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Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii Forest Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii Forest Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: The Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii Forest Alliance (A.421) occurs in high-elevation subalpine habitats of the northern Rockies. Stands of this alliance usually occur at or near the treeline on north-facing cirques or slopes where snowfields lie until June or July. Elevations range from 2000-2800 m, and frost may occur at any time of the year. The climate is very snowy and moist with yearly snow accumulations of 2-3 m. Abrasion by wind-driven snow is characteristic of upper elevation stands and leads to stunted or flagged trees, particularly of Abies lasiocarpa. Soils are acidic, poorly developed, and comprised almost exclusively of fractured granitic or quartzite rocks which have not been previously colonized by other vascular plants. The majority of sites where this alliance occurs experienced heavy alpine glaciation less than 12,000 years ago. Adjacent vegetation is often alpine heath or grasslands, permanent snowfields, or Larix lyallii woodlands at the upper elevational margin and coniferous forests of Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii at the lower margin. At similar elevations, stands of Pinus albicaulis may occur on adjacent south-facing slopes or ridges with lower snow accumulations and seasonal soil drought. Larix lyallii typically forms the tree canopy, with variable amounts of Abies lasiocarpa also present. Other conifers, such as Pinus albicaulis, and Picea engelmannii, can be present but are never abundant. In some stands, Abies lasiocarpa is found only as severely stunted 'shrub' under the Larix lyallii canopy. Combinations of the shrubs Vaccinium scoparium and Phyllodoce empetriformis are dominant in the understory, along with the graminoid Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii (= Luzula hitchcockii) and the forb Arnica latifolia. No other information is available.  Accession Code: VB.CC.22945.ABIESLASIOCARPA Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii Forest Alliance   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Forest Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126103 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.421