Figure 7. -- Key to Climax Series, Habitat Types, and Phases

Figure 7. -- Key to climax series, habitat types, and phases.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!

1. Use this key for stands wi th a mature tree canopy phase description that fits the stand is the correct that are not severely disturbed by grazing, logging, one. ) forest fire, etc. (If the stand is severely disturbed or in an early successional stage, the habitat type 6. Use the definitions diagramed below for canopy cover can best be determined by extrapolating from the near age terms in the key. I f you have difficulty decid est mature Stand occupying a simi lar site.) ing between types, refer to constancy and coverage data (appendix c-1) and the habi tat type descriptions. 2. Accurate ly identi fy and record canopy coverages for all indicator species (appendix F). 7. In stands where undergrowth is obviously depauperate (unusually sparse) because of dense shading or duff 3. Check plot data in the field to accumulations, adjust the above definitions to the verify that the plot is representa next lower coverage class (e.g., well represented >1%, tive of the stand as a whole. If common >0%). not, take another plot. 8. Remember, the key is NOT the classification! Validate 4. Identify the correct potential the determination made using the key by checking the climax tree species in the SERIES written description. key. (Generally, a tree species is considered reproducing suc cessfully if 10 or more individ uals per acre occupy or will occupy the si te.)

5. Wi thin the appropriate series, key to HABITAT TYPE by following the key literally. Determine PHASE by matching the stand con di tions with the phase descrip tions for the type. (The first

KEY TO CLIMAX SERIES

(DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!)

1. Habitats on steep slopes (300)composed primarily of unstable fine rock; undergrowth sparse, poorly developed and quite variable. SCREE (p. 121) 1. Habitats on sites with some soil development and stability; undergrowth rather well developed and somewhat uniform ...

2. Tsuga heterophylla present and reproducing successfully TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA SERIES (item G) 2. Tsuga heterophylla not the indicated climax .. 3

3. Thuja plicata present and reproducing successfully .... . THUJA PLICATA SERIES (item F) 3. Thuja plicata not the indicated climax ...... 4

4. Abies grandis present and reproducing more successfully than Abies TiiSl:OCarpa...... ABIES GRANDIS SERIES (item E) 4. Abies grandis not the indicated climax ...... 5

5. Abies lasiocarpa, Tsuga mertensiana, or Larix lyallii present and reproducing successfully, or Pinus al bicaul is the dominant tree ABIES LASIOCARPA SERIES (item I) 5. Not as above ...... -. -.- ...... 6

6. Picea present and reproducing successfully. . . PICEA SERIES (item D) 6. Picea not the indicated climax ...... 7

7. Pinus flexilis a successfully reproducing dominant; often sharing that status with Pseudotsuga ...... PINUS FLEXILIS SERIES (item A) 7. Pinus flexilis absent or clearly seral...... 8

8. Pseudotsuga menziesii present and reproducing successfully. PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII SERIES (item C) 8. Pseudotsuga menziesii not the indicated climax ...... 9

9. Pure Pinus contort a stands, with 1 itt Ie evidence as to potential climax.-:-.-.-.-.- ...... PINUS CONTORTA SERIES (item H) 9. Pinus contort a absent; Pinus ponderosa the indicated cl imax . . . PINUS PONDEROSA SERIES (item B)

A. Key to Pinus flexilis Habitat Types

1. Festuca idahoensis well represented or F. scabrella common. PINUS FLEXILIS/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS h.t. (p. 25) --- a. Festuca scabrella common.-. -.-.-.-.-... . FESTUCA SCABRELLA phase b. F. scabrella scarce ...... FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS phase 1. F. idahoens is poorly represented and.!:.. scabrella scarce. 2

2. Agropyron spicatum well represented ...... PINUS. FLEXILIS/ AGROPYRON SPICATUM h. t. (p. 24) 2. 12. spicatum poorly represented; Juniperus communis (or ;!. horizontalis) well represented . . -.-.-. -.-. .PINUS FLEXILIS/JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS h.t. (p. 26)

PUBLISHED AS PART OF "FOREST HABITAT TYPES OF r-DNTANA" - INT 1977 B. Key to Pinus ponderosa !labi tat Types

]. Prunus virginiana well represented; only in southeastern Montana PINUS PONDEROSA/PRUNUS YIRGINIANA h.t. (p. 34) a. Shepherdia canadensis well represented SHEPHERDIA CANADENSIS phase b. Shepherdia poorly represented PRlfNUS YIRGINIANA phase ]. f.. virginiana poorly represented .....

