Table B2 . --Key to northeastern Montana plant communities. 



The following canopy coverage terms are used in the keys: 



(1) "scarce" = less than 1% cover, versus "common" = greater than 

 1% cover; 



(2) "poorly represented" = less than 5% cover, versus "well 

 represented" = greater than 5% cover; and 



(3) "abundant" = greater than 25% cover. 



When applying the key in the field the above definitions may need 

 to be adjusted to the next lower coverage class in cases where 

 species cover is thought to be unusually low (e.g., due to dense 

 shading, heavy litter accumulation, heavy grazing) . 



UPLAND FORESTS AND WOODLANDS KEY 

 (largely based on Roberts 1980 and Roberts et al . 1979) 



Series Key 



1. Abies lasiocarpa present and reproducing successfully 

 ABILAS SERIES 



1. Abies lasiocarpa not the indicated climax -- 2 



2. Picea spp . present and reproducing successfully 



PICEA SPP. SERIES 



2. Picea spp. not the indicated climax — 3 



3. Pseudotsuga menzies'ii present and reproducing successfully 



PSEMEN SERIES 



3. Pseudotsuga menziesii not the indicated climax -- 4 



4. Pinus contorta present and reproducing more successfully than 



Pinus ponderosa, or Pinus contorta the only tree species 

 present 



PINCON SERIES 



4. Pinus ponderosa reproducing more successfully than Pinus contor- 



ta, or Pinus ponderosa or Juniperus scopulorum the only tree 

 species present -- 5 



5. Pinus ponderosa present 



PINPON SERIES 

 5. Pinus ponderosa absent; Juniperus scopulorum the indicated cli- 

 max 



JUNSCO SERIES 



40 



