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Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Forest
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This association is a minor one, occurring as small-patch occurrences at the highest subalpine elevations within the northern Rocky Mountains, southern portion of the Canadian Rockies and west to the eastern slope of the Cascade Range. Across the core area of its distribution its known elevational range is 1830 to 2500 m (6000-8200 feet). It occupies cold sites that receive snow in excess of what is received by surrounding topography and also retains the snow cache late into summer. Sites may occur on all aspects and degrees of slope so long as snowpack is long-persisting. Parent materials are various, including extrusive and intrusive volcanics (primarily granitics), sedimentary colluvium and morainal detritus; regardless of parent material, kind/source soils weather to coarse-textured, extremely acid soils (usually less than pH of 4.2). Stands are usually very open with short-stature Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii dominating the canopy. Scattered seral tree species include Pinus albicaulis and Pinus contorta. The shrub component is generally depauperate with thin patches of a variable mix of Vaccinium scoparium, Vaccinium membranaceum (dwarfed in size to less than 0.2 m), Lonicera utahensis, Ribes montigenum, and Phyllodoce empetriformis. The forb component is strongly dominated by Luzula glabrata, which can occur as a dense sward (cover approaching 100%) to the near exclusion of other herbs. Arnica latifolia is universally the most abundant and constant forb in a very depauperate layer. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.27824.ABIESLASIOCARPA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Hitchcock's Smooth Woodrush Woodland
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689997 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland
  Code: CEGL000317
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland