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Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This herbaceous vegetation type occurs from upper montane to alpine environments in northwestern Montana and southern Alberta. It ranges in elevation from 1790 to 2222m (5870-7290 feet). It is virtually always associated with moderate to steep slopes with warm exposures (predominantly southeast- to west-facing aspects). Often stands are associated with the upper slopes of ridgeline and slope shoulders, positions among the earliest to lose snow at a given altitude. Parent material is quite variable, ranging from glacial drift to colluvium derived from calcareous and noncalcareous rock types. Soils are often quite well-drained with a significant rock component of 50% or more. The ground surface is usually 90% or more litter with the remainder composed of basal vegetation and a trace of bryophytes and exposed rock. This association presents a distinctive aspect with what can initially appear to be a monoculture of <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> (greater than 70% average cover) of tall, dense tussocks rising to 0.3 m (1 foot) and when in flower the stalk projects delicate, clustered white blooms more than 1 m (3.3 feet) above the tussocks. Over 90 vascular species occur within this association; about 20% of these are shrubs which never comprise more than 10% cover in the aggregate and of which only <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i> attains greater than 50% constancy. Tree species, mostly <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> in the tall-shrub layer, may occur sparsely scattered. The only graminoid of consequence is <i>Carex geyeri</i>, though its cover seldom exceeds 5%. Though diverse, the herbaceous component has only six species (exclusive of <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i>) with more than 50% constancy, including <i>Erigeron peregrinus, Valeriana sitchensis, Veratrum viride, Erythronium grandiflorum, Thalictrum occidentale</i>, and <i>Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium)</i>. Generally this forb component does not, individually or in the aggregate, exhibit more than 10% cover, and should the first three named forbs exceed this cover, then another association is possibly indicated. This association often occurs in areas that have experienced fire in the past; though evidence is often old, the burns appear to have been intense and occurred in primarily closed forest conditions.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32180.CEGL005859 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.2.728610 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Common Beargrass Herbaceous Vegetation   Scientific: Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation   Code: CEGL005859