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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This shrubland association occurs as krummholz near treeline in the southern Rocky Mountains and possibly the Uinta Mountains in Utah. Elevation range is between 3350 and 3750 m (10,990-12,200 feet). Stands are often found on moderate to steep, windswept upper slopes on cooler northerly aspects in relatively moist areas, but they occur on all aspects in or near seepage areas from melting snowbeds. Stands also occur in alpine valleys often near small streams or wetlands. Sites are exposed to high winds that stunt and deform trees by killing branches that extend above snowpack. Soils are shallow, lithic, gravelly or sandy loam. Rock outcrop and colluvium are common. The vegetation is characterized by patchy, moderate to dense shrubby tree and willow cover (0.5-3.0 m high) that often forms a mosaic with wet meadow communities. The shrub layer is codominated by dwarfed, wind-deformed <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> trees and short shrubs <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> or <i>Salix glauca</i>, which usually occur in clumps or along edges of dense conifer patches. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> and <i>Salix planifolia</i> are usually associated with wetter microsites along snowmelt channels and in seeps. Other dwarf-trees, shrubs and dwarf-shrubs, such as <i>Pinus flexilis, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Ribes montigenum, Salix nivalis, Vaccinium cespitosum, Vaccinium myrtillus</i>, and <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>, may also be present. The herbaceous layer is continuous except under dense shrubs. Species are a mixture of forbs and graminoids typical of alpine mesic and wet meadows, but they may include dry turf as well as wet subalpine species depending on the site.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29895-{5E0EBD98-C3F8-4F13-940E-110A1AF49501} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 10-Aug-2005 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii - Pinus flexilis Dry-Mesic Rocky Mountain Krummholz Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685407 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL000986   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / (Short-fruit Willow, Grayleaf Willow) Krummholz   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz (convergence) and Synonyms: (similar) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix (brachycarpa, glauca) Krummholz Shrubland (similar) Abies lasiocarpa / Salix brachycarpa Shrubland (similar) CEGL000986