Login | Datasets | Logout
Jump to... Home PLOT search PLANT search COMMUNITY search Simple search Manage datasets Tutorial About FAQ ------- Site map VegBranch Data dictionary ERD

stdcommconcept5039850398

View Community Concepts - Detail

Picea engelmannii Rock Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
click to update datacart
Name: Picea engelmannii Rock Alliance Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: These wooded screes are characterized by <i>Picea engelmannii</i> as the dominant mature tree species. The trees are typically widely spaced and rarely reach over 20% cover. A few other trees can occur, usually as seedlings and saplings, including <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus flexilis</i>, or <i>Populus tremuloides</i>. The shrub layer, also very sparse, can include <i>Jamesia americana, Juniperus communis, Ribes montigenum</i>, and <i>Ribes wolfii</i>. The herbaceous component is nearly unnoticeable, as plants typically are found only in crevices in the talus where small amounts of soil may have accumulated. Species can include <i>Carex rossii, Festuca brachyphylla, Koeleria macrantha, Saxifraga bronchialis, Sedum lanceolatum</i>, and <i>Senecio atratus</i>. These wooded scree communities occur on steep slopes of any exposure in the southern Rocky Mountains of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Differences in rock size and rates of movement cause heterogeneity in the development of vegetation. Elevations are upper montane to subalpine, ranging from about 3000 to 3600 m. Winter snowfall comprises the major portion of annual precipitation in this region. Melting snow can be held within the rocky matrix of these scree slopes, providing greater moisture-holding capacity than at first appearance. Slopes of these screes are typically greater than 50%. Greater than 80% of the substrate is composed of coarse rock fragments, with mineral soils confined to pockets.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38074-{E0598755-1F6B-4D23-A3FF-8DE895772E22} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Sep-2014 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Nonvascular Rocky Mountain Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: Show/Hide   Picea engelmannii / Saxifraga bronchialis Scree Sparse Vegetation		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899000 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A0556   Translated: Engelmann Spruce Rock Alliance   Common: Engelmann Spruce Wooded Scree   Scientific: Picea engelmannii Rock Alliance