2. Symphoricarpos al bus we 11 represented PINUS PONDEROSA/SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS h. t. (p. 33) a. Berberis repens common BERBERIS REPENS phase b. Berberis scarce . " .. SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS phase 2. ~. albus poorly represented . . . . .

3. ·Purshia tridentata well represented ...... PINUS PONDEROSA/PURSHIA TRIDENTATA h. t. (p. 32) a. Festuca idahoensis well represented or F. scabrella common FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS phase b. I. idahoensis poorly represented and F. -scabrella scarce AGROPYRON SPICATU~l phase 3. Purshia poorly represented ...... -:- .-.-.-. -.-.

4. Festuca idahoensis well represented or F. scabrella common PINUS PONDEROSA/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS h.t.(p. 31) a. Festuca scabrella common .. -:- .-.-.-. -.- .. . FESTUCA SCABRELLA phase b. F. scabrella scarce ...... FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS phase 4. I. idahoensis poorly represented and £.. scabrella scarce .

5. !-gropyron spicatum well represented ...... PINUS PONDEROSA/AGROPYRON SPICATUM h.t. (p. 30) 5. ~. spicatum poorly represented; Andropogon spp. well represented PINUS PONDEROSA/ ANDROPOGON h. t. (p. 30)

C. Key to Pseudotsuga menziesi i Habi tat Types

1. Yaccinium caespi tosum present .... PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/YACCINIUM CAESPITOSUM h.t.(p. 39) 1 . .'::.. caespi tosum absent ...... 2

2. Physocarpus malvaceus or lIolodiscus discolor well represented PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/PHYSOCARPUS MALYACEUS h. t. (p. 41) a. Calamagrostis rubescens and/or Carex geyeri are the dominant undergrowth ...... CALAMAGROSTIS RUBESCENS phase b. Physocarpus and/or Holodiscus dominate the undergrowth. PHYSOCARPUS MALVACEUS phase 2. Physocarpus and Holodiscus poorly represented

3. Linnaea borealis common ...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/LINNAEA BOREALIS h. t. (p. 44) --- a.symphoricarpos albus well represented SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS phase b. Yaccinium globulare well represented YACCINIUM GLOBULARE phase c. Not as above ...... CALA}1AGROSTIS RUBESCENS phase 3. Linnaea scarce ......

4. Yaccinium globulare or XerophYllum ~ well represented PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/VACCINIUM GLOBULARE h.t.(p. 43) a. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Pinus pcnderosa common ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UYA-URSI phase b. Xerophyllum common ...... XEROPHYLLUM TEN AX phase c. Not as above ...... YACCINIUM GLOBULARE phase 4. Yaccinium globulare and Xerophyllum tenax poorly represented

5. Symphoricarpos albus well represented ...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS h.t.(p. 45) a. Bunchgrasses well represented in old-growth stands AGROPYRON SPICATUM phase b. Calamagrostis rubescens well represented CALAMA(;ROSTIS RUBESCENS phase c. Not as above ...... SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS phase 5. ~. albus poorly represented ......

6. Calamagrostis rubescens well represented ...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/CALAMAGROSTIS RUBESCENS h.t. (p. 47) a. Bunchgrasses well represented in old-growth stands AGROPYRON SPICATUM phase b. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi common; sites capable of supporting Pinus ponderosa and not too dry for Pinus contorta (or Larix occidentalis) ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UYA-URSI phase c. Pinus ponderosa common PINUS PONDEROSA phase d. Not as above . . . . . CALAMAGROSTIS RUBESCENS phase 6. C. rubescens poorly represented

7. Carex geyeri we 11 represented . PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/CAREX GEYERI h.t.(p. 51) 7. f. geyeri poorly represented . 8

8. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi welJ represented and Pinus ponderosa present ...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UYA-URSI h. t. (p. 52) 8. Arctostaphylos poorly represented or stands above elevational limi ts of Pinus ponderosa ......

