State 1
White spruce forest

Community 1.1
White spruce forest

White spruce forest primarily consists of open to moderately closed stands of Picea glauca with occasional Populus balsamifera, P. tremuloides, and, in a few locations, Betula papyrifera.

Understory composition and structure varies considerably in White spruce forest.

White spruce forest is probably late seral vegetation on stable, moist escarpments. This type has greater abundance and cover of shrubs and herbs, but otherwise is similar to White spruce/moss on stream terraces.

Riparian-Wetland Classification: upland

Forest overstory.Forest canopy cover ranges from 25 to 65 percent. Trees range in height from 25 to 60 feet (7.6 to 18.3 m) or more. Tree basal area in one sample stand was 160 feet2/acre (36.7 m2/ha).

Forest understory. Most stands have a sparse to open low shrub layer dominated by Ledum spp. and Vaccinium uliginosum. In other stands, Rosa acicularis or Shepherdia canadensis are the most important low shrubs. Salix bebbiana and other willows form a prominent tall shrub layer in some stands. The ground layer consists of sparse to well-represented dwarfs shrubs and herbs in a nearly continuous cover of feathermoss. Important dwarf shrubs and herbs include Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Empetrum nigrum, Epilobium angustifolium, Geocaulon lividum, and Linnaea borealis. <br />

State 2
Spruce/alder woodland

Community 2.1
Spruce/alder woodland

Spruce/alder woodland consists of woodland, open, and occasionally moderately open, stands of Picea glauca, P. mariana, and mixed P. glauca and P. mariana.

Spruce/alder woodland appears to be restricted to cool and moist sites such as north aspects and ephemeral drainages and seepage areas on escarpments and steep slopes. This cover type is probably stable on these sites.

Riparian-Wetland Classification: upland and Palustrine needle-leafed evergreen forested, intermittently flooded, mineral (Cowardin et al. 1979); occasionally riparian

Forest overstory.Tree canopy cover ranges from 20 to 45 percent. Tree size within most stands is variable, ranging from medium to tall, 20 to 55 feet (6.1 to 16.8 m) in height. <br />

Forest understory. The understory is characterized by a sparse to moderately closed tall shrub layer dominated by Alnus crispa (occasionally A. tenuifolia). Salix glauca is a common to well-represented tall shrub in many stands. Tall shrubs range from 10 to 65 percent canopy cover and 7 to 15 feet (2.1 to 4.6 m) in height. Medium and low shrubs form an open to occasionally closed secondary shrub layer 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 m) in height. Important medium and low shrubs include Betula glandulosa, Salix planifolia, Ledum spp., and Vaccinium uliginosum. Dwarf shrubs, primarily V. vitis-idaea and Empetrum nigrum, are common in many stands.<br /> <br /> Except for Equisetum spp., which is abundant in many stands, herbs are generally only a minor component in Spruce/alder woodland. Patches of moss and leaf litter cover the ground surface.<br />

State 3
Quaking Aspen-White Spruce Forest

Community 3.1
Quaking Aspen-White Spruce Forest

Quaking aspen-white spruce forest consists of moderately open to closed stands of mixed Populus tremuloides and Picea glauca.

The understory of Quaking aspen-white spruce forest varies considerably but in most stands is dominated by scattered shrubs and sparse herbs.

Forest overstory.In many stands, Picea glauca is primarily a subdominant tree in the lower canopy layer. Picea mariana is the dominant spruce in occasional stands. Tree canopy cover ranges from 40 to 80 percent.

Forest understory. Frequently occurring shrubs include Shepherdia canadensis, Rosa acicularis, Ledum spp., Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Many stands have common tall Salix bebbiana and S. glauca. <br /> <br /> Herb cover is generally sparse; commonly occurring species include Epilobium angustifolium, Geocaulon lividum, Linnaea borealis, and Festuca altaica. Woody debris and other litter and small, scattered patches of moss and lichen cover the ground surface.

State 4
Quaking Aspen Forest

Community 4.1
Quaking Aspen Forest

Quaking aspen forest consists of moderately open to closed stands of Populus tremuloides and common Picea glauca and/or P. mariana.

The understory varies considerably but in most stands is dominated by scattered shrubs and sparse herbs.

Forest overstory.Tree canopy cover ranges from 50 to 80 percent. Populus tremuloides trees are often relatively short and poorly formed with open, sparsely limbed crowns. On steep escarpments, the lower bole is frequently crooked or bowed from soil creep.

Forest understory. Frequently occurring shrubs include Shepherdia canadensis, Rosa acicularis, Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Many stands have common tall and medium Salix spp. Herbs are generally sparse; frequently occurring species include Epilobium angustifolium, Geocaulon lividum, Linnaea borealis, and Festuca altaica. Woody debris and other litter and small, scattered patches of moss and lichen cover the ground surface.

