Plants

Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

NPS Photo

 

Black Canyon has more than 650 species of vascular plants. The park has vegetation communities that are both representative of the geographic region and unique within its boundaries. The park lies within the Dry Domain (climate classification) and supports montane (mountain), temperate, and semi-desert vegetation. Forests and shrublands are the dominant vegetation, as well as some grassland and rock outcrops.

The canyon rims are predominantly pinyon-juniper forests and scrub oak. Douglas-fir and Colorado blue spruce grow on the canyon’s north facing slopes. Some riparian vegetation, as well as scattered ponderosa pine, Utah juniper, and box elder, occur along the river at the canyon bottom. Gambel oak, serviceberry, and mountain mahogany are the dominant shrubs on the canyon rims and uplands. Some sagebrush and rabbitbrush are also present. Many wildflower species, blooming through spring and summer, are present in the uplands and inner canyon. The distribution of vegetation is driven by elevation, type of soil, geology, amount of sunlight, availability of water, and fire.

Ecoregions

Ecoregions, or areas of similar ecosystems, converge near Black Canyon. The park is mostly within the Semiarid Benchlands and Canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau Ecoregion, but the canyon continues east into the Sedimentary Mid-Elevation Forests of the Southern Rockies Ecoregion. Diverse plant communities are found here due to the topographic variation and elevation differences in short distances, which affect temperature, sunlight, and water conditions. Unique habitats such as seeps, springs, riparian areas, and hanging gardens also exist. A small number of rare plant species are either known or suspected.

 

Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. August 2010. Click image to view a larger map.

Northern Colorado Plateau Network

Vegetation Classes

A vegetation map shows the visual distribution of vegetation communities. These maps help park staff know what is growing in a park and what kinds of native plant communities exist. This mapping project (completed in 2011) was led by the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, with assistance from park staff and several governmental and nonprofit partners.

Twenty-four vegetation classes (both natural and semi-natural) are found at Black Canyon. The most common map class at Black Canyon is Gambel Oak / Mixed Montane Shrubland. It covers around 29% of the map area (larger than the park boundary). Pinyon-juniper woodlands and sagebrush shrublands are the predominant vegetation.

Dense forests are not common and are mostly in the protected, north-facing slopes of Black Canyon. These areas have more shade and moisture to support tree species. Riparian woodlands, where a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs grow, are usually restricted to the Gunnison River floodplain and tributary canyons.

 

Types of Plants

 

 

 

For a complete list of vascular plant species found at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, use the tool below. Select 'Vascular Plants' under species category.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

Select a Species Category (optional):

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Species attribute definitions

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