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Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Wet Shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Wet Shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: Shrublands of this association have only been described from Rocky Mountain National Park in the high subalpine between 3390 and 3460 m (11,120-11,360 feet) elevation. Stands form dense, low thickets and can be found on both slopes and benches where pitch ranges from flat to somewhat steep (0-49%) and aspect is variable. The surficial geology is granite, and soils are sandy loams and loams. Soils are generally well-drained but can also be moderately well-drained and somewhat poorly drained. Large and small rocks and litter and duff comprise significant ground cover. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> and <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> codominate a dense shrub canopy of 60-100% cover in this association. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> typically has slightly higher coverage (30-80%) than <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> (1-60%) and occasionally dominates the stratum. The shrubs grow &lt;0.5 m tall in most stands but can reach 1 m where growing conditions are favorable. In addition to the two dominant shrubs, <i>Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Juniperus communis</i>, and <i>Salix planifolia</i> can all be found within the shrub layer at low concentrations. This community type often grows at treeline and can contain krummholz <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> intermixed with the true shrub species. The herbaceous stratum is variable, covering between 5-30%. In some stands the shrub layer grows so dense that little else can grow underneath, while in other stands the herbaceous undergrowth is significant. The most common graminoids include <i>Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex siccata, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Festuca brachyphylla ssp. coloradensis</i>, and <i>Trisetum spicatum</i>. The most common forbs include <i>Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Campanula</i> spp., <i>Geum rossii var. turbinatum, Minuartia obtusiloba</i>, and <i>Sedum lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum</i>. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34484-{140F6CF1-93D9-4A27-BBFD-12838F379EAC}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 23-Jan-2009 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.735299 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005828
  Translated: Resin Birch / Short-fruit Willow Wet Shrubland
  Scientific: Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Wet Shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Shrubland
(similar) Betula nana / Salix brachycarpa Shrubland