Name:
Pseudotsuga menziesii / Cornus sericea Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This Rocky Mountain montane riparian woodland association is known from Montana, Idaho and Colorado. Elevations range from 1100 to 2600 m (3600-8500 feet). Stands occur on floodplains and benches along drainages and adjacent lower hill slopes in narrow valleys. Stream channels are typically narrow and steep, but also include major streams and rivers. Substrates are usually well-drained soils with clay loam to sandy loam textures derived from various alluvial or colluvial parent materials. Ground surface has high cover of litter. The vegetation is characterized by the overstory tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with Cornus sericea prominent in the shrub understory. Other tree species present include Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Acer negundo, Juniperus scopulorum, Picea engelmannii, Picea pungens, Populus angustifolia, Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa or Populus tremuloides. The lush shrub layer is dominated or codominated by Cornus sericea with 10-75% cover. Other common shrubs include Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Alnus incana, Mahonia repens, Prunus virginiana, Quercus gambelii, Rosa woodsii, Salix exigua, Spiraea betulifolia, and Symphoricarpos spp. The herbaceous layer is sometimes sparse due to the dense shrub canopy, but when the shrub canopy is disturbed graminoids such as Poa pratensis, Calamagrostis rubescens, or Elymus glaucus dominate. Forb diversity is typically high with common forbs including Actaea rubra, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium spp., Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum spp,. Osmorhiza spp., and Thalictrum occidentale.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26240.PSEUDOTSUGAMENZ
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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