Very similar to "Westside" Ponderosa Pine Forest (84210), but not quite so tall. Understory often of Sagebrush Scrub (35200) rather than Montane Chaparral (37500), especially in forest openings on dry sites. Pinus ponderosa on the east side of the Sierra-Cascade crest is characterized by shorter, thicker needles; smaller, denser cones and greater cold tolerance than that on the west side. The growth period is probably shorter than in Westside Ponderosa Pine Forest because of the longer, colder winter.
SITE FACTORS:
Similar to Westside Ponderosa Pine Forest (84210) but drier; much colder in winter. Usually on coarse, well-drained basaltic soils. At its lower limits, intergrades with Sagebrush Scrub (35200), Great Basin Grassland (43000) or Northern Juniper Woodland (72110), often on finer-textured, more poorly drained soils. Intermixed with Sierran Mixed Conifer Forest (84230) on moist sites and with Jeffrey Pine Forest (85100) or Washoe Pine-Fir Forest (85220) (represented mostly as hybrids with Pinus ponderosa) in areas of cold air drainage. At its upper limits, Intergrades with Sierran Mixed Conifer Forest (84230) on moist sites (often north-facing slopes) and Jeffrey Pine Forest (85100) on dry sites.
DISTRIBUTION:
East side of the Cascade Range, the northern Sierra Nevada and the plateaus to the east, from Siskiyou and Modoc Cos. to Nevada Co. Intergrades with Westside Ponderosa Pine Forest (84210) west of the Sierran crest in eastern Plumas Co. and Sierra Co. Abundant east of the Cascades in Oregon. Elevation from 4,000-6,000 feet (1200-1800m).
UPDATE: 11/97
Source: Holland, 1986
Digital Text: NatureBase