Name:
Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This <i>Populus tremuloides</i> forest association is known from the mountains of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. It occurs on gentle to steep slopes (10-100%), on nearly all exposures from 2285 to 3000 m (7500-9800 feet) in elevation. It is also documented from swales, broad benches or dry flats acting as frost pockets, or where subject to cold-air drainage. Soils are derived primarily from sandstone or granite. The tree canopy is dominated by <i>Populus tremuloides</i>. Scattered conifer trees occur, such as <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Picea engelmannii</i>, and <i>Picea pungens</i>. The shrub layer is dominated by <i>Juniperus communis</i>, although it also contains <i>Acer glabrum, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i>, and sometimes <i>Artemisia tridentata</i>, and dwarf-shrubs <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Mahonia repens</i>, and <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>. The herbaceous layer is variable in expression, with graminoids dominant in some stands and forbs dominant in others. Graminoids commonly occurring include <i>Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus trachycaulus, Calamagrostis rubescens, Bromus ciliatus, Achnatherum occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis), Oryzopsis asperifolia, Danthonia parryi, Poa nemoralis</i>, or <i>Poa secunda (= Poa nevadensis)</i>. Forbs include <i>Achillea millefolium, Astragalus miser, Geranium viscosissimum, Lupinus argenteus</i>, and <i>Thalictrum fendleri</i>. Diagnostic characteristics of this association are canopy dominance by <i>Populus tremuloides</i> and a short-shrub layer with abundant <i>Juniperus communis</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33007.CEGL000587
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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