Aspen Bibliography

An Ecological Study in Utah

P. Alic Evans

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Botanical Gazette

Volume

82

Issue

3

First Page

253

Last Page

285

Publication Date

1926

Abstract

1. Salt Lake Valley (extreme eastern portion of Great Basin).-This is occupied by two different types of vegetational composition, due to soil conditions. The soil on the west side of the Jordan River being of alkaline nature, is covered by a sparse growth of alkalitolerant plants. The soil on the east of the Jordan River is higher, well drained and fertile, and is mostly cultivated. 2. Unglaciated canyons.-These show a succession from the grass covered foothills, through sage brush and oak chaparral to an aspen-spruce forest at their heads. The City Creek Canyon which has a west-by-south direction is xerophytic for a longer distance up the canyon on the south-facing slopes. Emigration Canyon, which has a southwest direction, shows practically the same kind of vegetation on both slopes of the canyon; the east-facing slope may be a little more mesophytic than the west, since the aspens come in somewhat lower on the east face. 3. Glaciated canyons.-Where not disturbed by fire, overgrazing, and overcutting, these show the same vegetational successions as the unglaciated canyons. These canyons are more rugged, however, are deeper, and go to higher altitudes, developing on the higher north-facing slopes a good stand of the spruce-fir montane forest, which gives way at about 10,000 feet to a subalpine flora. The area here reaches just a few feet above timber line.

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