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Salix brachycarpa / Mesic Forbs Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Salix brachycarpa / Mesic Forbs Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This seasonally flooded shrubland association occurs in the upper subalpine-lower alpine zones in the southern Rocky Mountains at elevations from 2600-3500 m (8500-11,760 feet). Stands occur along the drier periphery of broad, glaciated basins and along first- and second-order streams in the subalpine zone. Stream channels are wide and shallow, or narrow, deep and sinuous. Sites are gentle to steep, well-drained mesic slopes and elevated hummocks above wetter areas and drainages vegetated with <i>Salix planifolia</i> associations. Substrates are silty clay loams to sandy loams with some mottling. Many stands grow among rocky substrates and have high cover of exposed bedrock and large and small rock on the ground surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense low-shrub canopy strongly dominated by <i>Salix brachycarpa</i>, with an understory dominated by mesic forbs. <i>Salix planifolia</i>-dominated associations occur within the same riparian/wetland mosaic in lower, poorly drained areas and intermix with the <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> association at their ecotone. Within this association <i>Salix planifolia</i> has less than 30% cover. Other shrubs may include <i>Salix wolfii</i> (present to codominant), <i>Betula glandulosa</i> (in high, subalpine/alpine stands), <i>Salix monticola</i> (present to codominant), and <i>Salix drummondiana</i> (in more montane stands). Alpine dwarf-shrubs and scattered krummholz <i>Picea engelmannii</i> may also be present. The herbaceous layer is dominated by a diversity of mesic forbs, which exceeds total graminoid cover, and no single forb species is dominant or present in every stand. Associated forb species include <i>Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Fragaria virginiana, Hymenoxys hoopesii, Mertensia ciliata, Senecio triangularis</i>, and <i>Thalictrum alpinum</i>. Graminoid species may include <i>Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex microptera, Carex utriculata</i>, and <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i>. Alpine stands have higher frequency of more characteristic tundra species. Lichen- and moss-covered boulders are often present.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32340.CEGL001135 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.2.685573 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Short-fruit Willow / Mesic Forbs Shrubland   Scientific: Salix brachycarpa / Mesic Forbs Shrubland   Code: CEGL001135