Name:
Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Polemonium pulcherrimum Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This upper subalpine forest association is known from the southern Rocky Mountains. It typically occurs from 3170-3450 m (10,400-11,320 feet) elevation, near upper treeline, and may include lower-statured woodlands extending into krummholz vegetation. Stands are found on gentle cool, northwest- to east-facing mid and lower slopes that are characterized as relatively moist. Soils are derived primarily from granitic or metamorphic parent materials and are shallow, moderately well-drained to well-drained and coarse-textured. Stands may contain moderate cover of large and small surface rock and relatively high cover of litter and duff cover and woody debris. Vegetation is characterized by evergreen needle-leaved trees and is typically dominated by <i>Picea engelmannii</i> and codominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i>, both in the canopy and as seedlings and saplings in the understory. <i>Pinus flexilis</i> and <i>Pinus aristata</i> are minor components in the canopy and very infrequent in the understory. Typically there is not a shrub layer, but scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as <i>Ribes inerme, Ribes laxiflorum</i>, and <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i> are often present (<5% cover). The herbaceous layer dominates the understory and is dominated by the perennial forb <i>Polemonium pulcherrimum</i>. Other abundant subalpine and alpine forbs include <i>Arnica</i> spp., <i>Aquilegia coerulea, Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Lupinus argenteus, Mertensia</i> spp., <i>Mitella pentandra, Orthilia secunda, Oxypolis fendleri, Packera</i> spp., <i>Pyrola</i> spp., and <i>Stellaria</i> spp. Graminoid cover is generally low but may include <i>Carex rossii, Luzula parviflora</i>, or <i>Trisetum spicatum</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29282-{1E2DCACD-26B9-4904-B3F9-4D0513149606}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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