Oenothera caespitosa, Penstemon aridiis, and Phacelia hastata are characteristic. The BLM 

 sensitive plant Lomatium attenuatum was found in the plot. 



Comments: Although these canyon slopes have extremely low timber productivity and are very 

 steep, they were logged for fuelwood in the latter 1 900's, probably because the trees are easily 

 accessed and removed tlirough winter logging. Pfister et al. (1977) lump this along with types 

 dominated by other conifers under the simple designation "scree". 



Pinus flexilis/Festuca idahoensis plant association 



(JUNSCO/FESIDA; limber pine/Idaho fescue; MTNHP rank G5/S5; 1 plot) 



Environment: This type was sampled once near the crest of the southern Ruby Range near the 

 headwaters of Cottonwood and Stone Creeks. It was confined to moderate to steep, west facing 

 wind impacted slopes near the ridgeline at about 8,600 feet elevation. An extensive stand of old 

 growth PINFLE/FESIDA in good condition was also noted on the western flank of Ruby Peak 

 (T6S R5W SI 7) around 8,800 feet elevation. 



Soils: The plot is located on the Hanson-rock outcrop complex (USDA Soil Conservation Service 

 1989). The Hanson series is a dominant soil in the Ruby Range derived from limestone 

 colluvium. It is classified as a Calcic CryoboroU and is deep and well drained channery loam. 



Vegetation: In structure, the sampled stand is typical of an old-growth woodland, consisting of 

 an open canopy (40% cover) of low-stature old growth Pinus flexilis along with a trace of 

 seedling-sized Pseiidotsuga menziesii. The biggest trees have a diameter at breast height of 24- 

 34", are over 500 years old and fire scars document at least three bums. The shrub Jiiniperns 

 communis is well represented and there is a trace oi Artemisia tridentata ssp. vasyana. The grass 

 component is dominated by Festuca idahoensis, and Agropyron spicatum (syn. Elymus spicatus, 

 Pseudoroegneria spicata) and Poa nervosa are well represented. There is a high diversity of 

 fcrbs, most abundant being Achillea millefolium, Antennaria microphylla, Arenaria congesta, 

 Arnica cordifolia, Mertensia oblongifolia, Microseris nutans and Potentilla gracilis. 



Comments: This stand represents the highest elevation reported for this association in Montana 

 as well as a documented example of one of the oldest stands (field examined cores registered in 

 excess of 500 years). This plant association is represented in existing Resource Natural Areas 

 (RNAs), but there are no examples from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge N. F. or Dillon Resource 

 Area; this stand, though small, could be combined with suiTOunding teiTain as typical for a high 

 elevation mosaic of rangeland and open forest and placed in an RNA. 



Cattle use of this habitat in the Ruby Range is light due to distance from water, whereas summer 

 use by elk is possibly heavy. Cattle use may deplete the bunchgrass component (Pfister et al. 

 1977). Timber productivity is low and the time required for these stands to regenerate and attain 

 their pre-disturbance structure is extremely long (Pfister et al. 1977). 



The sensitive plant Lomatium attenuatum was not seen in this community type in the Ruby 

 Range, but is known from similar habitat on Beaverhead National Forest land in the Tendoy 

 Mountains (Vanderhorst 1995c). 



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