Flora of Mores Mountain
Trees
When you think of a forest, trees are probably the first thing that comes to mind. Though forests are made up of millions of different species, a forest's trees are the most striking and apparent indicator of the forest's biodiversity and health. The forest of Mores Mountain is primarily comprised of three tree species, see if you can identify each of them, listed below!
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Ponderosa Pines are some of the tallest trees in Idaho. They tower over the understory with thick, plate-like bark and limbs that start about halfway up the tree when mature. These adaptations make them very fire resistant - a critical feature for these long-lived trees. Their needles are five to ten inches long and come in bundles of three. Ponderosa pines also have a very unique smell, to most people they smell like butterscotch.
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
These evergreen trees are very large, with darker foliage and bark than the Ponderosa pine. The needles are short (half inch to one inch in length), flattened, and run in a radial pattern around the stems. The Douglas fir trees in the Mores Mountain area are heavily infected with a parasite called Dwarf Mistletoe, which causes them to form bushy clumps on their branches called brooms. You may have noticed trees that look like they were drawn by Dr. Seuss - that is a tree infected by Dwarf Mistletoe. The parasite spreads through close contact, so the thinning and removal of the trees will allow the forest to recover.
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Commonly referred to as "Aspen," these trees have papery white bark and grow in areas where the soil is consistently moist. They are a favorite food for Elk, which have decimated Aspen populations in areas where there are no predators to keep them in check. It is one of the most geographically widespread tree species in the world, in part because their white bark carries out photosynthesis! Though a stand of Aspen is made up of many trees, each stand is typically only one or two individual organisms, with all the trees being connected. Aspen are a very "weedy" species; they grow so fast that fires help them out by clearing away the competition.
Shrubs
Shrubs are another important feature of forests. In a healthy forest, the shrubs will make a patchwork mosaic, along with trees, forbs, and open spaces. Shrubs are a great source of cover and food for many animal species, and help create the vertical layering of vegetation that provides a good home for wildlife.
Snowbrush Ceanothus (Ceanothus velutinus)
Snowbrush Ceanothus is a common shrub in the Boise National Forest. It has waxy leaves that are about two inches in length and 3/4 inch wide. They have a distinct, herbal smell and are one of the first and most voracious species to recover after a forest fire.
Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)
These shrubs are a common sight in the Boise National Forest. They have distinct leaves with three main lobes, similar to an oversized Sagebrush leaf. The fruit ranges in color from yellow to red, and are a great source of food for birds and bears.
Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Common Snowberry plants have pointed, waxy leaves, similar to Ceanothus. The berries are stark white, and like Currant berries are a favorite food for birds.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers provide beautiful splashes of color across a forest through Spring, Summer, and Fall. Members of a group of plants referred to as forbs, wildflowers provide delicious food for grazing animals and pollinators. People have even used them as pigment sources for paint and dyes!
Ballhead Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum)
This short species of waterleaf is often found in the shade of shrubs, such as those listed above. It has clusters of light lavender flowers that are rougly golf ball sized.
Dwarf Monkeyflower (Mimulus nanus)
Dwarf monkeyflower is a very small, flowering annual that is common in bare soil and on ant hill. The pink flowers look like much smaller snapdragon flowers. These plants have been a favorite subject of study for Idaho botanists.
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.)
These bright little flowers can range in color from yellow to red. The colorful parts are actually special leaves called bracts, the flower petals themselves are inconspicuous. As the name implies, these flowers have been used by people to make paints and dyes.
