Name:
Populus tremuloides - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This minor, seral, mixed aspen-conifer forest association occurs in the Uinta Mountains and Paunsaugunt Plateau in Utah, Snake Range in eastern Nevada, and the Colorado Front Range between 2300 and 2985 m (7540-9785 feet) elevation. Stands occur on a variety of sites and substrates (sandstone, quartz and granite). Soils are often shallow and coarse-textured. The vegetation is characterized by a relatively open to dense, mixed conifer and deciduous tree canopy codominated by <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> and <i>Populus tremuloides</i>. Other conifer trees may be present, such as <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis</i>, or <i>Pinus ponderosa</i>, The understory lacks a tall-shrub layer, although scattered <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana</i>, or <i>Salix scouleriana</i> may be present. <i>Juniperus communis</i> is the predominant species in the moderately dense to sparse short-shrub layer, with <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Mahonia repens</i>, and <i>Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i> as common associates. Other shrubs present may include <i>Artemisia tridentata, Jamesia americana, Rosa woodsii</i>, and <i>Shepherdia canadensis</i>. The relatively sparse herbaceous layer is a mixture of graminoids and low forbs. Common graminoids are <i>Achnatherum occidentale, Bromus</i> spp., <i>Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus glaucus</i>, and <i>Elymus trachycaulus</i>; forbs, such as <i>Arnica latifolia, Astragalus miser, Fragaria vesca, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus (= Lathyrus leucanthus), Lupinus argenteus, Potentilla</i> spp., <i>Thalictrum fendleri</i>, and <i>Thermopsis divaricarpa</i> may be present. The exotic species <i>Poa pratensis</i> and <i>Taraxacum officinale</i> are common in livestock-impacted stands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32689.CEGL000545
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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