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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Streptopus amplexifolius - Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Streptopus amplexifolius - Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This association is relatively common on high-elevation slopes throughout Glacier National Park, Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This woodland association occupies moist, gentle to steep slopes at almost all aspects, and its position on the slope ranges from mid to high slope. Elevation is typically 1910-2230 m (6265-7314 feet). Slopes are composed of morainal or colluvial deposits over calcareous or noncalcareous bedrock, and soils are typically well-drained to rapidly drained with a sandy loam texture. Occasionally stands will develop on gently sloped fluvial fans, with somewhat poorly drained soils. Litter contributes the majority of ground cover in most stands, while bare soil and wood each contribute 10-25% cover. Species composition suggests that these sites have long-persisting snowpacks and soils that are saturated for much of the growing season. The upper tree canopy is open and woodland-like, with cover ranging from 10-30%. Tree height in the upper stratum is usually 5-20 m, dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Pinus contorta may dominate the upper canopy in seral stands, in a layer 20-35 m tall. Other stands may have shorter trees (2-5 m) with no discernible subcanopy. The subcanopy, when visible, is 2-10 m tall and is also dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Tall-shrub cover is sparse; common species include Lonicera involucrata and Salix sitchensis. Vaccinium membranaceum is the most common short shrub, however, this species was only present in 50% of sampled stands. Dwarf-shrubs are uncommon. When present, Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium scoparium and/or Dryas octopetala are usually abundant with 10-25% cover. The herbaceous layer is diverse and variable, with a wide variety of moist-site and dry-site forbs contributing 1-25% cover. Thalictrum occidentale had 100% constancy in sampled stands, though cover for this species averaged only 7%. Other forbs with greater than 85% constancy include Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii (average cover 18%), Valeriana sitchensis (average cover 13%), and Chamerion angustifolium. Xerophyllum tenax may contribute up to 20% cover in stands with drier aspects.  Accession Code: VB.CC.26058.ABIESLASIOCARPA Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 12-Mar-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Abies lasiocarpa Woodland Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Clasping Twisted-stalk - Hitchcock's Smooth Woodrush Woodland   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686203 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL005920   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Streptopus amplexifolius - Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Streptopus amplexifolius - Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland