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A.1300 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1300
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: These vegetation types are typically located at or slightly below the upper treeline in high mountains of the Pacific Northwest, often in association with subalpine parkland. The climate is cold and snowy with annual precipitation exceeding 150 cm and a short growing season. Elevations typically range from 1400 m in the Olympic Mountains to over 2000 m in the Cascades. These communities occur on well-drained, moderately steep to steep slopes which are clear of snow by early summer. Soils are comprised of varied parent materials, but are usually young and poorly developed. This alliance often forms part of a subalpine parkland mosaic just below upper treeline. These are lush herbaceous communities with a mixture of forbs and graminoids. ~Carex spectabilis$ is the dominant species in terms of cover and constancy. Forbs also have high constancy, especially ~Polygonum bistortoides$ and ~Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus$. ~Castilleja parviflora, Potentilla flabellifolia, Pulsatilla occidentalis (= Anemone occidentalis), Valeriana sitchensis$, and ~Erigeron peregrinus$ are locally abundant forb species. ~Carex nigricans$ and ~Festuca idahoensis$ are occasional graminoid species. Adjacent vegetation is usually ~Tsuga mertensiana$ or ~Abies lasiocarpa$ parkland or dry montane grasslands, with alpine fell-fields, rock, or ice on higher elevation alpine slopes. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1072.A1300
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.g
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: CAREX SPECTABILIS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1300
  Common: Northwestern Showy Sedge Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Carex spectabilis Herbaceous Alliance