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A.556 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.556
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: These wooded scree communities occur on steep slopes of any exposure in the southern Rocky Mountains of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Elevations are upper montane to subalpine, ranging from about 3000 m to 3600 m. Winter snowfall comprises the major portion of annual precipitation in this region. Melting snow can be held within the rocky matrix of these scree slopes, providing greater moisture-holding capacity than at first appearance. Slopes of these screes are typically greater than 50%. Greater than 80% of the substrate is composed of coarse rock fragments, with mineral soils confined to pockets. Differences in rock size and rates of movement cause heterogeneity in the development of vegetation. These wooded screes are characterized by ~Picea engelmannii$ as the dominant mature tree species. The trees are typically widely spaced and rarely reach over 20% cover. A few other trees can occur, usually as seedlings and saplings, including ~Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus flexilis$, or ~Populus tremuloides$. The shrub layer, also very sparse, can include ~Jamesia americana, Juniperus communis, Ribes montigenum$, and ~Ribes wolfii$. The herbaceous component is nearly unnoticeable, as these species typically are found only in crevices in the talus where small amounts of soil may have accumulated. Species can include ~Carex rossii, Festuca brachyphylla, Koeleria macrantha, Saxifraga bronchialis, Senecio atratus$, and ~Sedum lanceolatum$. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.2200.A556
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: VII.B.1.N.c
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: PICEA ENGELMANNII SPARSELY VEGETATED ALLIANCE
  Code: A.556
  Common: Engelmann Spruce Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Picea engelmannii Sparsely Vegetated Alliance