Ecoregions: Eastern slopes of Coast mountains, southern interior mountains, and the sub-boreal interior |
Elevations: SW - 1200-2100m, SE - 1500-2300m, N - 900-1700m |
Latitudes: 49-57 degrees |
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Description: |
- The common sub-alpine zone in the southern interior
- At lower elevations, grades into IDF and ICH in the southern interior and into the IDF, SBS and SBPS in the sub-boreal
interior. Grades into AT at higher elevations in all areas
- Severe climate characterized by a long cold winter and a short cool summer
- Only trees that can survive long periods of frozen ground occur
- Engelmann spruce and sub-alpine fir dominate wetter areas, with lodgepole pine as a poineer after disturbance and mountain hemlock in higher snowfall areas
- Whitebark pine and limber pine occur on drier sites
- White rhododendron and false azalea are common understorey plants
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Representative Species: |
Drier phase |
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Trees
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Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) |
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Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) |
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Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) |
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Pinus albicaulis (Whitebark pine) |
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Larix lyalli (Alpine larch) |
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Shrubs |
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Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon) |
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Vaccinium membranaceum (black huckleberry) |
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Juniperus communis (common juniper) |
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Herbs |
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Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) |
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Hieracium albiflorum (white-flowered hawkweed) |
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Wetter Phase |
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Trees |
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Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) |
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Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) |
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Shrubs |
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Vaccinium spp. (Blueberries and grouseberries) |
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Rhododendrum albiflorum (white rhododendrum) |
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Menziesia feruginea (false azalea) |
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Herbs |
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Tiarella unifolia (one-leafed foam flower) |
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Valeriana sitchensis (Sitka valerian) |
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Potential Restoration Species: |
Drier phase |
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Trees |
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Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) |
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Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) |
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Pinus contorta (Lodgepole pine) |
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Pinus albicaulis (Whitebark pine) |
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Larix lyalli (Alpine larch) |
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Shrubs |
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Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon) |
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Vaccinium membranaceum (black huckleberry) |
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Juniperus communis (common juniper) |
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Alnus crispa spp. sinuata (thinfleaf alder) |
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Herbs |
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Cassiope mertensiana (white mtn. heather) |
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Cassiope tetragona (four-angled mtn. heather) |
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Festuca altaica (Altai fescue) |
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Wetter Phase |
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Trees |
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Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) |
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Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) |
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Shrubs |
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Vaccinium spp. (Blueberries and grouseberries) |
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Alnus incarta spp. tenuifolia (Mountain alder) |
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Herbs |
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Athyrium filix-femina (lady fern) |
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Dryopteris expansa (Spiny wood fern) |
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Erigeron peregrinus (subalpine daisy) |
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Heracleum lanatum (cow parsley) |
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Rubus pedatus (five-leaved bramble) |
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Valeriana sitchensis (Sitka valerian) |
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Lupinus arcticus (Arctic lupine) |
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Tiarella trifoliata (foam flower) |
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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 |