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Betula occidentalis - Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Betula occidentalis - Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This community type is apparently very restricted in distribution, present at Pine Butte and/or Antelope Butte, Montana. The association occurs between 1372 and 1465 m (4500-4800 feet) elevation in an area of palustrine wetlands on the eastern front of the northern Rocky Mountains. These wetlands are located near low-elevation, low-gradient reaches of perennials rivers draining from the mountains to the west and are in areas transitional from the mountainous terrain and the plains to the east. They are in a region characterized by glacial outwash plains associated with small terminal moraines at canyon mouths. These glacial outwash materials are tightly compacted and overlay older deposits of highly porous Pliocene gravels, which in turn overlie relatively impermeable Cretaceous rock. Runoff moves laterally from the rivers, through the porous Pliocene gravels into adjacent wetland sites. Relative porosity of the glacial materials within the wetland sites allows upwelling in a complex of numerous seeps. Soils within the wetlands are variable, but those associated with the community are characterized by some development of an organic horizon over the glacial deposits. They are very wet, somewhat poorly drained and saturated throughout the profile, with clay texture (locally called "gumbo"). Water is moving through the sites, as there are actively upwelling seeps and anastomosing channels. The vegetation of this type is poorly described. It is dominated by the tall (10 m), broad-leaved deciduous shrub <i>Betula occidentalis</i> and the lower (0.5 m) deciduous shrub <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Potentilla fruticosa)</i>. Other deciduous shrubs present include species of <i>Salix</i> and <i>Cornus sericea</i>. The herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial graminoids of the Cyperaceae, and is described as <i>Carex</i> spp. in rills. <i>Carex laeviculmis</i> is the only <i>Carex</i> species on the species list for the wetlands that is a wetland obligate.  Accession Code: VB.CC.34005.CEGL001083 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.2.685552 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Water Birch - Shrubby-cinquefoil Shrubland   Scientific: Betula occidentalis - Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrubland   Code: CEGL001083