Geographic Distribution. Mid-to-upper elevation conifer forest found in the Siskiyou Mountains and southern Cascades, especially south of Crater Lake.

Structure and Appearance. Closed canopy, multi-story conifer forest typically with a dense understory of shrubs, forbs and ferns.

Composition. Overstory species include: Shasta red fir (Abies magnifica var. shastensis), mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), with white fir (Abies concolor), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta),

Shrubs associated with this type are: dwarf bramble (Rubus lasiococcus), Oregon boxwood (Pachistima myrsinites), pinemat manzanita (Arctostaphylos nevadensis), saddler oak (Quercus sadleriana), and baldhip rose (Rosa gymnocarpa).

Herbs associated with this type are: false Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa), rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongiflora), woods strawberry (Fragaria vesca), white flowered hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum).

Structure and Appearance. This forest type takes on a variety of forms, ranging from multi-story closed canopy forests to open canopy alpine parkland type forest.

Landscape Setting. This montane forest cover type is found at elevations mostly above 4,000 ft. with a tendency towards north aspects, especially when occurring at lower elevations.

References. Atzet and Wheeler, 1984, Atzet et al. 1996, Jimerson et al. 1996, Frenkel and Kiilsgaard 1984.