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Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: Shrublands of this association have only been described from Rocky Mountain National Park in the high subalpine between 3390 and 3460 m (11,120-11,360 feet) elevation. Stands form dense, low thickets and can be found on both slopes and benches where pitch ranges from flat to somewhat steep (0-49%) and aspect is variable. The surficial geology is granite, and soils are sandy loams and loams. Soils are generally well-drained but can also be moderately well-drained and somewhat poorly drained. Large and small rocks and litter and duff comprise significant ground cover. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> and <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> codominate a dense shrub canopy of 60-100% cover in this association. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> typically has slightly higher coverage (30-80%) than <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> (1-60%) and occasionally dominates the stratum. The shrubs grow <0.5 m tall in most stands but can reach 1 m where growing conditions are favorable. In addition to the two dominant shrubs, <i>Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Juniperus communis</i>, and <i>Salix planifolia</i> can all be found within the shrub layer at low concentrations. This community type often grows at treeline and can contain krummholz <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> intermixed with the true shrub species. The herbaceous stratum is variable, covering between 5-30%. In some stands the shrub layer grows so dense that little else can grow underneath, while in other stands the herbaceous undergrowth is significant. The most common graminoids include <i>Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Festuca brachyphylla ssp. coloradensis</i>, and <i>Trisetum spicatum</i>. The most common forbs include <i>Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Campanula</i> spp., <i>Geum rossii var. turbinatum, Minuartia obtusiloba</i>, and <i>Sedum lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum</i>.  Accession Code: VB.CC.31773.CEGL005828 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.735299 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Resin Birch / Short-fruit Willow Shrubland   Code: CEGL005828   Scientific: Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Shrubland