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Cassiope mertensiana Temporarily Flooded Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Cassiope mertensiana Temporarily Flooded Dwarf-shrubland Alliance
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: The vegetation in this alliance is found in the alpine tundra in mountain ranges of southwestern Montana. The alliance occurs in a narrow elevation band between 2800 and 2900 m on north- and east-facing slopes in snowbed habitats, or areas that accumulate snow in the winter and release snow slowly during the growing season. The vegetation is often located on solifluction lobes, which receive moisture from upslope, subsurface drainage. Consequently, soils are cold and nearly saturated for most of the growing season. Soils are derived from metamorphic and igneous rock types and are slightly acidic. Soil texture tends to be sandy clay. Cassiope mertensiana stands usually form a mosaic with Carex nigricans and Juncus drummondii snowbed communities. Salix arctica and Carex scirpoidea communities occur on adjacent unsaturated sites. Cassiope mertensiana, a low-spreading, evergreen shrub, and Salix arctica, a deciduous shrub, dominate the dwarf-shrub canopy. Carex paysonis, Carex scirpoidea, Geum rossii, and Potentilla diversifolia are common herbaceous species that grow beneath the shrubs and in openings in the shrub canopy. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.26435.CASSIOPEMERTENS
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: Cassiope mertensiana Temporarily Flooded Dwarf-shrubland Alliance
  Translated: Western Moss Heather Temporarily Flooded Dwarf-shrubland Alliance
  UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126227 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A.1089