Name:
Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium / Calamagrostis rubescens Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association can be recognized by <i>Pinus contorta / Vaccinium scoparium</i> with relatively high cover of <i>Calamagrostis rubescens</i> as well as the presence of other warmer site sub-shrubs and thus constitutes a relatively distinct environment. This association occurs in the Canadian, northern and middle Rocky Mountains from lower to mid-elevations of the subalpine zone, apparently not associated with positions of any particular slope or aspect; it also occurs on flats and basins. In Montana, it occurs predominantly east of the Continental Divide at elevations from 1370 to 2165 m (4500-7100 feet). It does occur west of the Continental Divide in Montana, however well to the south; as noted by Daubenmire and Daubenmire (1968) this type is inversely associated with areas where the Inland Pacific Maritime climatic regime is strongest, thus it is scarce in northern Idaho and eastern Washington as well. In central and eastern Idaho and Wyoming, it is found from 1740 to 2410 m (5700-7900 feet) elevation. <i>Pinus contorta</i> is the canopy dominant, not sharing this condition with any other tree species, though obviously these are seral stands as noted by the complement of <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa</i>, and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> in the subcanopy or reproductive layers. The shrub layer is represented almost exclusively by dwarf-shrubs, including the diagnostic <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> (and/or <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>) and <i>Mahonia repens, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i>, and <i>Spiraea betulifolia</i>; potentially mid-sized shrubs, including <i>Vaccinium membranaceum, Paxistima myrsinites, Shepherdia canadensis, Lonicera utahensis</i>, and <i>Juniperus communis</i>, occur here in minor amounts (<5% cover), environmentally constrained to dwarf-shrub size and evidencing constancy differences by region. <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>, almost always the dominant shrub, varies highly in cover from about 5% (relatively closed-canopy stands) to what appears a continuous sward, especially when the cover of <i>Calamagrostis rubescens</i> or <i>Carex geyeri</i> fills what canopy gaps that may exist. <i>Carex rossii</i> is the only other graminoid that occurs with even moderate constancy and always low cover. Forbs constitute an insignificant component with only two species, <i>Arnica cordifolia</i> and <i>Orthilia secunda</i>, evidencing high constancy across the type's range, though only <i>Arnica</i> is capable of exhibiting relatively high cover (exceeding 5%) as well. Other forbs exhibiting high constancy on a regional basis include <i>Thalictrum occidentale, Lupinus argenteus, Osmorhiza berteroi, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum</i>, and <i>Viola adunca</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29083-{EF9D01AD-67C6-493B-8FB7-9544A8C616C1}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
