Name:
Amelanchier alnifolia Central Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The shrubland vegetation is characterized by the dominance of <i>Amelanchier alnifolia</i>. Other shrubs may include <i>Acer glabrum, Artemisia tridentata, Holodiscus discolor, Prunus emarginata, Prunus virginiana, Purshia tridentata, Rosa</i> spp., <i>Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia</i>, and <i>Symphoricarpos albus</i>. A moderate to dense herbaceous layer is present and may be diverse. Graminoids consist primarily of <i>Carex geyeri, Calamagrostis rubescens, Festuca idahoensis</i>, or <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>. Common forb species include <i>Fragaria virginiana, Achillea millefolium</i>, and <i>Galium boreale</i>. <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> may dominate some northern Rocky Mountains stands. Other grasses present include both native and exotic species, such as <i>Bromus carinatus, Poa pratensis</i>, and <i>Phleum pratense</i>. This small-patch shrubland alliance is found in foothill and lower montane sites around the Columbia Basin and Central Rockies and extends into the northwestern Great Plains at elevations of 1330-2500 m depending on latitude. In the drier Intermountain West, it occurs on all aspects in mesic ranges but is generally best developed on north-facing slopes in xeric areas. Soils are variable, from shallow and skeletal near rock outcroppings, to moderately deep with abundant organic matter. To the north it has been described from sites as disparate as the foothill's mosaic of grasslands, shrublands and forest openings, a gravelly alluvial fan at foothills/mountains transition, to an upper subalpine site that has experienced a hot burn in the last 50 years. Here this type is largely successional, having resulted from stand-replacing fire. Stands occur primarily on south- through west-facing, moderate to steep slopes, often on spur ridges or wind-buffeted slope shoulders. These sites probably had shallow soils before burning, and there are indications that soil loss occurred following the fires. There is also considerable exposed substrate and rock. Soils are moderately to well-drained sandy or clay loams or, occasionally, rapidly drained soils on glacio-fluvial or till deposits. Most of the ground surface is covered with litter and duff.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39173-{327866AC-3CE0-4596-8705-8545C90630B9}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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