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Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This community is found in both Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks (Montana and Alberta), distributed primarily in the extensive talus slopes that lie in close proximity to the Continental Divide. This subalpine to alpine community occurs from 1800 to 2420 m (5405-7940 feet) on steep to very steep (45 to 78%) talus slopes spanning a range of exposures from east to primarily southwest (facing prevailing winds). The upper portions of these scree areas may receive and retain considerable snow which contributes meltwater to downslope positions. These are active, unstable sites for the most part with loose surface rocks of argillite, diorite and limestone and obvious areas of slope movement. Rock dominates the surface with more than 95% exposure being common and litter being the other component, never having more than 10% cover. Considerable amounts of fine soil accumulate below the scree cover and, due to this cover, is to some degree protected from evaporation resulting in sites being considerably more mesic than indicated by exposure and surface rock. Many of these sites, perhaps the most typical of scree slopes, are transitional between USNVC vegetated and sparsely vegetated categories with vascular plant cover ranging between 1% and 25%. The subshrub <i>Penstemon ellipticus</i> may have the greatest cover, up to 25%, or occasionally be absent. <i>Elymus alaskanus ssp. latiglumis</i> is the only graminoid with even modest constancy and occurs with less than 5% cover. The forb component is diverse and heterogeneous with even the nominal species <i>Phacelia hastata</i> present in only 80% of the plots. Other forbs evidencing only a modest constancy include <i>Stellaria americana, Minuartia nuttallii, Arenaria capillaris</i>, and <i>Phacelia sericea</i>. The moss and lichen components are negligible due to the disruption of slope movement. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34554-{C8CB8C60-043D-4E10-B805-3B1A9F94E35B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 22-Jan-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728744 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005901
  Translated: Silverleaf Phacelia - (Rocky Ledge Penstemon) Sparse Vegetation
  Scientific: Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation
(similar) Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation