Name:
Populus tremuloides / Pteridium aquilinum Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This <i>Populus tremuloides</i> forest association is found in the central and southern Rocky Mountains and in the Black Hills. It occurs on moist, concave or flat drainages with intermittent or perennial streams or in areas of poor soil drainage or a high water table. Some sites are frost pockets with cold-air drainage. This forest type occurs on mid- and low slopes with gentle to steep pitch (12-49% slope) with variable aspect from 1585 to 2850 m (5200-9350 feet) in elevation. Soils tend to be deep and loamy. This deciduous forest is characterized by a moderately dense to dense canopy solely dominated by <i>Populus tremuloides</i> with the understory dominated by <i>Pteridium aquilinum</i>. Conifers such as <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, Abies lasiocarpa</i>, or <i>Picea engelmannii</i> may occur sporadically in the tree canopy with low cover. These trees are incidental and in areas where adjacent associations are conifer-dominated. This forest type typically lacks a well-developed shrub component, although some stands may have a moderately dense short-shrub layer. Moderate cover to scattered individuals of <i>Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Symphoricarpos albus, Sambucus racemosa, Ribes inerme, Amelanchier alnifolia, Corylus cornuta</i>, or <i>Prunus virginiana</i> may be present. The herbaceous layer is characterized by dominance of <i>Pteridium aquilinum</i> (30-80%). Other important herbs include <i>Elymus glaucus, Bromus carinatus, Agastache urticifolia, Eucephalus engelmannii (= Aster engelmannii), Fragaria</i> spp., <i>Galium boreale, Geranium richardsonii, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus (= Lathyrus leucanthus), Mertensia ciliata, Osmorhiza depauperata, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Senecio serra, Thalictrum fendleri</i>, and <i>Vicia americana</i>, among others. <i>Carex geyeri</i> is common in Colorado.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32647.CEGL000597
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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