Name:
Quercus gambelii / Carex geyeri Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This tall shrubland association is known from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area where it was observed on the midslopes of canyons, hills, ridges, ridgetops, gullies, and lower slope hills. Sites are moderately steep to steep (3-43°), occur between 2229 and 2698 m elevation, and include all aspects. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high cover of litter and bare soil and low to moderate cover of bedrock, large and small rocks. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by <i>Quercus gambelii</i> with a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated or codominated by <i>Carex geyeri</i>. Short shrubs are typically sparse and do not form a layer. Scattered trees (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum</i>, and <i>Pinus edulis</i>) may be present with low cover. If <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus montanus, Prunus virginiana</i>, or <i>Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i> shrubs are present, they have low cover (<5% cover) in the short-shrub layer. Other scattered shrubs species may include <i>Fendlera rupicola, Mahonia repens, Philadelphus microphyllus, Ribes cereum</i>, and <i>Rosa woodsii</i>. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense to dense and characterizes the understory. <i>Poa fendleriana</i> is frequently present and often codominates with <i>Carex geyeri</i>. Other common species include graminoids, such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum pinetorum, B</i><i>romus porteri (=</i><i> Bromus anomalus), Deschampsia caespitosa, Elymus elymoides</i>, and <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and forbs, including <i>Aquilegia</i> spp., <i>Balsamorhiza sagittata, Erigeron speciosus, Heterotheca villosa</i>, and <i>Lathyrus lanszwertii</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31666.CEGL005995
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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