Ecoregions: Southern Interior |
Elevations: 335-900m |
Latitudes: 49-51 degrees |
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Description: |
- Warmest and driest forest zone.
- Narrow band in the driest and warmest valleys of the Southern Interior
(Fraser/Thompson, Okanagan/Similkameen, Keetle, Pend d'Oreille, Columbia)
- Grades to BB at lower elevations and to the IDF at higher elevations
- Ponderosa pine the dominant tree in open savannah-like stands, with Douglas-fir common on cooler and moiser sites
- Understory characterized by abundant grasses such as bluebunch wheatgrass and rough fescues
- Frequent ground fires create and maintain stand structure
- Important habitat for California bighorn sheep, burrowing owl, grouse and white-tailed deer>
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Representative Species: |
Drier phase |
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Trees
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Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) |
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Shrubs |
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Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon) |
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Artemisia tridentata (big sage) |
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A. frigida (pasture sage) |
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Chrysothamnus nauseosus (rabbit brush) |
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Forbs and Grasses |
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Festuca saximontana (Rocky mtn. fescue) |
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Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) |
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Crepis atrabarba (slender hawksbeard) |
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Astragalis miser (timber milk-vetch) |
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Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) |
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Balsamorhiza sagittata (balsamroot) |
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Achillea millifolium (yarrow) |
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Wetter Phase |
|
Trees |
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Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) |
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Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) |
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Shrubs |
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Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon) |
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Sympohoricarpos albus (snowberry) |
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Rosa spp. (roses) |
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Acer glabrum (Douglas maple) |
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Mahonia aquifolium (tall Oregon-grape) |
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Cornus stolonifera (Red-osier dogwood) |
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Forbs and Grasses |
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Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) |
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Koeleria macrantha (June grass) |
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Poa sandbergii (Sandberg's bluegrass) |
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Antenaria dimorpha (pussytoes) |
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Potential Restoration Species: |
Drier phase |
|
Trees |
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Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) |
|
Shrubs |
|
Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon) |
|
Artemisia tridentata (big sage) |
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A. frigida (pasture sage) |
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Chrysothamnus nauseosus (rabbit brush) |
|
Forbs and Grasses |
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Aristida longiseta (red three-awn) |
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Balsamorhiza sagittata (balsamroot) |
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Festuca saximontana (Rocky mtn. fescue) |
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Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) |
|
Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) |
|
Wetter Phase |
|
Trees |
|
Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) |
|
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) |
|
Shrubs |
|
Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon) |
|
Sympohoricarpos albus (snowberry) |
|
Rosa spp. (roses) |
|
Acer glabrum (Douglas maple) |
|
Mahonia aquifolium (tall Oregon-grape) |
|
Cornus stolonifera (Red-osier dogwood) |
|
Forbs and Grasses |
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Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) |
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Distichlis stricta (alkaline saltgrass) |
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Smilacina stellata (star flowered 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 |