9. Juniperus communis (or {. horizontal is) dominates the undergrowth PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS h.t. (p. 53) 9. :!.. communis not the dominant undergrowth plant 10

10. Spiraea betulifolia well represented .... . PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/SPIRAEA BETULIFOLIA h.t. (p. 52) 10. ~. betulifolia poorly represented ...... 11

11. Arnica cordifolia or Antennaria racemosa the dominant undergrowth PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/ARNICA CORDIFOLIA h.t. (p. 54) 11. ~difolia and ~. ~ not the dominant undergrowth 12

12. Festuca scabre lla common ...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/FESTUCA SCABRELLA h. t. (p. 38) 12. £.. scabrella scarce ...... 13

13. Symphoricarpos oreophilus well represented and Festuca idahoensis scarce ...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/SYMPHORICARPOS OREOPHILUS h.t.(p. 55) 13. Not as aoove ...... • 14

14. Festuca idahoensis common; Pinus ponderosa scarce .• PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS h. t. (p. 38) 14. ~O~llY scarce; Agropyron spicatum well represented; Pinus ponderosa usually common . . . . . PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/AGROPYRON SPICATUM h.t.(p. 37) D. Key to Picea Babi tat Types

1. Equiseturn spp. abundant ... PICEA/EQUISETU~1 ARVENSE h. t. (p. 58) Equiseturn spp. not abundant . 2

2. Clintonia uniflora, Comus canadensis, or Aralia nudicaulis present (si tes in northwestern Montana). PICEA/CLINTONIA UNIFLORA h. t. (p. 59) a. Vaccinium caespi tosum present . VACCINIU~1 CAESPITOSUM phase b. Y... caespi tosurn absent ...... CLINTONIA UNI FLORA phase 2. Not as above ...... 3

3. Physocarpus malvaceus well represented PICEA/PHYSOCARPUS ~1ALVACEUS h.t. (p. 61) 3. Physocarpus poorly represented . . . . 4

4. Two of these moist-site forbs present: Galiurn triflorum, Streptopus amplexifolius, Actaea rubra -.------PICEA/GALIUM TRIFLORUM h. t. (p. 62) 4. Not as above ...... 5

5. Vacciniurn caespi tosurn present PICEA/VACCINIUM CAESPITOSUM h.t. (p. 62) 5. Y... caespi tosum absent . . . 6

6. Linnaea borealis common . PICEA/LINNAEA BOREALIS h.t.(p. 64) 6. Linnaea scarce...... 7

7. Smilacina ste11ata or Thalictrurn occidentale present PICEA/SMILACINA STELLATA h.t. (p. 65) 7. Not as above; Senecio streptanthi fo lius present; undergrowth depauperate ...... " ...... PICEA/SENECIO STREPTANTHIFOLIUS h. t. (p. 63) a. Pseudotsuga menziesii common...... PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII phase b. Pseudotsuga scarce (stands above its elevational limits) . . . . PICEA phase

E. Key to Abies grandis Habitat Types

1. Clintonia uniflora present ...... ABIES GRANDIS/CLINTONIA UNIFLORA h. t. (p. 67) ----a. Aralia nudicaulis, Gymnocarpiurn dryopteris, Athyrium filix- femina common . . . ARALIA NUDICAULIS phase b. xer

2. Linnaea borealis common ...... ABIES GRANDIS/LINNAEA BOREALIS h. t. (p. 69) --a-. xer

F. & G. Key to Thuja and Tsuga heterophylla Habi tat Types

1. Oplopanax horridum well represented THUJA PLICATA/OPLOPANAX HORRIDUM h. t. (p. 73) 1. Oplopanax poorly represented ...... 2

2. Tsuga heterophylla present and reproducing successfully TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA/CLINTONIA UNIFLORA h. t. (p. 74) a. Aralia nudicaulis, Gymnocarpiurn dryopteris, or Athyri urn fil ix- femina commOn ...... ARALIA NUDICAULIS phase b. Not as above ...... CLINTONIA UNIFLORA phase 2. Tsuga heterophylla absent or not reproducing successfully THUJA PLICATA/CLINTONIA UNIFLORA h. t. (p. 71) a. Aralia nudicaulis, Gymnocarpiurn dryopteris, or Athyriurn filix-femina common ARALIA NUDICAULIS phase b. Menziesia"""""feTrugrnea-common MENZIESIA FERRUGINEA phase Not as above • ...... CLINTONIA UNIFLORA phase

