Name:
Pseudotsuga menziesii / Quercus gambelii Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This forest association occurs on mountains and plateaus from Colorado to Trans-Pecos Texas, west into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Elevation ranges from 1229 to 2870 m (4030-9400 feet). Stands are found along drainages, lower and middle slopes, steep upper slopes and gentle to rolling tops of mesas and ridges. Aspects are variable. This forest occurs as both a non-obligate riparian community on the outer margins of riparian areas in desert canyons and steep draws, and as an upland forest forming extensive stands on typically north-facing hillslopes (southern aspects at higher elevations). Soils vary but are often shallow and rocky, ranging from sand to clay, often derived from sandstone. The vegetation is characterized by a relatively sparse to dense evergreen tree canopy dominated by <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>, sometimes with <i>Quercus gambelii</i> well-represented in the understory. Scattered large <i>Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus edulis</i>, or <i>Juniperus</i> spp. (especially on drier sites) may be present in the tree canopy or subcanopy. <i>Abies concolor</i> is typically not present. <i>Quercus gambelii</i> dominates both the subcanopy (tree form, if present) and the moderately dense tall-shrub layer that consists of dense clumps of oak. <i>Quercus gambelii</i> must have at least 5% cover, but there is frequently well over 25%. At higher elevations, <i>Quercus gambelii</i> are more treelike and <i>Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i> will be present with significant cover in the short-shrub layer. At lower elevations, scattered <i>Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma</i>, or <i>Juniperus deppeana</i> are often present. The presence of <i>Chrysothamnus depressus</i> in some stands reflects the presence of fairly well-developed soils. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse and composed of mostly graminoids with scattered forbs, but it can be moderately dense and diverse. Many other species are associated, such as <i>Amelanchier</i> spp., <i>Holodiscus dumosus, Fendlera rupicola, Fraxinus anomala, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Quercus x pauciloba, Robinia neomexicana, Rosa woodsii, Carex</i> spp., <i>Festuca arizonica, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia straminea, Poa fendleriana, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus, Thalictrum fendleri</i>, and <i>Vicia americana</i>. The shrub layer has equal or greater cover than graminoids.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29361-{1AE4FFB2-B652-4DB0-ACE5-655FD2039F28}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
7
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