6,500 feet. Adjacent relatively moist drainages often support 

 the Pseudotsuqa menziesii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus type. 

 PSEMEN/CERLED integrades to the Cercocarpus ledif olius / Aqropyron 

 spicatum type. 



Vegetation- Pseudotsuqa menziesii and Juniperus scopulorum form 

 a very open tree layer (combined cover may be as low as 1 to 5%) . 

 The undergrowth is dominated by an abundance of Cercocarpus 

 ledif olius . Aqropyron spicatum is generally well represented. 

 Other characteristic species include Carex rossii . Hymenoxys 

 acaulis , Koeleria pyramidata , Musineon vaqinatum , and Phlox 

 hoodii . Combined bryophyte and lichen cover averages less than 

 20% of the ground surface. 



Soils- Soils underlying the PSEMEN/CERLED type are derived from 

 calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of gravel and rock 

 on the ground surface generally exceeds 50% and bare soil cover 

 exceeds 5%. Soils are typically shallow and the soil subgroup at 

 our single soil characterization site was a Lithic Ustic 

 Torriorthent . The single pH measurement was 7.5, and 

 conductivity v;as 242 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). 



Other Studies- This type has been previously described primarily 

 in southwestern Montana by DeVelice (1992). Similar communities 

 occur in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). 



Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 



10. Pseudotsuqa menziesii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus c.t. 



(PSEMEN/SYMORE; Douglas-f ir/mountain snowberry) 



(3 Stands) 



Environment- PSEMEN/SYMORE is found on northerly slopes and 

 drainages at elevations between 5,000 to 6,500 feet. Vegetation 

 on adjacent shallov/er soils and in drier situations includes the 

 Pinus flexi lis - Juniperus scopulorum and Artemisia 

 a r bus cula / Aqropyron spicatum types. 



Vegetation- Pseudotsuqa menziesii dominates the tree stratum on 

 most sites. Pinus f lexilis and/or Juniperus scopulorum may be 

 well represented. The undergrowth is generally very sparse with 

 few species other than Symphoricarpos oreophilus ever exceeding 

 1% cover. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover may exceed 15% of 

 the ground surface. 



Soils- Soils underlying the PSEMEN/SYMORE type are generally 

 derived from calcareous parent materials (in the Pryor 

 Mountains). Combined cover of bare soil, gravel, and rock on the 

 ground surface is generally less than 5%. The soil subgroups at 

 our two soil characterization sites were a Typic Argiboroll and a 

 Calcic Cryoboroll. Surface textures varied from loam to clay 



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