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Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This large-patch to matrix type is manifested as both a seral and climax type from central Idaho north to northern Idaho, eastern Washington, western Montana and southwestern Alberta, and it very probably will be identified for British Columbia. As a climax type 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). Virtually the whole of this appreciable elevation range can be realized in a given geographic area due to the type's presence as both a seral and late-successional type. 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 Pseudotsuga menziesii being the dominant canopy tree, often joined by lesser amounts of Larix occidentalis and Pinus contorta (sites are beyond the cold limits of Pinus ponderosa for the most part). At its mid to upper elevation limits Abies grandis, Abies lasiocarpa, and Picea engelmannii may be minor components of the overstory and major components of the subcanopy. A tall-shrub layer is absent and even scattered individuals are rare. 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 consistence 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 in cover, 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.28322.PSEUDOTSUGAMENZ Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 11-Feb-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Pseudotsuga menziesii Forest Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Douglas-fir / Square-twig Blueberry / Bear-grass Forest   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730931 NatureServe Explorer   Scientific: Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest   Code: CEGL005852 (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest