Print Report

CEGL000340 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium cespitosum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Dwarf Bilberry Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widespread forest association occurs in the upper subalpine zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains. Sites are relatively cold, moist benches, basins, ridge slopes and high plateaus often in areas where cold air accumulates (frost pockets), but generally do not occur next to active streams. Substrates are well-drained, often gravelly, sand- to clay loam-textured soils. The vegetation is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with a dwarf-shrub layer with 5% or more cover of Vaccinium cespitosum in the understory. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (30-75% cover). The upper tree canopy is typically codominated by Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii and mature seral tree species, with Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are Pinus contorta, Pinus albicaulis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, and sometimes Populus tremuloides. Undergrowth is variable depending on elevation and may be diverse, but it is an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer with 5% to abundantly more cover of Vaccinium cespitosum. Other relatively consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present in low cover include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Betula glandulosa, Gaultheria humifusa, Juniperus communis, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes montigenum, Salix brachycarpa, Shepherdia canadensis, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Vaccinium myrtillus, and Vaccinium scoparium (which may codominate). The open herbaceous layer is often dominated by Calamagrostis rubescens. Other relatively consistent species are Arnica spp., Chamerion angustifolium, Carex spp., Fragaria spp., Galium spp., Lupinus argenteus, and Orthilia secunda. Higher elevation stands have herbaceous layers that are often dominated by alpine forbs and graminoids.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is nearly the same as Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum habitat types of Pfister et al. (1977) for Montana, Cooper et al. (1987) for northern Idaho, Steele et al. (1981) for central Idaho, and Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum plant association of Colville National Forest (Williams et al. 1995) in northeastern Washington.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This conifer association is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with a dwarf-shrub layer with of 5% or more cover of Vaccinium cespitosum dominating the understory. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (30-75% cover). The upper tree canopy is typically codominated by Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii and mature seral tree species, with Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are Pinus contorta, Pinus albicaulis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, and sometimes Populus tremuloides. Undergrowth is variable depending on elevation and may be diverse, but it is an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer with 5% or more cover dominated by Vaccinium cespitosum. Vaccinium myrtillus may be present with lower cover, and Vaccinium scoparium may be present to codominate. Other relatively consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs with lower cover include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Betula glandulosa, Gaultheria humifusa, Juniperus communis, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes montigenum, Salix planifolia, Shepherdia canadensis, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The open herbaceous layer is often dominated by Calamagrostis rubescens. Other relatively consistent species are Arnica cordifolia, Arnica latifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Danthonia intermedia, Fragaria spp., Galium spp., Lupinus argenteus, and Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda). Higher elevation stands have herbaceous layers that are often dominated by alpine forbs and graminoids such as Sibbaldia procumbens, Festuca brachyphylla, and Trisetum spicatum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 2560-3310 m (8400-10,850 feet) on the southern extent to down to 1525-2135 m (5000-7000 feet) in Montana and Idaho and 920 m (3015-3990 feet) in eastern Washington. Sites are relatively cold, moist benches, basins, ridge slopes and high plateaus often in areas where cold air accumulates (frost pockets), but generally do not occur next to active streams. Substrates are well-drained, often gravelly, sand- to clay loam-textured soils. Parent materials include noncalcareous sedimentary rocks and glacial outwash, dacite, granite, latite, quartzite, quartz monzonite, trachyte, or sandstone. Litter dominates the ground surface (>4 cm deep) and cover of bare soil and rock is typically low.
Geographic Range: This subalpine forest association occurs in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains from northern Colorado and central Utah north into northwestern Montana and eastern Washington.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, UT, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division D194 1.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup M020 1.B.2.Nb.5
Group 1.B.2.Nb.5.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group G218 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Alliance A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance A3614 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL000340 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Dwarf Bilberry Forest CEGL000340 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium caespitosum Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Habitat Type, Picea engelmannii Phase (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Plant Association (Williams et al. 1990b)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Plant Association (Kovalchik 1993) [Floristic composition is somewhat different and it includes a wider range of habitats.]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
= Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium cespitosum Community Type (Kerr and Henderson 1979) [Floristic composition is somewhat different and it includes a wider range of habitats.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-13-05
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  • Mauk, R. L., and J. A. Henderson. 1984. Coniferous forest habitat types of northern Utah. General Technical Report INT-170. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.
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  • Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
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  • Williams, C. K., T. R. Lillybridge, and B. G. Smith. 1990b. Forested plant associations of the Colville National Forest. Report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Colville National Forest, Colville, WA. 133 pp.
  • Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.