MAPPING UNIT ATTRIBUTE CODE: 42011

MAPPING UNIT NAME: Blue Spruce type.

DOMINANT SPECIES: Blue spruce (Picea pungens)

DESCRIPTION: Forested areas dominated by blue spruce. Due to the
riparian nature of this species, the mixed composition typical of riparian
areas, and the size of the minimum mapping unit, this type may not often
be represented as a primary vegetation type. Distinguish from forested
riparian type when blue spruce is over 26% of the total canopy cover.

DISTRIBUTION: Found along streams and rivers and in other wet to mesic
habitats throughout Colorado.

ELEVATION RANGE: 2134-3550m (7000-9500')

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES: Picea pungens

NOTES: This type is often found where middle elevation streams pass
through sheltered valleys or canyons (Peet, 1988). It occurs along major
streams at lower to middle elevations in the Spanish Peaks area. In Rocky
Mountain National Park it is regularly encountered along streams between
1800 and 2300m and becomes increasingly important south of Denver (Peet,
1978).

Habitat and community type for the Picea pungens series include on warm
moist sites, Amelanchier alnifolia and Poa pratensis (both are generally
riparian situations). On warm dry sites, it is associated with Arctostaphylos
uva ursi, and Festuca arizonica. On cool moist sites it is associated with
Linnaea borealis, Carex foenea, Arnica cordifolia (in riparian situations),
Erigeron eximius, and Swida sericea (in riparian situations). Because of it's
riparian nature, P. pungens can be found in association with most of the
trees of the montane zone including P. menziesii, A. lasiocarpa, P.
angustifolia, A. concolor, P. flexilis, P. tremuloides, P. ponderosa, and P.
engelmannii (Alexander, 1987).