Similar to but somewhat shorter than Foxtail Pine Forest (86300), but dominated by Pinus longaeva or Pinus flexilis. The forest is usually quite open, and often occurs in patches rather than dominating extensive areas. The trees are often very contorted and have many dead branches near timberline, but like Foxtail Pine Forest, do not normally form krummholz. The understory may be somewhat more abundant than in Foxtail Pine Forest made up of scattered low shrubs from the Subalpine Sagebrush Scrub (35220) and of Cushion plants. Growth and flowering, especially of the smaller plants, is concentrated in early midsummer, probably limited by drought later in the summer and by low temperature the rest of the year.
SITE FACTORS:
Very similar to Foxtail Pine Forest (86300), but drier and probably with greater extremes of temperature. The driest of the California subalpine forests and probably one of the driest anywhere. Best developed on relatively mesic sites, such as north-facing slopes. Occurs on a variety of rock and soil types, with Pinus longaeva usually dominant on dolomitic outcrops and Pinus flexilis often more common on substrates. Individuals of the former species may live for over 4,000 years, with the longest lived trees usually occurring on the poorest sites. Occasionally occurs as low as the upper limits of Nevadan Pinyon-Juniper Woodland (72120) but more often intergrades with Subalpine Sagebrush Scrub (35220) on drier sites. Replaced above timberline by White Mountains Fell Fields (91140).
DISTRIBUTION:
Most extensive development in California in the White Mtns. of Inyo and Mono Cos. More scattered in the Inyo Mtns., Inyo Co. An isolated sparse stand occurs on Telescope Peak, Panamint Range, Inyo Co., and a small isolated stand of Pinus longaeva occurs in the Last Chance Range, Inyo Co. Also on several of the Great Basin Ranges in Nevada. Elevation 9,500-11,500 feet (2880-3490m).
UPDATE: 11/97
Source: Holland, 1986
Digital Text: NatureBase