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Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This association is a minor type that has been substantiated from throughout the alpine of southwestern, northwestern and central Montana, and is likely to occur as far north as Canada's Jasper National Park and south to Colorado's Front Range. This is an alpine, fell-field association, ranging in elevation from 2070 to over 3000 m (6790-9840 feet). It is found on gentle to steep slopes with all but southerly aspects. Parent materials include a wide range of sedimentary rock with limestone and siltstone (argillite) predominating. Soils are typically sandy clay derived from limestone (or other calcareous substrate) and quartzite. Gravel content of soil ranges from 5-30%. Soil moisture content during the growing season is high. Disturbance from solifluction, slumps, and earthflows is common. This <i>Dryas octopetala</i> type is more mesic than others currently described, which is attributable to exposures with less solar insolation, placements in the landscape receiving less wind and greater snow deposition and duration. A dwarf-shrub layer dominates the vegetation cover of this community. <i>Dryas octopetala</i> forms mats that range from 30-80% in cover. Dwarf <i>Salix</i> spp. can be common to codominant, including <i>Salix reticulata, Salix arctica</i>, or <i>Salix nivalis</i>. The herbaceous layer is sparse (<20% cover) and is dominated by the forbs <i>Polygonum viviparum, Polygonum bistortoides, Zigadenus elegans</i>, and <i>Oxytropis borealis var. viscida (= Oxytropis viscida)</i>. Forb diversity in the Glacier National Park occurrences is high, with over 100 species represented in 30 plots, and its cover generally exceeds that of the graminoids. Graminoid cover is low (<10%) and mostly composed of <i>Carex elynoides, Carex rupestris, Carex albonigra, Kobresia simpliciuscula, Kobresia myosuroides</i>, and <i>Festuca brachyphylla</i>. Moss and lichen cover is high on some plots (>50%). Diagnostic of this alpine association is a dwarf-shrub layer dominated by <i>Dryas octopetala</i> with <i>Polygonum viviparum</i> dominant in the herbaceous layer. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.34505.CEGL001894
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.2.685067 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Translated: Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Alpine Bistort Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
  Scientific: Dryas octopetala - Polygonum viviparum Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
  Code: CEGL001894