Name:
Phlox spp. - Lomatium spp. - Carex spp. Alpine Talus & Scree Sparse Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation within this alliance is sparse, generally covering less than 10% of the ground. There may be patches of vegetation where within a square meter the total cover is higher than 10%, but for the community as a whole, bare ground or bare rock characterize the structure. The species composition is highly variable with different shrub and herbs being the most abundant "dominant" species. However, there are usually common species nearly always present and that can be abundant. These are <i>Carex spectabilis, Lomatium martindalei</i>, and <i>Phlox diffusa</i>. Other species that may be more abundant include <i>Arnica x diversifolia, Astragalus cottonii, Athyrium americanum, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Delphinium glareosum, Elmera racemosa, Penstemon davidsonii, Senecio neowebsteri</i>, and <i>Vaccinium deliciosum</i>. When these later species are the most abundant (that being about 3-6% cover), one of the previously mentioned species is usually present, but may also be entirely absent. Many other associated dwarf-shrub, forb and graminoid species may be found in this alliance, including <i>Carex phaeocephala, Elmera racemosa, Elymus elymoides, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri, Luetkea pectinata, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, Lupinus latifolius</i>, and <i>Phacelia sericea</i>. This alliance is described from the Olympic Mountains and northern Cascade Range of Washington and British Columbia, but it is expected to occur in other parts of the Cascade Range at least in Washington. This sparsely vegetated alliance appears at elevations of 1460 to 2040 m (4800-6700 feet). It is most often found on steep, loose talus slopes, but it is also known to appear of scree slopes, cliff faces, ridges and glacier-scoured bedrock. It can also occur on gentle slopes. It occurs on all aspects. Soils are thin to nonexistent, the substrate broken and very coarse rock and bedrock.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38994-{0547F841-1276-4136-840E-D1387536CEC6}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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