Open Coniferous Forest: Plants

Mammals

Birds

Amphibians/Reptiles

Arthropods

Bryophytes/Lichens

Arrow-leaved balsamroot

This showy plant blooms throughout the southern interior grasslands on dry, open slopes in May and early June. Large green-blue basal leaves on long stalks are arrow head shaped and covered in tiny white hairs. Single composite flowers on long stems grow above the tops of the leaves.

The whole plant is edible and was an important food source for First Nations.

Snowbrush

Snowbrush is a sprawling shrub growing up to two metres tall. Oval leaves with raggged edges and three main veins have fine hairs on the underside that help prevent moisture loss. Tiny white, spicy-scented flowers grow in pyramid-shaped clusters near the ends of the branches. Seed capsules are hard and explode to reveal three shiny seeds. The seeds are heat-resistant and can remain dormant for as long as 200 years, opening up when exposed to extreme heat due to fire. 

Ponderosa Pine

The ponderosa pine is a large conifer growing to 40 metres tall. The bark is flaky, cinnamon coloured and has many dark cracks giving it a jigsaw puzzle appearance. On warm days the smell of vanilla in the cracks can be very strong. The long, evergreen needles grow in bunches of three and the large cones have a sharp point on the end of each scale.

Many small mammals and birds feed on the seeds and elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep rely on ponderosa pine forests for winter protection and food.

Want to find out about species at risk in open coniferous forest?
Go to Species at Risk