DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Larix lyallii | Alpine Larch 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Alpine larch occupies two mountain systems:  the northern Rockies and
northern Cascades [3,16].  It can be found on high mountains in southern
British Columbia and Alberta, north-central Washington, north-central
and east-central Idaho, and western Montana [1,13,23].  Alpine larch
exhibits a highly discontinuous distribution, which is believed to be a
remnant of a continuous range existing at a time when cooler, more
extensive timberline habitat existed [1,3].  Typical alpine larch stands
are often isolated pockets of open, parklike groves, less than 0.05 acre
(0.2 ha) [3].


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES23  Fir - spruce
   FRES25  Larch


STATES : 
     ID  MT  WA  AB  BC


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS : 
     GLAC  NOCA


BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
   2  Cascade Mountains
   8  Northern Rocky Mountains


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K004  Fir - hemlock forest
   K015  Western spruce - fir forest


SAF COVER TYPES : 
   205  Mountain hemlock
   206  Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir
   208  Whitebark pine
   212  Western larch


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
Alpine larch is a dominant species occupying the timberline habitat type
within the subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) series [23].  Principal
associates include whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), subalpine fir, and
Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) [3].  Major undergrowth species
include mountain-heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis), smooth woodrush
(Luzula hitchcockii), and grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium)
[3,9,23].  See successional status for more information.

Publications listing alpine larch as an indicator or dominant species in
habitat types (hts), community types (cts), or vegetation types (vts)
are listed below:

Area           Classification            Authority

  MT           forest  hts               Pfister & others 1977
n ID           general veg. cts          Cooper & others  1991
s AB           general veg. vts          Holland & others 1982

Related categories for Species: Larix lyallii | Alpine Larch