Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

Ribes cereum Shrubland Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
  click to update datacart
Name: Ribes cereum Shrubland Alliance
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This shrubland alliance is found on gentle to very steep slopes in the foothills and mountains in the Colorado Front Range. Stands occur on steep canyon walls and talus slopes on all aspects in the eastern foothills. Slopes are near vertical (70-90% slope) and are composed primarily of massive to fragmented bedrock outcrops or colluvium. Parent materials are residual or colluvial granite, gneiss or schist that have developed into a very thin soil mantle. Vegetation included in this alliance is distinguished by a moderately dense cover of woody vegetation that is characterized by a variable number of species. The most consistent species is Ribes cereum. This plant dominates some stands, but it is more often codominant. Cover ranges from 2-15%. Other shrubs occasionally present include Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Jamesia americana, Rhus trilobata, and Rubus deliciosus. Other woody species can include occasional conifers, such as Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Pseudotsuga menziesii occurs primarily on relatively mesic north-facing canyon walls, while Rhus trilobata is more abundant on steep talus slopes. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense and is dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Leymus ambiguus. Only a small number of other herbaceous species are present, including Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum scribneri (= Stipa scribneri), Artemisia ludoviciana, Cryptantha virgata, Heterotheca villosa, Eriogonum umbellatum, and Phacelia heterophylla. Diagnostic of this alliance is the Ribes cereum-dominated shrub layer. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.22333.RIBESCEREUMSHRU
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: Ribes cereum Shrubland Alliance
  Translated: White Squaw Currant Shrubland Alliance
  UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.124677 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A.923