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Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: Documented from Glacier National Park, Montana. This community occurs primarily as small patches, from the uppermost subalpine to mid-alpine elevations, ranging from 2000 to 2320 m (6560-7610 feet). It is mainly associated with receiving positions, the toeslopes and lower to midslopes of gentle terrain; slopes range from flat to moderate with all aspects represented, though steeper slopes tend to have northerly or easterly exposures. This community is considered a snowbed type having deep and late-persisting snow cover, which augments its moisture supply late into the growing season. Substrates include various sedimentary rock types, both calcareous (limestone) and not (siltstones, argillite). There is a nearly continuous mat of vegetation comprised of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens (aggregate usually exceeding 80% cover). In its modal form this community resembles a nubby green carpet with tufts of graminoids and forbs projecting. Vascular plant cover generally exceeds 50% but may range from 20 to 98%. Salix arctica forms a short-shrub layer (<0.03 m) having more than 10% cover and in most cases more than 25% cover. Other dwarf-shrubs, including Kalmia microphylla and Phyllodoce glanduliflora, generally have less than 5% cover and are present in a small fraction of the stands. The graminoid component is dominated by Carex nigricans, a sod-forming, rhizomatous species well known as a snowbed indicator. The forb layer may be species-rich but its cover is usually not greater than 20%. The presence of forbs Trollius laxus, Parnassia fimbriata, Triantha glutinosa (= Tofieldia glutinosa), and Veronica wormskjoldii are indicative of the hygric nature of these sites; other forbs more mesic in their affinities and having at least 75% constancy include Packera streptanthifolia (= Senecio cymbalarioides), Sibbaldia procumbens, Erigeron peregrinus, Hypericum scouleri, Castilleja occidentalis, and Potentilla diversifolia. Mosses contributing the most cover to what often appears to be a continuous carpet include Aulacomnium palustre, Philonotis fontana, and various species of Bryum.  Accession Code: VB.CC.28070.SALIXARCTICACAR Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 14-Jan-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Salix arctica Dwarf-shrubland Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Arctic Willow / Black Alpine Sedge Dwarf-shrubland   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728627 NatureServe Explorer   Scientific: Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland   Code: CEGL005878 (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland