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Pinus contorta / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Pinus contorta / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This large-patch to matrix type is manifested as a seral type from central Idaho northward to northern Idaho, eastern Washington, western Montana and southwestern Alberta. This association is most prominent in west-central and central Montana forests. This association's elevation range is rather broad, from 1030 to 2015 m (3100-6600 feet). 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. In one study soil texture ranged from gravelly sandy loams to silts. Ground surfaces have little or no bare soil or rock exposed. The canopy structure ranges from moderately open to closed (>60% cover) with <i>Pinus contorta</i> being strongly dominant in this layer, with lesser amounts of <i>Larix occidentalis</i> and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>. At mid to upper elevation limits of the type, <i>Abies grandis, Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> 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. A short-shrub layer dominates the undergrowth with <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i> being dominant, often exceeding 50% canopy cover; <i>Spiraea betulifolia, Lonicera utahensis, Paxistima myrsinites, Amelanchier alnifolia</i>, and <i>Rosa gymnocarpa</i> are the other high-constancy species of this layer. Dwarf-shrub layer species that occur with consistency include only <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> and <i>Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens)</i>. The herbaceous layer is generally relatively depauperate with the diagnostic species <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> 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, <i>Calamagrostis rubescens</i> and <i>Carex geyeri</i>. Other forbs with moderate to high constancy include <i>Arnica cordifolia, Arnica latifolia, Chimaphila umbellata, Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Thalictrum occidentale</i>, and <i>Viola orbiculata</i>; not all of these forbs have high constancy throughout the range of the type.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32162.CEGL005913 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731454 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Lodgepole Pine / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Common Beargrass Forest   Scientific: Pinus contorta / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest   Code: CEGL005913