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Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii - Erythronium grandiflorum Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii - Erythronium grandiflorum Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This vegetation type has only been documented from Glacier National Park, Montana, but it is highly likely to also occur in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This small-patch type is common in the upper subalpine and extends just into the lower alpine exhibiting a relatively narrow elevation range from 1900 to 2120 m (6230-6950 feet). It is a component of a complexly patterned environment representing those positions that accumulate a deep snowload and retain it long into the growing season. It generally occupies gently rolling terrain, particularly depressions within, and extends to gentle slopes and even steep slopes if conditions are conducive to snow accumulation and retention. It often occurs as narrow patches between tree-dominated atolls at the highest elevations of tree development. Parent materials include predominantly calcareous and noncalcareous fine-textured sedimentary rock. Soils are moderately well- to poorly drained. Exposed rock and soil generally do not exceed 10% cover with the great majority of the ground surface covered with litter from the abundant vegetation. There are virtually no shrubs, with the typical expression a lush herbaceous vegetation (average cover 82%) that is usually dominated by a discontinuous sward of <i>Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii</i>. Other graminoids of high constancy and indicative of various degrees of snowbed conditions include <i>Carex nigricans</i> and <i>Carex spectabilis</i>. More sporadically represented snowbed graminoids include <i>Juncus drummondii</i> and <i>Juncus parryi</i>. <i>Vahlodea atropurpurea, Phleum alpinum</i>, and <i>Poa cusickii</i> also have high constancy. On the more poorly drained sites, a variable suite of forbs associated with mesic to subhygric moisture regimes may exceed the graminoid cover; these forbs include <i>Erigeron peregrinus, Hieracium gracile, Epilobium anagallidifolium (= Epilobium alpinum), Hypericum scouleri, Arnica x diversifolia, Arnica latifolia</i>, and <i>Valeriana sitchensis</i>. The spring ephemeral <i>Erythronium grandiflorum</i> is dominant (cover to 50+%) immediately following snow departure. Both lichen and bryophyte cover are minimal, seldom exceeding 5%.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32229.CEGL005873 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.2.730768 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Hitchcock's Smooth Woodrush / Yellow Avalanche-lily Herbaceous Vegetation   Scientific: Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii - Erythronium grandiflorum Herbaceous Vegetation   Code: CEGL005873