Name:
Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This widespread subalpine forest association occurs throughout the Rocky Mountains extending to the mountains in the eastern Cascades. Elevations range between 2590 and 3800 m (7760-12,500 feet) in Colorado to 1525-2590 m (5000-8500 feet) in Montana and 1005-1900 m (3300-6230 feet) in central Washington. This type is characterized by deep snowpack and brief, cool summers. Sites are relatively xeric and cold. Stands are common in the middle to upper subalpine zone. Soils are variable but are often shallow, rocky, well-drained, sandy loam (to sandy clay) soils derived from andesite, conglomerate, granite, quartzite, sandstone, shale, and various other rocks. Litter and duff and downed wood cover a significant portion of the ground surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense conifer tree canopy codominated by <i>Picea engelmannii</i> and <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i>, with an understory characterized by a dwarf-shrub layer strongly dominated by <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>. <i>Pinus albicaulis</i> or <i>Pinus flexilis</i> may be present in canopy of some stands. <i>Pinus contorta, Populus tremuloides</i>, and <i>Larix occidentalis</i> (northern stands) are the most common seral species, though <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> may occur in lower elevation stands. In the understory, <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i> may be present but is usually trace to less than half the cover of <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>. Other shrubs may be present at low cover such as <i>Lonicera involucrata, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Spiraea betulifolia</i>, and <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i>. Herbaceous species such as <i>Arnica</i> spp., <i>Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Chamerion angustifolium, Erigeron peregrinus, Erythronium grandiflorum, Eucephalus engelmannii, Hieracium gracile, Lupinus argenteus, Luzula parviflora, Orthilia secunda, Poa nervosa, Pedicularis racemosa, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Thalictrum occidentale</i>, and <i>Trisetum spicatum</i> are commonly present with low cover values.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32062.CEGL000344
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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