21322.POPULUSTREMULOI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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