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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%. <i>Salix arctica</i> 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 <i>Kalmia microphylla</i> and <i>Phyllodoce glanduliflora</i>, generally have less than 5% cover and are present in a small fraction of the stands. The graminoid component is dominated by <i>Carex nigricans</i>, 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 <i>Trollius laxus, Parnassia fimbriata, Triantha glutinosa (= Tofieldia glutinosa)</i>, and <i>Veronica wormskjoldii</i> are indicative of the hygric nature of these sites; other forbs more mesic in their affinities and having at least 75% constancy include <i>Packera streptanthifolia (= Senecio cymbalarioides), Sibbaldia procumbens, Erigeron peregrinus, Hypericum scouleri, Castilleja occidentalis</i>, and <i>Potentilla diversifolia</i>. Mosses contributing the most cover to what often appears to be a continuous carpet include <i>Aulacomnium palustre, Philonotis fontana</i>, and various species of <i>Bryum</i>.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32159.CEGL005878 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.2.728627 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Arctic Willow / Black Alpine Sedge Dwarf-shrubland   Scientific: Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland   Code: CEGL005878