PONDEROSA PINE/BLUEBUNCH W HEATGRASS-SILKY LUPINE Pinus ponderosa/Pseudoroegneria spicata-Lupinus sericeus

These open forests have a canopy of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) often mixed with Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The shrub layer is sparse, with saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) (PPdh1), and wood rose (Rosa woodsii) (PPdh2). The herb layer is dominated by grasses, in particular bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), with also junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), fescues (Festuca spp.), and needlegrasses (Achnatherum and Hesperostipa spp.). With increased disturbance to the community, grasses such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) may become dominant. This plant community also has a variety of forbs, but with low cover. Forbs include silky lupine (Lupinus sericeus), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea), arrow-leaved balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), nodding onion (Allium cernuum) (PPdh1), and prairie crocus (Anemone patens) (PPdh2) (Braumandl and Curran [compilers and editors] 1992).