Pacific yew dominance in tall forests, a classification dilemma

A review and discussion of the confusing terminology for units designating variation in vegetation associations (habitat types) are presented. In portions of the northern Rocky Mountains, the short tree Taxus brevifolia expresses climax sociological dominance over tall conifers. The synecology of communities dominated by T. brevifolia is presented, concluding that associations and not phases are the appropriate interpretation. Binomials now used in forest classifications conceal information on community structure and composition. Trinomials are proposed.