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Artemisia arctica Alpine Snowbed | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Artemisia arctica Alpine Snowbed
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This association is found in the upper alpine tundra of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Sites are dry to mesic and cold, occurring on gentle to steep (5-50%) typically southeast-facing slopes (lee slopes), but may be found on any aspects. A shallow, early-melting snowpack is present during most of the winter, which results in moist, but not water-logged, soils during the growing season. Soils are typically skeletal, rapidly to moderately well-drained sandy loam to sandy clay. The soil surface is often stripped of fine-textured soil particles, leaving a pavement of gravel and larger rocks. Soils are classified as Pergelic Cryochrepts with very thin surface horizon. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by <i>Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica</i>, which ranges from 25-70% cover. Constant and abundant (5-20% cover or more) species include <i>Erigeron simplex, Geum rossii, Minuartia obtusiloba, Polygonum bistortoides</i>, and <i>Trisetum spicatum</i>. <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> or <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> may be present with up to 10% cover. <i>Selaginella densa</i> and mosses are important on some sites. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30757-{DA6E274A-4CD2-48C8-A0B2-63F4BB819D30}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 06-Jan-2005 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689953 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001848
  Translated: Boreal Sagebrush Alpine Snowbed
  Scientific: Artemisia arctica Alpine Snowbed
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL001848
(similar) Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica Herbaceous Vegetation
(similar) Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica Herbaceous Vegetation