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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Sites are cool and moist north slopes and benches, but may occur on any aspect. Elevations range from 1770 to 2625 m (5805-8600 feet). Substrates are typically well-drained, medium- to fine-textured soils with moderately low gravel content (15%) that are derived from a variety of parent materials. Litter dominates ground surface often 5 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock. The vegetation is characterized by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> codominating the tree canopy with <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> or <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i> well-represented to dominant in the dwarf-shrub layer and <i>Thalictrum occidentale, Viola orbiculata</i>, and/or <i>Valeriana sitchensis </i>common in the herbaceous layer. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (over 25% cover) and is typically codominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii</i>, and often <i>Pinus contorta</i> (seral), with <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Undergrowth is typically a moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer dominated by <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> or <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>. Other consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include <i>Juniperus communis, Spiraea betulifolia</i>, and <i>Vaccinium membranaceum</i>. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is dominated by forbs. Other consistent forbs include <i>Arnica</i> spp., <i>Eucephalus engelmannii, Osmorhiza berteroi</i>, and <i>Orthilia secunda</i>. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34572-{962F77E6-E840-41F3-A5E5-F12998B353AC}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 11-Mar-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731800 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005919
  Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry / Western Meadowrue Forest
  Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest
(similar) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest