Ridge communities Along the ridgetops of the buttes, moisture is limited, and there is an open forest that consists largely of ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa). There are large open spaces among the trees, and light reaches the forest floor. The understory has few large shrubs. A common shrub of the open understory is snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Among the pine needles on the forest floor are wildflowers that bloom in spring and summer. These include spring beauty (Claytonia lanceolata), glacier lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum), yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica), and ragged robin (Clarkia pulchella).

Pinus ponderosa	Symphoricarpos albus
Claytonia lanceolata	Erythronium grandifloum
Fritillaria pudica	Clarkia pulchella