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Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This community is documented from Glacier National Park, Montana, and occurs primarily as small patches, from the uppermost subalpine to mid-alpine elevations, ranging from 2000 to 2320 m (6560-7610 feet). It is mainly associated with receiving positions, the toeslopes and lower to midslopes of gentle terrain; slopes range from flat to moderate with all aspects represented, though steeper slopes tend to have northerly or easterly exposures. This community is considered a snowbed type having deep and late-persisting snow cover, which augments its moisture supply late into the growing season. Substrates include various sedimentary rock types, both calcareous (limestone) and not (siltstones, argillite). There is a nearly continuous mat of vegetation composed of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens (aggregate usually exceeding 80% cover). In its modal form this community resembles a nubby green carpet with tufts of graminoids and forbs projecting. Vascular plant cover generally exceeds 50% but may range from 20 to 98%. <i>Salix arctica</i> forms a short-shrub layer (&lt;0.03 m) having more than 10% cover and in most cases more than 25% cover. Other dwarf-shrubs, including <i>Kalmia microphylla</i> and <i>Phyllodoce glanduliflora</i>, generally have less than 5% cover and are present in a small fraction of the stands. The graminoid component is dominated by <i>Carex nigricans</i>, a sod-forming, rhizomatous species well known as a snowbed indicator. The forb layer may be species-rich but its cover is usually not greater than 20%. The presence of forbs <i>Trollius laxus, Parnassia fimbriata, Triantha glutinosa</i>, and <i>Veronica wormskjoldii</i> are indicative of the hygric nature of these sites; other forbs more mesic in their affinities and having at least 75% constancy include <i>Packera streptanthifolia, Sibbaldia procumbens, Erigeron peregrinus, Hypericum scouleri, Castilleja occidentalis</i>, and <i>Potentilla diversifolia</i>. Mosses contributing the most cover to what often appears to be a continuous carpet include <i>Aulacomnium palustre, Philonotis fontana</i>, and various species of <i>Bryum</i>. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34531-{47CF6B16-5E87-4726-922A-032E18C811FB}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 13-Jan-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728627 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005878
  Translated: Arctic Willow / Black Alpine Sedge Dwarf-shrubland
  Scientific: Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland
(similar) Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland