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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This is a cool and moderately moist forest, known from southwestern Montana, northern and eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and northern Utah. Rocky Mountain is in the name to distinguish it from similar types in the Cascades and on the Olympic Peninsula. This association occurs generally on north- and northeast-facing slopes, although it has been documented to occur on any aspect. Slopes are gentle to quite steep, and it can occur on flat cool benches. Elevational range is 1680 to 2685 m (5500-8800 feet). Soils are acidic, well-drained to moderately well-drained gravelly loams to gravelly clays. This forest is dominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> in the overstory tree canopy. We exclude stands dominated in the overstory canopy by <i>Pinus contorta</i> or <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> that may have <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> in the subcanopy. <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> combined cover occupies at least 25% of the overstory canopy in mixed conifer stands. <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> create a codominant canopy. Occasionally <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> is present only in the subcanopy, with <i>Picea engelmannii</i> the dominant overstory conifer. Other conifers often present include <i>Pinus contorta</i> and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>. <i>Pinus albicaulis, Larix occidentalis</i>, and <i>Picea glauca</i> can occur in stands in the northern part of its range. Shrub canopy is 1-2 feet tall, dominated by discontinuous to continuous cover of <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i>. <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> may be present in near equal amounts. This association is differentiated from similar types by a lack of <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> (although it may be present, it is never abundant) and clear dominance of <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> in the overstory canopy.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29250-{0B2B820D-4B99-4115-85D4-8A23E599AA19} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 06-Jan-2005 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684495 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL000341   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Thinleaf Huckleberry Rocky Mountain Forest   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest (convergence) and Synonyms: (similar) CEGL000341 (similar) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest (similar) Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest