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Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Woodland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Woodland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This small- to large-patch type is manifested as a seral type from central Idaho north to northern Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana (northern Rocky Mountains) and southwestern Alberta (Canadian Rockies), and it very probably will be identified for British Columbia as well. This association is most prominent in west-central and central Montana forests. This association's elevation range is rather broad, ranging from 1030 to 2015 m (3100-6600 feet). It is much more prevalent within the upper elevation range. It occupies primarily south- through west-facing, moderate to steep slopes and is usually found on midslope to slope shoulder positions. It also occurs on benches associated with broad ridges. Soils are well-drained and derived from a broad spectrum of parent materials, including glacial till and drift, both calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary types, intrusive and extrusive igneous rock and metamorphic types, particularly quartzite. Ground surfaces have little or no bare soil or rock exposed. The canopy structure ranges from moderately open to closed (>60% cover) with Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa dominant but in which Pinus albicaulis is a significant component (at least 5% canopy cover). These sites often have lesser amounts of Larix occidentalis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Pinus contorta. Even should Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii be minor components of the overstory, they are always major components of the subcanopy. Unthrifty Pinus albicaulis specimens may be members of this layer too, but all indications are that they will not make the canopy (especially given the ubiquity of white pine blister rust). The short-shrub layer dominates the undergrowth with Vaccinium membranaceum being dominant, often exceeding 50% canopy cover; Spiraea betulifolia, Lonicera utahensis, Paxistima myrsinites, Amelanchier alnifolia, and Rosa gymnocarpa are the other high-constancy species of this layer. Dwarf-shrub layer species that occur with consistency include only Vaccinium scoparium and Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens). The herbaceous layer is generally relatively depauperate with the diagnostic species Xerophyllum tenax being strongly dominant (average cover reported by various studies ranging from 25 to 61%). Only two graminoids occur consistently and are well-represented, Calamagrostis rubescens and Carex geyeri. Other forbs with moderate to high constancy include Arnica cordifolia, Arnica latifolia, Chimaphila umbellata, Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Thalictrum occidentale, and Viola orbiculata; not all of these forbs have high constancy throughout the range of the type.  Accession Code: VB.CC.28308.PINUSALBICAULIS Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 10-Feb-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa Woodland Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir / Square-twig Blueberry / Bear-grass Woodland   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730879 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL005837   Scientific: Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Woodland (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Woodland