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A.557 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.557
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: These conifer woodlands occur at middle elevations (2300-2800 m) of the central and southern Rocky Mountains, usually on slopes of southwesterly aspects, and a variety of topographic positions. Although they represent the warmest and driest of the ~Picea pungens$ communities, they can be associated with frost pockets and lower slopes with cool-air drainage. At higher elevations they are found on southerly slopes, and at lower elevations on northerly slopes. Soils are variable, but usually young and derived from glacial or alluvially deposited materials. Woodlands included in this alliance are characterized by the dominance of ~Picea pungens$ in the canopy. Other conifers are usually codominant. Species include ~Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies concolor, Picea engelmannii, Pinus ponderosa$, and ~Pinus strobiformis$. ~Populus tremuloides$ is the only widespread hardwood associate. The shrub layer is sparse to absent. The sparse to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial bunch grasses, although rhizomatous sedges may be common in some stands. The most important grasses include ~Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia montana, Muhlenbergia virescens, Koeleria macrantha$, and ~Poa fendleriana$. The most commonly present sedge is ~Carex siccata (= Carex foenea)$. Forb cover is sparse. Diagnostic of this woodland alliance is the dominance of ~Picea pungens$ growing in open-canopy woodlands on non-flooded sites. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.2201.A557
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: II.A.4.N.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: PICEA PUNGENS WOODLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.557
  Common: Blue Spruce Woodland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Picea pungens Woodland Alliance