Very similar to Sierran White Fir Forest (84240) and Red Fir Forest (85310) but not so tall or dense. Typically consists of nearly pure stands of Abies concolor which grows to about 30m tall. The southern Californian stands of this species, especially the Mojave Desert disjuncts, show some affinity to the Rocky Mountain form (Griffin and Critchfield 1972). The understory is sparse, with scattered Montane Chaparral shrubs (37500) in the openings and with moderate accumulation of needle litter and downed branches. Growth is most active from early to midsummer, probably limited by drought in late summer and by low temperatures.
SITE FACTORS:
Similar to Sierran White Fir Forest (84240), but higher, colder and probably drier. Similar to Red Fir Forest (85310) and probably its southern equivalent, but drier. Usually confined to steep, north-facing slopes where snow lingers until late spring. The soil is usually rocky and well drained. Intergrades at its lower elevational limit or on drier sites with Jeffery Pine-Fir Forest (85210). Replaced at its upper limit by Lodgepole Pine Forest (86100).
DISTRIBUTION:
Scattered in the southern Sierra Nevada and the highest parts of the Tehachapi Mts., Kern Co.; on Mt. Pinos, Ventura-Kern Co. line; common in the higher portions of the western San Gabriel Mtns., Los Angeles-San Bernardino Cos.; the San Bernardino Mtns., San Bernardino Co. and the San Jacinto-Santa Rosa Mtns., Riverside Co. Elevation usually 7,500-9,500 feet (2300-2880m).
UPDATE: 10/86
Source: Holland, 1986
Digital Text: NatureBase