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Picea (x albertiana, engelmannii) / Carex disperma Swamp Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Picea (x albertiana, engelmannii) / Carex disperma Swamp Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This association is most prevalent in the Challis Volcanics and Beaverhead Mountains sections of east-central Idaho, occurring as stream terrace stringers from 1890 to 2380 m (6200-7800 feet) elevation. Within Montana, it is known from the Beaverhead Mountains section from the Centennial, East Pioneer and Ruby ranges. It extends northward as far as the Rocky Mountain Front Range (below 1525 m [5000 feet] elevation). Montana occurrences are associated with both stream terraces and side-hill seeps. It extends eastward to Province M331 as sporadic scattered occurrences in the Beartooth, Absaroka, and Wind River ranges, where it occupies stream terraces at the lower fringe of the <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> series, between 2195 and 2410 m (7200-7900 feet). A perennially high water table and consequent deep organic layer (to 46 cm [18 inches]) characterize these sites. These sites often have a single-age structure with <i>Picea</i> (including <i>Picea engelmannii</i> and <i>Picea x albertiana</i>) dominant, though <i>Pinus contorta</i> and <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> may be present as seral seedlings/saplings. Numerous wet- to mesic-site shrubs, graminoids and forbs may be present but the general aspect of high-quality stands is that of a <i>Carex disperma</i> sward and a pronounced layer of characteristic bryophytes (<i>Aulacomnium palustre, Amblystegium serpens var. juratzkanum</i>, and <i>Tetraphis pellucida</i>). This association may experience long fire-free intervals, but is only dependent upon such intervals in the case of providing adequate time for succession to result in <i>Picea</i> dominance when stands have been initiated with <i>Pinus contorta</i>. This association is similar to both ~<i>Picea engelmannii / Equisetum arvense</i> Swamp Forest (CEGL005927)$$ and ~<i>Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum</i> Forest (CEGL002174)$$, but may be more continuously saturated and have deeper accumulations of organic matter. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29314-{559C16A1-C72F-4349-B7DA-003A8F8A7DB9}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684015 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000405
  Translated: (Western White Spruce, Engelmann Spruce) / Softleaf Sedge Swamp Forest
  Scientific: Picea (x albertiana, engelmannii) / Carex disperma Swamp Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL000405
(similar) Picea (engelmannii x glauca, engelmannii) / Carex disperma Forest
(similar) Picea (engelmannii X glauca, engelmannii) / Carex disperma Forest