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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This shrubland association occurs as krummholz near treeline in the southern Rocky Mountains and possibly the Uinta Mountains in Utah. Elevation range is between 3350 and 3750 m (10,990-12,200 feet). Stands are often found on moderate to steep, windswept upper slopes on cooler northerly aspects in relatively moist areas, but they occur on all aspects in or near seepage areas from melting snowbeds. Stands also occur in alpine valleys often near small streams or wetlands. Sites are exposed to high winds that stunt and deform trees by killing branches that extend above snowpack. Soils are shallow, lithic, gravelly or sandy loam. Rock outcrop and colluvium are common. The vegetation is characterized by patchy, moderate to dense shrubby tree and willow cover (0.5-3.0 m high) that often forms a mosaic with wet meadow communities. The shrub layer is codominated by dwarfed, wind-deformed <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> trees and short shrubs <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> or <i>Salix glauca</i>, which usually occur in clumps or along edges of dense conifer patches. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> and <i>Salix planifolia</i> are usually associated with wetter microsites along snowmelt channels and in seeps. Other dwarf-trees, shrubs and dwarf-shrubs, such as <i>Pinus flexilis, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Ribes montigenum, Salix nivalis, Vaccinium caespitosum, Vaccinium myrtillus</i>, and <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>, may also be present. The herbaceous layer is continuous except under dense shrubs. Species are a mixture of forbs and graminoids typical of alpine mesic and wet meadows, but they may include dry turf as well as wet subalpine species depending on the site.  Accession Code: VB.CC.31944.CEGL000986 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.2.685407 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / (Short-fruit Willow, Grayleaf Willow) Krummholz Shrubland   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz Shrubland   Code: CEGL000986