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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This association is broadly distributed throughout the mid to upper subalpine zones of the northern Rocky Mountains, concentrated west of the Continental Divide. It is strongly associated with moderate to steep, cold, relatively dry slopes, usually having southeast- through south- to west-facing exposures. It typically occurs from midslopes upwards to slope shoulders, ridgetops and occasionally extending to high-elevation benchlands as well. Elevations range is from 1425-2025 m (4675-6643 feet) in the northern portion of its distribution and 1740-2470 m (5700-8100 feet) in its southern extent. These sites have well-drained, nutrient-poor soils derived from a variety of parent materials. The range in soil surface texture is broad, from silt to loamy sand with the gravel content averaging about 14% near surface and increasing markedly with depth. Litter dominates ground surface with low cover of bare soil and rock. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to dense (30-80% cover) and may be stunted (2-5 m) in the highest elevation stands. The upper tree canopy is typically codominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii</i> trees and mature seral tree species, with <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta</i>, and <i>Larix occidentalis</i>. The short-shrub layer is typically composed of dense patches and dominated by <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i>. Other consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include <i>Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Sorbus scopulina</i>, and <i>Spiraea betulifolia</i>. The herbaceous layer is dominated by <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> and <i>Calamagrostis rubescens</i> (locally). Other relatively consistent species are <i>Arnica latifolia, Carex geyeri, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Thalictrum occidentale</i>, and <i>Viola orbiculata</i>. Occasionally cover of <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i> may be low or absent, then <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> strongly dominates the understory.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32206.CEGL005917 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.2.731791 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Common Beargrass Forest   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest   Code: CEGL005917