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Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This large-patch to matrix lodgepole pine forest occurs in upper subalpine habitats from central Idaho to northern Idaho and west as far as the eastern slope of the Cascade Range in Washington and east to just beyond the Continental Divide in central Montana and southwestern Alberta. In the northern Rockies of Idaho and Montana, this association ranges from 1585 to 2530 m (5200-8300 feet); just east of the Cascades its elevation range is considerably depressed, from 1310 to 1730 m (4300-5680 feet). Sites are generally cool to cold and have deep snow accumulations. It is found on gentle to moderate slopes of all aspects, mostly associated with shedding terrain, such as backslopes and slope shoulders; it also occurs on well-drained benches associated with ridgetops. Parent materials include volcanics, metamorphic rock, and sedimentary. Soils are uniformly well- to excessively drained with textures predominantly sandy loams and loams. Gravel content is usually at least 10% for the upper profile and increases markedly with depth, averaging about twice that of the surface soil. Soils are also very to moderately acidic. The tree canopy is highly variable with regard to structure, ranging from closed at 60-80% canopy cover in many of the northern Idaho stands to extremely to moderately open (25-50% canopy cover) along the Continental Divide in Montana. Compositionally the canopy is strongly dominated by Pinus contorta; usually Abies lasiocarpa, Tsuga mertensiana, or Picea engelmannii are present. A greater diversity of tree species occur on Washington's examples of this association. The undergrowth may be quite dense with a layer of Vaccinium scoparium (or Vaccinium myrtillus) surrounding tussocks of Xerophyllum tenax over which a sparse cover of Vaccinium membranaceum is superimposed. Tall shrubs, if present, could be characterized as accidentals. Spiraea betulifolia and Lonicera utahensis are consistently scattered in the short-shrub layer. Carex geyeri and Calamagrostis rubescens are the only graminoids regularly present and their cover seldom exceeds 10%. Other than the abundance of the diagnostic Xerophyllum tenax, the forb layer has low cover and is comparatively depauperate with only Arnica latifolia, Anemone piperi, Goodyera oblongifolia, Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), and Viola orbiculata having a consistent presence.  Accession Code: VB.CC.28030.PINUSCONTORTAVA Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 03-Mar-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Pinus contorta Forest Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Lodgepole Pine / Grouseberry / Bear-grass Forest   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731481 NatureServe Explorer   Scientific: Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest   Code: CEGL005924 (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest