Name:
Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This subalpine forest association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains from the high mountains and plateaus of central and southwestern New Mexico to north-central Colorado at elevations between 2790 and 3600 m (9160-11,800 feet). This type is characterized by deep snowpack and brief, cool summers. Stands are common in the middle to upper subalpine zone on all aspects and slope. Soils are typically shallow, often rocky, sandy or silt loam derived from granite, intrusive porphyritics and various other rocks. Litter and duff and downed woody debris cover a significant portion of the ground surface (>50% cover). The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense conifer tree canopy dominated by <i>Picea engelmannii</i>, with an understory characterized by a dwarf-shrub layer dominated by <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>. <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> is absent or trace. <i>Pinus aristata, Pinus flexilis</i>, or <i>Abies concolor</i> (trace) may also be present in the canopy. <i>Populus tremuloides</i> and <i>Pinus contorta</i> (northern stands only) are the most common seral species, though <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> occurs at lower elevations. In the understory, <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> may be present but is usually trace to less than half the cover of <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>. Other shrubs may be present in low cover such as <i>Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Jamesia americana, Juniperus communis, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Physocarpus monogynus, Ribes montigenum, Ribes pinetorum, Rosa woodsii, Salix scouleriana</i>, and <i>Shepherdia canadensis</i>. Tree regeneration is mostly <i>Picea engelmannii</i>, sometimes with lesser amounts of <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> in lower elevation stands. Herbaceous species cover is typically sparse with scattered <i>Arnica cordifolia, Carex rossii, Erigeron eximius, Goodyera repens, Luzula parviflora, Orthilia secunda, Pedicularis racemosa, Polemonium pulcherrimum</i>, and others.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29288-{B58FB773-C436-454B-9573-90D354A66868}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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