Name:
Picea pungens Temporarily Flooded Woodland Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This riparian woodland alliance is found at middle elevations (from 1900-2900 m) of the central and southern Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau region. Stands typically occur in narrow, or V-shaped, valleys and canyons subject to cold-air drainage and limited sunlight. They occupy streambanks, terraces, narrow floodplains or benches, and subirrigated toeslopes; stream gradients are often steep. These sites can be subject to spring flooding, and usually water tables are within 1 m of the soil surface even late in the growing season. The soils are somewhat variable often with signs of mottling. This alliance is characterized by the dominance of Picea pungens in the tree canopy. Other conifers are usually present in these stands, depending upon geographic location, site moisture, and stand history. Common associates include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies concolor, Picea engelmannii, Pinus ponderosa, and Pinus contorta. Populus angustifolia is the most commonly present deciduous tree species, although Populus tremuloides may persist as a seral species on well-drained sites of this alliance. There is often an abundant tall-shrub layer; common species include Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Rosa woodsii, and several species of Salix. Other shrubs that may be present include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Lonicera involucrata, and Acer glabrum. Because of favorable soil moisture, the herbaceous layer is usually a luxuriant mixture of forbs and graminoids, including Equisetum arvense, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Heracleum sphondylium, Rudbeckia laciniata, Mertensia ciliata, Fragaria virginiana, Conioselinum scopulorum, and Maianthemum stellatum. The herbaceous layer can have very high cover in some stands. Diagnostic of this woodland alliance is the dominance of Picea pungens with an open to moderately closed canopy, occurring on sites that have surface water for brief periods during the growing season.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.21809.PICEAPUNGENSTEM
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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