Montane communities

Montane Forest This forms the transition between the rainforest of mid-elevations and the elfin woodland of the summit. The main canopy is 20-30 m high and trunks are mossy but otherwise free of epiphytes. Dominant trees include bois bandé (Richeria grandis) and the gymnosperm, Podocarpus coriaceus. Morne Diablotin, Dominica (photo © Sean Carrington)

Montane forest at Morne Diablotin, Dominica. The large-leaved epiphytes are Anthurium hookeri. The buttressed tree is Carapite (Amanoa caribaea) endemic to Dominica and Guadeloupe. (photo © Hazel Oxenford)	Montane forest at Morne Diablotin, Dominica. Buttressed root trees are common. The yellowing leaf at the top is of another dominant tree Sterculia caribaea, also a Lesser Antillean endemic. (photo © Hazel Oxenford)
Environmental conditions Typically > 750 m. This forest occurs in the montane zone where there is no dry season and there is always excess water.
Caribbean Vegetation Mapping Project Equivalent I.A.1.N.c. Montane tropical or subtropical rain forest Cordia elliptica - Chimarrhis cymosa - Tovomita plumieri - Pouteria chrysophylloides Forest Alliance at http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/tnc/products/report/append1.html

Elfin woodland A low, impenetrable thicket of dwarfed, gnarled trees found on wind-swept, cloud-shrouded, mountain summits. As the picture at right (Morne Diablotin, Dominica) shows, the path is in the trees and one must climb along the dwarfed trunks of kaklen (Clusia mangle). Trunks and branches are covered with festoons of mosses and liverworts. Epiphytes and small climbers abound and a luxuriant herbaceous ground layer may be present. Leaves may be scorched by the constant wind. Several endemic species may be found in this community. Typical trees include Clusia and Charianthus spp. Also known as Mossy Forest as well as cloud forest although the latter may not be stunted and can refer to any woodland community enshrouded in mist.

Mt Pelée, Martinique (photo © Hazel Oxenford)	Mt Qua Qua (670 m or 2,200 ft), Grand Etang, Grenada (photo © Colin Turnbull)

Morne Diablotin, Dominica (summit 1447 m) (photo © Sean Carrington)	Blue Mountains, Jamaica, cloud forest. Note the taller trees! (Photo © Hazel Oxenford)
The Plants...	Those exposed to the wind often have thick leathery leaves (left) while those in shelter simply take advantage of the very wet conditions (below).


Epiphytic wild fuschia (Alloplectus cristatus) in Grenadian elfin woodland (photo © Sean Carrington)	Epiphytic shrub (Psychotria guadalupensis) in Grenadian elfin woodland (photo © Sean Carrington)
	The beautiful moss-laden mountain fuschia, Charianthus nodosus, of the family Melastomataceae and endemic to Martinique, on Mt. Pelée. (photo © Sean Carrington) More (in French) on the plants of Mt. Pelée
Click here for a botanical hike up La Soufrière (1467 m), Gaudeloupe Environmental factors Constant wind, air dripping with moisture, excess water, low light intensities, cool temperatures.
Caribbean Vegetation Mapping Project Equivalent II.A.1.N.d. Montane tropical or subtropical cloud forest Clusia plukenetii Forest Alliance at http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/tnc/products/report/append1.html

Palm brake
This subclimax developing on steep mountain slopes subject to landslip up to 1000 m. A stand dominated by
one of two Caribbean endemic palms, Euterpe dominicana or Prestoea montana, both known as mountain cabbage.
While there is no shrub layer, there is typically luxuriant waist high herbaceous vegetation inlcuding balasier (Heliconia bihai), fern allies and anthuriums.

Environmental factors
Constant wind and moisture. Steep slopes with land slippage.

Caribbean Vegetation Mapping Project Equivalent
I.A.1.N.c. Prestoea montana Forest Alliance
at http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/tnc/products/report/append1.html

Montane communities

We are going to be looking at;-

Montane rainforest

Elfin woodland

Palm brake

*A poster on the endemic Tibouchina cistoides* of Mt. Soufriere, St Vincent**