Name:
Kalmia microphylla Saturated Dwarf-shrubland Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
Vegetation within this alliance is associated with moist subalpine and alpine meadows, snowbeds, lake margins, and other low-gradient depressions of the northern Rockies and Pacific mountain ranges from 1600-4000 m in elevation. These habitats are cold and snowy, with snowfields lingering into June or later. Soils are frigid, derived from bedrock or aggraded alluvium, usually high in organic matter, and strongly acid. These communities are often associated with hummocky topography, which provides a juxtaposition of saturated and somewhat drained microhabitats. Water tables are often at or near the surface for much of the growing season and organic decomposition is slow. A dominant dwarf-shrub layer of Kalmia microphylla typifies these communities. Other ericaceous shrubs, including Phyllodoce empetriformis, Phyllodoce breweri, Ledum glandulosum, and Vaccinium spp., are common associates. Dwarf Salix spp. may also be present. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by graminoids, of which Carices usually predominate. Carex scopulorum, Carex aquatilis, Carex canescens, and Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa) are especially common. Grasses, such as Deschampsia caespitosa, Danthonia intermedia, and Phleum alpinum, may also be locally abundant. Mesic forbs are usually scattered through the graminoid matrix, including Symphyotrichum spathulatum (= Aster occidentalis), Pedicularis groenlandica, Caltha leptosepala, Gentiana spp., Dodecatheon spp., and Epilobium spp. Adjacent vegetation types are typically subalpine coniferous forests dominated by Abies, Tsuga, or Picea spp., wet Carex meadows, wet heaths dominated by Cassiope mertensiana and/or Phyllodoce empetriformis, or alpine fell-fields.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.23673.KALMIAMICROPHYL
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
