Ecoregions: Central Interior, lee side of the coast mountains, southern interior moutains |
Elevations: (wet) 1100-1500m, (dry) 1250-1700m |
Latitudes: 49-53 degrees |
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Description: |
- Occurs at mid elevations in the south and central interior in the lee of the coast mountains
- Grades upward to the ESSf zone and downward to the SBPS (central interior)
and IDF (southern interior and souther interior mountains)
- Climate characterized by cold winters and short warm summers
- Climatic climax dominated by hybrid (Engelmann x white) spruce and sub-alpine fir
- Past wildfires have resulted in extensive seral stands of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and trembling aspen
- Provides important summer and fall habitat for deer and moose and important winter habitat for mountain caribou. Also
provides important summer grazing lands for domestic livestock
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Representative Species: |
Drier phase |
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Trees
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Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) |
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Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) |
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Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen) |
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Picea glauca x engelmannii (hybrid spruce) |
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Shrubs |
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Sheperdia canadensis (soopolallie) |
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Spirea betulifolia (birch leaved spirea) |
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Arctostaphlos uva-ursi (kinnikinnik) |
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Paxistima myrsinites (falsebox) |
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Juniperus communis (common juniper) |
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Lonicera utahensis (Utah honeysuckle) |
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Empetrum nigrum (crowberry) |
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Herbs |
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Calamagrostis rubescens (pinegrass) |
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Vaccinium scoparium (grouseberry) |
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Linnaea borealis (twin flower) |
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Wetter Phase |
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Trees |
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Picea glauca x engelmannii (hybrid spruce) |
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Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) |
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Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) |
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Shrubs |
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Ribes lacustre (black gooseberry) |
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Lonicera involucrata (black twinberry) |
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Vaccinium membranaceum (black gooseberry) |
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Alnus crispa spp. sinuata (Sitka alder) |
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Herbs |
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Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) |
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Tiearella unifolia (one-leafed foam flower) |
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Arnica cordifolia (heart-leafed arnica) |
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Streptopus amplexifolius (clasping-leafed twisted stalk) |
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Potential Restoration Species: |
Drier phase |
|
Trees |
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Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) |
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Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) |
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Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen) |
|
Picea glauca x engelmannii (hybrid spruce) |
|
Shrubs |
|
Sheperdia canadensis (soopolallie) |
|
Spirea betulifolia (birch leaved spirea) |
|
Arctostaphlos uva-ursi (kinnikinnik) |
|
Paxistima myrsinites (falsebox) |
|
Juniperus communis (common juniper) |
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Lonicera utahensis (Utah honeysuckle) |
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Empetrum nigrum (crowberry) |
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Herbs |
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Calamagrostis rubescens (pinegrass) |
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Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) |
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Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) |
|
Wetter Phase |
|
Trees |
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Picea glauca x engelmannii (hybrid spruce) |
|
Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) |
|
Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) |
|
Shrubs |
|
Ribes lacustre (black gooseberry) |
|
Lonicera involucrata (black twinberry) |
|
Vaccinium membranaceum (black gooseberry) |
|
Alnus crispa spp. sinuata (Sitka alder) |
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Herbs |
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Arnica latifolia (mountain arnica) |
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Calamagrostis rubescens (pinegrass) |
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Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) |
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Linnaea borealis (twin flower) |
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Lupinus arcticus (Arctic lupine) |
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Rubus pedatus (five-leaved bramble) |
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Smilacina racemosa (false Solomon's seal) |
|
Meidinger, D. and Pojar, J. 1991. Ecosystems of British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. 330 pp.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Srs/SRseries.htm |