Jack Pine Forest - Code: Ne1H

Jack Pine Forest is a relatively restricted habitat found almost entirely on sandy soils in the upper Great Lakes region. While Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) has a broad range and is an important component in Nearctic Boreal Forest and many Northern Tree Plantations, this specific habitat is an early successional one, closely tied to fire. 
The canopy of this forest is unsurprisingly almost entirely Jack Pine. The Jack pine is commonly acknowledged as a "pioneer" species within forest succession. Jack Pines are small, short-lived and intolerant of shade. Jack Pines typically live less than 100 years and are rarely more than 50ft (17m) tall. Large mature trees like this are usually fully integrated into Nearctic Temperate Mixed forest. Jack Pine Forest habitat is short, even aged and with low to moderate canopy cover (20-65%). Trees are often patchily distributed with small grassy openings. Other sandy-soil loving trees may join the mix, especially Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) and Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis).
The shrub layer here is sparse and walking through these forests is generally quite easy. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), Common Juniper (Juniperus communis), and sand cherry (Prunus pumila). 
The ground here is usually open and sandy with many lichens, low forbs, creeping shrubs and grasses. The silvery, cloud-like Reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina) is especially common. Typical ground cover plants include wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), grove blue grass (Poa alsodes), false melic grass (Schizachne purpurascens), sedges (Carex spp.), sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina) and bracken fern (Pteridium sp.).