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A.1633 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1633
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This alliance occurs in the alpine tundra in the Colorado Front Range. Stands are located primarily in the subnival zone, the area just below permanent snow and ice, on rock faces that are covered with snow in winter. Stands are found on cool, mesic microsites in sheltered rock crevices and at the base of wet cliff faces on north- and northwest-facing slopes. Soils are young and poorly developed, with one or two thin horizons. The average pH is 5.4, slightly acidic, possibly due to leaching from late-lying snow. The majority of the ground surface is covered with rock. ~Saxifraga rivularis$ and ~Ranunculus pygmaeus$ are the dominant species in the herbaceous canopy. ~Stellaria umbellata, Besseya alpina, Sagina saginoides, Oxyria digyna$, and ~Trisetum spicatum$ are common associates. The moss layer may have a greater cover than the herbaceous; ~Polytrichastrum alpinum$ and ~Philonotis fontana var. pumila (= Philonotis tomentella)$ can be abundant. ~Amphidium lapponicum, Grimmia elatior$, and ~Orthotrichum rupestre$ are unique bryophyte species to this alliance. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1387.A1633
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.B.2.N.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: SAXIFRAGA RIVULARIS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1633
  Common: Alpine-brook Saxifrage Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Saxifraga rivularis Herbaceous Alliance