Cool-Frigid, Moist-Xeric, Loamy Mountainsides and Terraces (Douglas-fir-Grand Fir Cool Shrub) Douglas-fir/low huckleberry, Douglas-fir/dwarf huckleberry, Douglas-fir/big huckleberry, grand fir/d

Description

This state is characterized by mature mixed seral stands of Douglas-fir, western larch, lodgepole pine, and sometimes ponderosa pine. Grand fir regeneration will be scattered in the understory on the moist end of this ecological site along with Engelmann spruce. In areas of severe fire lodgepole pine will dominate the regeneration and pole – mature stands. Climax stands of grand fir are rare due to fire history and human disturbance. Mixed severity fires will maintain the mixed seral species stands whereas severe fires will create open stands of larch and lodgepole with dense lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine regeneration.

Dominant plant species

1. Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca), tree

2. western larch (Larix occidentalis), tree

3. lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia), tree

4. dwarf bilberry (Vaccinium cespitosum), shrub

5. thinleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), shrub

6. pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens), grass

Submodel

Description

Fire exclusion for 100+ years would yield an all aged grand fir stand in the Grand fir/dwarf huckleberry plant association and a Douglas-fir dominated stand in the Douglas-fir/dwarf huckleberry plant association. This state would be rare due the disturbance history of this ecological site from fires, homesteading, and past tree harvesting.

Dominant plant species

1. Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca), tree

2. grand fir (Abies grandis), tree

3. dwarf bilberry (Vaccinium cespitosum), shrub

4. thinleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), shrub

5. pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens), grass

Submodel