Name:
Dryas octopetala - Phyllodoce spp. - Salix arctica Alpine Dwarf-shrubland & Krummholz Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This widespread group occurs above upper timberline throughout the Rocky Mountains cordillera and includes alpine areas of ranges in Utah and Nevada, Sierra Nevada in California, eastern Cascade Range, eastern Oregon and Washington, and north into Canada, but is more prominent in the northern extent. The vegetation is characterized by a semi-continuous layer of ericaceous dwarf-shrubs or dwarf willows which form a heath type ground cover less than 0.5 m in height. Dense tuffs of graminoids and scattered forbs are usually present. <i>Dryas integrifolia</i>- and <i>Dryas octopetala</i>-dominated communities occur on more windswept and drier sites than the heath communities. Within the heath communities <i>Cassiope mertensiana, Phyllodoce empetriformis, Salix arctica, Salix reticulata</i>, or <i>Salix vestita</i> can be dominant shrubs. Other common shrub associates include <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Ericameria discoidea, Kalmia microphylla, Ledum glandulosum, Phyllodoce glanduliflora, Ribes montigenum</i>, and <i>Vaccinium</i> spp. The herbaceous layer is a mixture of forbs and graminoids, especially sedges, including <i>Antennaria lanata, Caltha leptosepala, Carex spectabilis, Carex nigricans, Castilleja</i> spp., <i>Deschampsia cespitosa, Erigeron</i> spp., <i>Erythronium</i> spp., <i>Juncus parryi, Luetkea pectinata, Luzula piperi, Oreostemma alpigenum, Pedicularis</i> spp., <i>Polemonium viscosum</i>, and <i>Polygonum bistortoides</i>. This group occurs in areas of level or concave glacial topography, with late-lying snow and subirrigation from surrounding slopes. Elevations are above 3360 m in the Colorado Rockies but drop to less than 2100 m in northwestern Montana and in the mountains of Alberta. Soils have become relatively stabilized in these sites, are moist but well-drained, strongly acidic, and often with substantial peat layers. Vegetation in these areas is controlled by snow retention, wind desiccation, permafrost, and a short growing season.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40071-{C0A2D958-BF5C-4208-95E8-D88FA44DAFFF}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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