State 5
Spruce/Shrub Birch Woodland

Community 5.1
Spruce/Shrub Birch Woodland

Spruce/shrub birch woodland consists of woodland to occasionally moderately open stands of spruce. Overstory composition varies from Picea glauca to mixed P. glauca and P. mariana.

The understory is dominated by abundant to very abundant medium, low, and dwarf shrubs.

Forest overstory.Tree canopy cover ranges from 10 to 55 percent. Trees are typically 15 to 35 feet (4.6 to 10.7 m) in height and 4 to 6.5 inches (10 to 16.5 cm) in diameter at ground level. Trees and small stands to 60 feet (18.3 m) in height occasionally occur. Basal area of trees varies considerably between stands, ranging from 23 to 130 feet2/acre (5.3 to 29.8 m2/ha) in 18 sample stands. Snags and charred boles and downfall are well-represented in burned stands.<br />

Forest understory. There are usually two relatively distinct shrub layers. The upper layer is approximately 4.5 to 6 feet ( 1.4 to 1.8 m) in height. The overall dominant medium shrub is Betula glandulosa; however, Salix planifolia is common in most stands. S. glauca and other tall willows are common to well-represented in many stands. The lower shrub layer is composed of a number of low and dwarf ericaceous shrub 0.5 to 3.5 feet (0.2 to 1.1 m) in height. Common to abundant species include Ledum spp., Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea, Empetrum nigrum, and Arctostaphylos rubra. Total shrub canopy cover ranges from around 45 to 90 percent or more.<br /> <br /> Herbs generally are of minor importance in Spruce/shrub birch woodland. Commonly occurring species include Petasites frigidus, Arctagrostis latifolia, Equisetum spp., Rubus chamaemorus, and Carex lugens. Mosses and lichens on the ground surface range from sparse, scattered patches to nearly continuous, luxuriant cover, depending on fire history and stand age.

State 6
Low Shrub Birch Scrub

Community 6.1
Low Shrub Birch Scrub

Low shrub birch scrub consists of moderately open to closed stands of medium and low shrubs dominated by Betula glandulosa, Ledum spp., and Vaccinium uliginosum. Dwarf shrub, primarily Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Empetrum nigrum, also are usually abundant. B. glandulosa is typically 4.5 to 7 feet (1.4 to 2.1 m) in height and forms an irregular, broken upper shrub layer. Other shrubs are usually about 3 feet (0.9 m) in height or less and fill in the spaces between and below the birch. In many stands, Picea glauca and/or P. mariana saplings, small trees, and relic trees are common to well-represented. Canopy cover of the upper shrub layer ranges from 25 to 70 percent. Total shrub canopy cover is usually between 50 and 90 percent.

In most stands, the herb layer is sparse to open. The number of different herb species is usually fairly high; however, no species are particularly abundant.

Forest understory. Important herbs include Equisetum spp., Petasites frigidus, Epilobium angustifolium, Arctagrostis latifolia, and Calamagrostis canadensis. A mosaic of feathermoss, lichen, and litter covers the ground surface. In some stands on more mesic sites, Carex lugens is abundant to very abundant, and lichen is usually considerably more abundant. Most stands show evidence of recent burns, and snags and woody litter are common to well-represented.

State 7
Sparsely vegetated alluvium

Community 7.1
Sparsely vegetated alluvium

Sparsely vegetated alluvium consists of sparse stands of pioneering species on areas of recently deposited or exposed alluvium. Vegetative cover in these stands is generally low, ranging from less than 20 percent to 45 percent, or occasionally more. A wide variety of plant species in various combinations are in these stands. Common species on areas of Sparsely vegetated alluvium are listed in the Species Summary List.

Sparsely vegetated alluvium is a pioneering stage of flood plain succession in both the willow and alder
zones. All species in the Sparsely vegetated alluvium type appear to share several key adaptive traits—the ability to rapidly invade disturbed sites and exposed alluvium, and the ability to tolerate annual flooding and repeated siltation. Many of these pioneering species are dominants in later stages of vegetative progression. Examples include Salix alaxensis, Alnus tenuifolia, Populus balsamifera, and Picea glauca. Others are apparently intolerant of competition and soon become rare or absent as vegetation development progresses. Examples include Epilobium latifolium, Achillea millefolium, Fragaria virginiana, and Erigeron spp.

Wetland Status Classification: Palustrine vegetated unconsolidated shore, Palustrine persistent emergent, Palustrine broad-leaved deciduous scrub-shrub (Cowardin et al. 1979); water regime ranges from temporarily to intermittently flooded; soils are mineral; usually riparian