H. Key for Pinus contorta Communi ties

1. Clintonia uniflora present ...... ABIES LASIOCARPA/CLINTONIA UNIFLORA h. t. (p. 82) 1. Clintonia absent...... 2 2. Two of these moist-site forbs present: Galium triflorum, Actaea rubra, Streptopus amplexifolius ------ABIES LASIOCARPA/GALIUM TRIFLORUM h. t. (p. 86) 2. Not as above ...... • • . . . . . 3 3. Calamagrostis canadensis well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/CALAMAGROSTIS CANADENSIS h.t. (p. 88) 3. f. canadensis poorly represented 4 4. Vaccinium caespi tosum present PINUS CONTORTA/VACCINIUM CAESPITOSUM comm. type(p. 118) 4. Y... caespi tosum absent 5 5. Linnaea borealis common . . PINUS CONTORTA/LINNAEA BOREALIS comm. type (p. 119) 5. Linnaea scarce-:- ...... 6 6. Xerophyllum tenax common ABIES LASIOCARPA/XEROPHYLLUM TENAX h.t. (p. 94) 6. Xerophyllurn scarce ... 7 7. Vaccinium globulare well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/VACCINIUM GLOBULARE h. t. (p. 97) 7. Y... globulare poorly represented . . 8 8. Vaccinium scoparium well represented PINUS CONTORTA/VACCINIUM SCOPARIUM comm. type (p. 119) 8. Y... scopariurn poorly represented ... 9 9. Calamagrostis rubescens well represented PINUS CONTORTA/CALAMAGROSTIS RUBESCENS comm. type(p. 120) 9. f. rubescens poorly represented 10 10. Carex geyeri well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/CAREX GEYER I h. t. (p. 105) 10. f.. geyeri poorly represented 11 11. Juniperus communis (or L horizontalis) the maj or undergrowth PSEUOOTSUGA MENZIESII/JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS h.t. (p. 53) 11. Not as above; Purshia t.ridentata present ...... •... PINUS CONTORTA/PURSHIA TRIDENTATA h.t.(p. 117) I _ Key to Abies lasiocarpa Hahitat Types

A_ Sites at or above the cold Limits of Pseudotsuga anJ also meeting one of the following cri~ (a) Pinus albicaulis well represented; (b) Luzula hitchcockii present; (c) Ribes montigenum prescnt: (d) Stands~timbcrlinc UPPER SUBALPINE AND TI~IBERLINE h. t. s. 17 A_ ~~ot as above LOWER SUBALPINE h. t. s. 1_ Oplopanax horridum well represented_ ABIES LASIOCARPA/OPLOPANAX HORRIDU~1 h.t. (p. 81) 1_ Q£.~opanax poorly represented 2_ Clintonia uniflora present ABIES LASIOCARPA/CLINTONIA UNIFLORA h. t. (p. 82) --- a_ Aralia nudicaulis. Gymnocarpium dryopteris. or Athvrium filix-femina common ARALIA NUDICAULIS phase b _ ~lenzie~ia ferruginea well represented ~IENZIESIA FERRUGI~IEA phase Vaccinium caespitosum or Arctostaphylos uva-ursi common VACCINIU'1 CAESPITOSUn phase d _ Xerophyllum tenax well represented XEROPHYLLUn TENAX phase e. Not as above. CLI'ITONIA lINIFLORA phase 2 _ (1 intonia absent 3 3_ Menziesia ferruginea well represented_ 3_ Menziesia poorly represented TSUGA ~fERTENSIN,A/nENZIESIA FERRUGPIEA h. t. (p. 94) 4. ~ mertensiana well represented. 4 _ ~ mertensiana poorly represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/'IENZIESIA FERRUGINEA h.t. (p. 92) 5 _ Calamagrostis canadensis. Senecio triangularis. or Ledum glandulosum well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/CALN.IAGROSTlS CANADENSIS h.t. (p. 88) a. Galium triflorum or Actaea rubra present_ GALIUH TRIFLORlJl.l phase b. Vaccinium caespitosum prese~ VACCINIUM CAESPITOSU~1 phase c _ Not as abo-ve-.--- CALAl-IAGROSTIS CANADENSIS phase S. f.- canadensis. ~. triangularis. and Ledum poorly represented 6_ Two of these moist-site forbs present: Galium triflorum. Actaea rUbra, Streptopus amplexifolius ----- ABIES LASIOCARPA/GALIUM TRIFLORUM h.t. (p. 86) 6. Not as above 7 7. Vaccinium caespi tosum present. ABIES LASIOCARPA/VACCINIU~1 CAESPITOSll~1 h. t. (p. 87) 7. ~. caespitosum absent_ 8 8_ Linnaea borealis common ABIES LASIOCARPA/LINNAEA BOREALIS h. t. (p. 90) --~erophyllum tenax well represented. XEROPHYLLlJr-l TENAX phase b _ Vaccinium scoparium well represented. VACCINIUtf SCOPARIlJt.l phase c. Not as above_ . LINNAEA BOREALIS phase 8. Linnaea scarce . . 9_ Alnus sinuata well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/ ALNUS SINUATA h. t. (p. 100) 9. ~. sinuata poorly represented 10 10. Xerophyllum tenax conunon II 10. Xerophyllum scarce .. 12 11. ~ mertensiana well represented. TSUGA HERTENSIA.'IA/XEROPHYLLlJI.l TENAX h. t. (p. 97) 11. ~ mertensiana poorly represented ABIES LASlOCARPA/XEROPHYLLlJl4 TENAX h.t. (p. 94) a_ Vaccinium globulare poorly represented and ~. scoparium abundant VACCINIWI SCOPARIU~1 phase b _ Not as above. · VACCINIUM GLOBULARE phase 12. Vaccinium globulare well represented ABIES LASlOCARPA/VACCINIUM GLOBULARE h. t. (p. 97) 12. ~ ... globulare poorly represented. . . . 13 13_ Vac.cinium scoparium (including}{. myrtillus) well represented . . _ ABIES LASlOCARPA/VACCINJUM SCOPARIlIM h.t. (p. 98) Calamagrostis rubescens common and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi or Berberis repens present _ · CALAl-IAGROSTIS RUBESCENS phase b. Thalictrum occidentale corronon or Viola orbiculata or Valeriana sitchensis present . · THALICTRur,1 OCCIDENTALE phase c. Not as above. VACCINIUfl SCOPARIUM phase 13. ~. scoparium poorly represented_ 14

