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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains near and west of the Continental Divide where climate is influenced by maritime weather. Elevations range from 1585-2530 m (5200-8300 feet) depending on latitude and landform (frost pockets are lower). Sites are cool and include upper subalpine, wind-swept upper ridge slopes, and frost pockets. Substrates are typically well-drained, coarse- to fine-textured soils (loamy sand to silt) with moderate gravel content (25-36%) that are derived from a wide variety of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous parent materials. Litter dominates ground surface often over 2 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock. Vegetation is characterized by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> codominating the tree canopy, with the dwarf-shrub <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> codominating the understory with clumps of <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i>. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (20-70% cover) and is typically codominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii</i> and mature seral trees, with <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. <i>Pinus contorta</i> is the most important seral species, but scattered <i>Pinus albicaulis</i> or <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> may be present. Undergrowth is typically an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer dominated by <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> (10-50% cover), however, <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i> or <i>Vaccinium caespitosum</i> may be well-represented. <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i> may form an open short-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer would be sparse except for cover of <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> (20-60%). Relatively consistent forbs and graminoids may include <i>Arnica</i> spp., <i>Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Viola orbiculata</i>, and <i>Valeriana sitchensis</i>. <i>Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii</i> is absent or uncommon (<1% cover).  Accession Code: VB.CC.32203.CEGL005914 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.2.731807 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry / Common Beargrass Forest   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest   Code: CEGL005914