Name:
Picea pungens Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This forest and woodland alliance occurs in the central and southern Rocky Mountains west to the Great Basin and is characterized by the dominance of <i>Picea pungens</i> in the forest canopy. Other conifers are usually present to codominant in these stands and may include <i>Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis</i>, and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>. <i>Populus tremuloides</i> is the only widespread hardwood associate. The shrub layer usually has only moderate cover and is dominated by ericaceous or cold-deciduous species, with the latter group increasing with soil moisture or proximity to watercourses. Common dominant species include <i>Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Quercus gambelii</i>, and <i>Rubus parviflorus</i>. Due to favorable soil moisture, the herbaceous layer is usually a diverse mixture of forbs and graminoids, including <i>Achillea millefolium, Arnica cordifolia, Carex siccata, Festuca arizonica, Fragaria virginiana, Linnaea borealis, Packera cardamine</i>, and <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>. Stands are usually found in moist, concave topographic positions. Soils are variable, but usually young and derived from glacial or alluvial materials. Stands often occupy sites that are protected from extreme sun and wind within <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> or <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> montane forests. North aspects are most common.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38739-{7D53C0F0-D7C3-412E-87CA-257A531E13F7}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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