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Carex paysonis - Sibbaldia procumbens Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Carex paysonis - Sibbaldia procumbens Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This is a small-patch herbaceous association found in Glacier National Park, Montana. It occurs on relatively exposed alpine ridgelines and flats from 2180 to 2410 m (7150-7950 feet). Surface relief is smooth to moderately rolling with slopes not exceeding 18% and no particular slope aspect being preferred; however, sites are apparently aligned with the microtopographic depressions, such as lee slopes, otherwise disposed to accumulate deep snowdrifts. Despite the high to very high wind exposure of the landscape, the drifted snow has a moderately long duration into summer. Meltwaters create an early-season soil saturation which is rapidly dried out due to well-drained soils and desiccating winds. This community is found on red and green argillite and quartzite. The ground surface is blanketed by a dense cover of mosses (10-50% cover) and lichens (10-35% cover) with the remainder being litter. Being relatively stressful sites, the vascular cover is relatively low, ranging from 15% to 45%. Salix arctica is the only dwarf-shrub present and only in trace amounts. Carex paysonis, ranging in cover from 10% to 25%, is the dominant herb; other graminoids of high constancy include Carex phaeocephala, Carex pyrenaica, Agrostis variabilis, and Luzula spicata. The forb component is relatively depauperate in species richness and cover; those with greater than 50% constancy include the chionophilous species Arenaria capillaris, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Antennaria alpina and the high-elevation generalists Erigeron peregrinus, Hieracium gracile, and Polygonum bistortoides. Moss cover, ranging up to 45%, is important for soil formation and is dominated by Polytrichum piliferum followed by Polytrichastrum alpinum and Tortula ruralis. Snow cover persisting long into summer favors lichen development (10-30% cover), among which are the circumpolar species Cladonia ecmocyna and Cladonia borealis and Solorina crocea, a colorful foliose soil lichen.  Accession Code: VB.CC.27454.CAREXPAYSONISSI Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 03-Feb-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Carex paysonis Herbaceous Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Payson's Sedge - Creeping Glow-wort Herbaceous Vegetation   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.729675 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL005865   Scientific: Carex paysonis - Sibbaldia procumbens Herbaceous Vegetation (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Carex paysonis - Sibbaldia procumbens Herbaceous Vegetation