Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Appendices - USGS

USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
VERY POORLY DRAINED - Free water remains at or within 12 inches of the surface most of the year.
The soils are usually very strongly gleyed. Subsurface horizons usually are of low chroma and yellowish
to bluish hues. Mottling may be present but at the depth in the profile. Very poorly drained soils usually
have a mucky or peaty surface horizon.
Leaf Phenology
Vegetation Description
Select the value which best describes the leaf phenology of the dominant stratum. The dominant stratum
is the uppermost stratum that contains at least 10% cover.
Leaf Type
EVERGREEN - Greater than 75% of the total woody cover is never without green foliage.
COLD DECIDUOUS - Greater than 75% of the total woody cover sheds its foliage in connection
with an unfavorable season mainly characterized by winter frost.
MIXED EVERGREEN-COLD DECIDUOUS - Evergreen and deciduous species generally
contribute 25–75% of the total woody cover. Evergreen and cold-deciduous species admixed.
PERENNIAL - Herbaceous vegetation composed of more than 50% perennial species.
ANNUAL - Herbaceous vegetation composed of more than 50% annual species.
Select one value which best describes the leaf form of the dominant stratum. The dominant stratum is the
uppermost stratum that contains at least 10% cover.
BROAD-LEAVED - Woody vegetation primarily broad-leaved (generally contributes greater
than 50 percent of the total woody cover).
NEEDLE-LEAVED - Woody vegetation primarily needle-leaved (generally contributes greater
than 50 percent cover).
MICROPHYLLOUS - Woody cover primarily microphyllous.
GRAMINOID - Herbaceous vegetation composed of more than 50 percent graminoid/stipe leaf
species.
FORB (BROAD-LEAF-HERBACEOUS) - Herbaceous vegetation composed of more than 50%
broad-leaf forb species.
PTERIDOPHYTE - Herbaceous vegetation composed of more than 50 percent species with frond
or frond-like leaves.
Physiognomic Class
Choose one:
Forest: Trees with their crowns overlapping (generally forming 60–100% cover).
Woodland: Open stands of trees with crowns not usually touching (generally forming 25–
60% cover). Canopy tree cover may be less than 25% in cases where it exceeds
shrub, dwarf-shrub, herb, and nonvascular cover, respectively.
Shrubland: Shrubs generally greater than 0.5 m tall with individuals or clumps overlapping
to not touching (generally forming more than 25% cover, trees generally less
Appendix C: Plot Sampling Form and Field Manual C-20