Name:
Populus tremuloides / Mahonia repens Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This widespread aspen association occurs in the southern and middle Rocky Mountains and Black Hills in a variety of habitats. Stands occur along streams, in upland ravines and on gentle to moderately steep slopes. At lower elevations, stands tend to occur along drainages on cooler northerly aspects, whereas at higher elevation, stands are more upland and northern aspects are uncommon. Elevations range from 920-1200 m (3020-3940 feet) in the hills in eastern Montana and southwestern North Dakota to 1450-2892 m (4750-9480 feet) in the Black Hills and Rocky Mountains. The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense (20-86% cover) tree canopy dominated by 10- to 15-m tall <i>Populus tremuloides</i>. Scattered <i>Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer negundo</i>, or invading conifers, such as <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa</i>, or <i>Picea glauca</i>, may occur in the tree canopy and shrub layers. The dwarf-shrub <i>Mahonia repens</i> is consistently present and typically dominates the understory with between 5-25% cover. Scattered taller shrubs may be present and include <i>Acer grandidentatum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, Ribes</i> spp., <i>Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus, Spiraea betulifolia var. lucida (= Spiraea lucida), Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i>, and <i>Toxicodendron rydbergii</i>. <i>Quercus gambelii</i>, if present, has less than 5% cover. The mixed grass and forb herbaceous layer is provides sparse to moderate cover. Common graminoid or forb species include <i>Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis), Bromus anomalus, Bromus ciliatus, Carex sprengelii, Deschampsia caespitosa, Elymus virginicus, Galium boreale, Geranium richardsonii, Lathyrus ochroleucus, Ligusticum porteri, Lupinus argenteus, Maianthemum stellatum, Oryzopsis asperifolia</i>, and <i>Thalictrum dasycarpum</i>. The introduced perennial grass <i>Poa pratensis</i> may provide moderate cover (30-40%) in some stands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33003.CEGL000594
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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