By: Beatrice Guillermo

1
Montane Colorado

• By Beatrice Guillermo

Blue Columbine
Mariposa Lily
2
Physical Description

• Elevation 8,000 to 10,000 ft
• Mean temperature-
• Annual Precipitation between 15 to 21 inches
• Primary Plants- Dwarf Mistletoe, Antelope
  Bitterbrush,
• Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa Pine
• Primary Animals- Western Bluebird, Yellow-Rump
  Warbler, Red Crossbill, Aberts Squirrel,
  Porcupine, Nuttalls Cottontail, Purlplish
  Fritillary, etc. (2)

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Dwarf Mistletoe
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Antelope Bitterbrush

• Latin Name Purshia tridentata
• Native Habitat Western U. S. and Canada from sea
  level to 10,000 feet
• Soil Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam
  low in organic content, well drained
• Water Once per month
• Height X Width Maximum 9 feet X 8 feet, usual 5
  feet X 5 feet
• Protective Mechanism None
• Leaves Dark green above, white wooly below,
  evergreen, aromatic
• Garden Suitability Thornless, Moonlight,
  Songbird, Fragrance, Mountain
• Ornamental Value Fragrant with yellow flowers
• Nature Value Browsed by wildlife
• Native American Uses Seed coat used to make
  purple dye, bark used for diaper and padding,
  limbs used to make arrows

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Aspen
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Ponderosa Pine
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Western Bluebird
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Yellow-Rump Warbler
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Purlplish Fritillary
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Colorado Coyote
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References

• Dieterich, J. H. and Hibbert, A. R. 1988. Fire
  history in a small ponderosa pine stand
  surrounded by chaparral in central Arizona. In
  Krannes, J. S., editor. Effects of fire
  management of southwestern natural nesources
  Proceedings of the Symposium, Tucson, AZ. General
  Technical Report RM-191. USDA Forest Service,
  Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment
  Station, Fort Collins, CO.
• lthttp//cpluhna.nau.edu/Biota/montane_scrub.htmgt
• Colorados Ecosystems. Birding Basics. 2009.
  Colorado Birding Trail.
• lthttp//www.coloradobirdingtrail.com/basics/montan
  e_forest.phpgt
• Montane Ecosystem. Rocky Mountain. National
  Park. 31 Jan. 2008
• lthttp//www.nps.gov/romo/naturescience/montane_eco
  system.htmgt
• Aberts Squirrel. Nature Works. 2009. New
  Hampshire Public Television.
• lthttp//www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/abertssquirrel.h
  tmgt
• Seasons, Plants, Animals. Montane Forests
  Life Zone.
• http//shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/C
  oloradoLifeZones_Montane_Forests.htm