14. Clematis pseudoalpina (including ~. tenuiloba) present or Pinus flexilis corronon. (Sites usually on calcareous substrate-s.-) -- . ABIES LASIOCARPA/CLEt,fATIS PSEUDOALPINA h. t. (p. 102) 14. f: pseudoalpina absent and Pinus flexilis scarce. 15 15. Calamagrostis rubescens well represented. ABIES LASIOCARPA/CALAHAGROSTIS RUBESCENS h.t. (p. 101) 15. .f.- rubescens poorly represented_ 16 16. Carex geyeri well represented under well-developed forest canopies . ABIES LASIOCARPA/CAREX GEYERI h.t. (p. 105) Pseudotsuga well represented; Carex geyeri - sharing dominance in the undergrowth with forbs such as Thalictrum...... PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII phase b. Pseudotsuga poorly represented; undergrowth dominated by ~. geyeri alone. CAREX GEYERI phase 16. ~. geyeri poorly represented . ABIES LASIOCARPA/ ARNICA CORDIFOLIA h. t. (p. 103) 17. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii scarce and Pinus albicaulis the indicated climax .. PINUS ALBICAULIS h.t.s. (p. 114) 17. NOtas~ 18 18_ Timberline habitats; Abies lasiocarpa stunted; Pinus contort a and Menziesia ferruginea absent 19 18. Forest habitat;;; Abies lasiocarpa tall (generally SO feet or more at maturity) 20 19. Larix lya11ii present. LARIX LYALLII-ABIES LASIOCARPA h.t.s. (p. 112) 19. Larix lya11ii absent .. PINUS ALBICAULIS-ABIES LASIOCARPA h.t.s (p. Ill) 20. Calamagrost is canadensis. Senecio triangularis, or Ledum glandulosum well represented .... ABIES LASIOCARPA/CALAl-IAGROSTIS CANADENSIS h. t. (p. 88] 20. C. canadensis, S. triangularis, and Ledum poorly represented . . .-.-.-. . . . . 21 21. Luzula hi tchcockii present or Menziesia ferruginea well represented . . _ . . . - ...... - 22 21. ~. hitchcockii absent and Menziesia poorly represented 23 22. Tsuga mertensiana well represented .. TSUGA MERTENSIAl-IA/LUZULA HITCHCOCKII h. t. (p. 110] -- ~nziesia ferruginea well presented. MENZIESIA FERRUGINEA phase b. Menziesia poorly represented . . . VACCINIUM SCOPARIlJI.l phase 22. ~ mertensiana poorly represented . . . - ABIES LASIOCARPA/LUZULA HITCHCOCKII h. t. (p. 108) a_ Menziesia ferrUginea well represented HENZIESIA FERRUGINEA phase b. Menziesia poorly represented ... . VACCINIUM SCOPARIlJI.f phase

23. Vaccinium scoparium (including ~. myrti11us) ABIES LASIOCARPA-PINUS ALBICAULIS/VACCINIUM SCOPARIU~l Carex geyeri well represented ...... h. t. (p. 107j 23. Not as above; Ribes montigenum present ... ABIES LASIOCARPA/RIBES MONTIGENUM h.t. (p. 106)