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Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Wet Dwarf-shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Wet Dwarf-shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This dwarf-shrubland association is apparently widespread in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, being reported from northwestern Montana, north and west into Alberta and British Columbia. This is a small-patch community associated with fluvial and glacial landforms, most especially point bars and stream terraces having well- to rapidly drained cobbly soils (Inceptisols of U.S. and Regosols of Canadian designation). It is found in the montane to lower subalpine zones, ranging in elevation from 1000 to 1700 m. Sites typically have gentle slopes and various aspects. Landforms include point bars, fluvial terraces or benches, gently sloping banks, moraines, and lakeshores. These sites are temporarily flooded in spring runoff, experiencing both fluvial deposition and erosion. That portion of the surface not covered by a vegetation mat is occupied by a variable combination of exposed soil and small cobbles that ranges between 15 and 65% cover. <i>Dryas drummondii</i> cover ranges from 25% to more than 80%, seldom projecting more than 0.03 m above the surface. <i>Shepherdia canadensis, Salix brachycarpa</i>, and <i>Juniperus communis</i> are the only other shrubs with more than 50% constancy, and they generally occur in low amounts. <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i> can occur in drier stands. The herbaceous layer is species-poor and has low cover. <i>Oxytropis sericea</i> and <i>Chamerion latifolium</i> are the only forbs present in half the plots or more and in greater than trace amounts. Seedlings of <i>Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Picea glauca</i>, and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> are found here, but given the high energy environment of these sites, they apparently are uprooted before they can become securely established. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34490-{7BA7BDB0-86A3-4BE3-81C7-7ADC0DC38209}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 28-Jan-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728793 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005834
  Translated: Drummond's Mountain-avens / Dwarf Fireweed Wet Dwarf-shrubland
  Scientific: Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Wet Dwarf-shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Dwarf-shrubland
(similar) Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Dwarf-shrubland