Name:
Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This widespread forest association is found in the upper montane and subalpine zones of the Rocky Mountains from central Colorado to Montana, east to the Black Hills and west to the mountains of Utah, Oregon and Washington. Elevation is variable depending on latitude and ranges from 3250 m (10,660 feet) in Colorado to 1555 m (5100 feet) in central Oregon. Stands occur on relatively cold, dry sites. Topography ranges from gentle to steep (10-100%) middle to upper slopes and ridgetops. Aspects are variable. Substrates are typically poorly developed, well-drained, gravelly, loamy sand or sandy loam soils that are too shallow or rocky for more mesic communities. Parent materials are variable. Ground cover is variable, with some stands having high cover of gravel and rock, and other stands having high cover of litter and duff. Vegetation is characterized by a <i>Pinus contorta</i>-dominated tree canopy with understory dominated by a patchy to continuous dwarf-shrub layer of <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>. The tree canopy varies from moderately dense to nearly closed (40-90% cover) and is often composed solely of <i>Pinus contorta</i>. However, in some stands scattered <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus albicaulis</i> (northern stands), <i>Pinus flexilis, Populus tremuloides</i>, or <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> trees may be present, especially in the subcanopy. Some stands have tree saplings and scattered shrubs, but not enough to form a tall- or short-shrub layer. The open to moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> (indicator species) usually with 15-70% cover. Low cover of other dwarf-shrubs may be present such as scattered <i>Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa</i> spp., <i>Vaccinium cespitosum</i>, or <i>Juniperus communis</i>. The herbaceous layer if present is usually sparse but may be moderately dense and is typically dominated or codominated by perennial graminoids such as <i>Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Festuca brachyphylla, Poa nemoralis ssp. interior, Poa nervosa</i>, or <i>Trisetum spicatum</i>. Forbs are generally sparse and may include <i>Antennaria</i> spp., <i>Arnica cordifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Lupinus argenteus, Senecio</i> spp., and <i>Solidago</i> spp.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29081-{328AC0D1-4EAE-41A3-ADED-14788F67113B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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