Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Picea pungens dominates the canopy with 10-60% cover. Other trees that may be present include Populus tremuloides (5-30% cover). The shrub canopy is dominated by Betula occidentalis with 5-40% cover. Other shrubs that may be present include Alnus incana (10-35% cover), Salix exigua (10-30%), Salix bebbiana (10%), and Cornus sericea (10%). The herbaceous undergrowth can be dense to open. Forb species that may be present include Rudbeckia laciniata (1-15%), Heracleum maximum (1-15%), Fragaria virginiana (1-5%), Mertensia ciliata (1-5%), and Equisetum arvense (1-10% cover). Graminoid species that may be present include Calamagrostis canadensis (1-40%), Calamagrostis canadensis, Agrostis scabra, Bromus inermis, and Poa pratensis

Dynamics:  This plant association appears to be stable and late-seral. In deep, narrow canyons with swift-moving streams and narrow floodplains and benches, Picea pungens appears to be a climax riparian species. Picea pungens will remain until removed or damaged by a catastrophic flood. Picea pungens is a slow-growing, long-lived tree which regenerates from seed (Burns and Honkala 1990a). Seedlings are shallow-rooted and require perennially moist soils for establishment and optimal growth. Picea pungens is intermediate in shade tolerance, being somewhat more tolerant than Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii, and less tolerant than Abies lasiocarpa or Picea engelmannii. Betula occidentalis can tolerate flooding but not permanent inundation (Hansen et al. 1988). Fire disturbance results in Betula occidentalis resprouting and the replacement of this type with an early-seral plant association such as Populus tremuloides / Betula occidentalis.