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Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This association is a minor type that has been substantiated from throughout the alpine of southwestern, northwestern and central Montana, and is likely to occur as far north as Canada's Jasper National Park and south to Colorado's Front Range. This is an alpine, fell-field association, ranging in elevation from 2070 to over 3000 m (6790-9840 feet). It is found on gentle to steep slopes with all but southerly aspects. Parent materials include a wide range of sedimentary rock with limestone and siltstone (argillite) predominating. Soils are typically sandy clay derived from limestone (or other calcareous substrate) and quartzite. Gravel content of soil ranges from 5-30%. Soil moisture content during the growing season is high. Disturbance from solifluction, slumps, and earthflows is common. This Dryas octopetala type is more mesic than others currently described, which is attributable to exposures with less solar insolation, placements in the landscape receiving less wind and greater snow deposition and duration. A dwarf-shrub layer dominates the vegetation cover of this community. Dryas octopetala forms mats that range from 30-80% in cover. Dwarf Salix spp. can be common to codominant, including Salix reticulata, Salix arctica, or Salix nivalis. The herbaceous layer is sparse (<20% cover) and is dominated by the forbs Polygonum viviparum, Polygonum bistortoides, Zigadenus elegans, and Oxytropis borealis var. viscida (= Oxytropis viscida). Forb diversity in the Glacier National Park occurrences is high, with over 100 species represented in 30 plots, and its cover generally exceeds that of the graminoids. Graminoid cover is low (<10%) and mostly composed of Carex elynoides, Carex rupestris, Carex albonigra, Kobresia simpliciuscula, Kobresia myosuroides, and Festuca brachyphylla. Moss and lichen cover is high on some plots (>50%). Diagnostic of this alpine association is a dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Dryas octopetala with Polygonum viviparum dominant in the herbaceous layer.  Accession Code: VB.CC.21414.DRYASOCTOPETALA Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Dryas octopetala Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Code: CEGL001894   Translated: Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Serpent-grass Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685067 NatureServe Explorer   Scientific: Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation