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Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Forest
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This association is found in the montane zone of the Rocky Mountains in north-central and northwestern Montana from east of the Continental Divide to northeastern Washington. Elevations range from 700-1370 m (2300-4500 feet) extending to 1950 m (6400 feet) east of the divide. This association often occurs in frost pocket conditions, where cold air accumulates causing high diurnal temperature fluctuations, typically with cold nights, high daily maximum temperatures, and frequent summer frosts. Topography is flat to gently undulating or moderately sloping terrain typically occurring on valley bottoms, terraces, lower slopes, and benches on all aspects. Soils are predominantly excessively well-drained, moderately deep, acidic, gravelly, sandy loam or loam. Ground cover is mostly tree litter, often with duff over 4 cm deep. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense tree canopy that is dominated or codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa, Pinus contorta, or Larix occidentalis. In some stands scattered Populus tremuloides trees may be present. Vaccinium caespitosum and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (indicator species) are common to dominant in the patchy to continuous dwarf-shrub layer. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include low cover of Amelanchier alnifolia, Linnaea borealis (on more mesic sites), Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes spp., Spiraea betulifolia, or Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense (to 30% cover) and is typically dominated or codominated by perennial graminoids in the openings such as Calamagrostis rubescens. Forbs generally have sparse cover but may be diverse. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.18420.PSEUDOTSUGAMENZ
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Douglas-fir / Dwarf Blueberry Forest
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683258 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000465
  Scientific: Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Forest
  Common: Douglas-fir / Dwarf Huckleberry Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium caespitosum Forest