Name:
Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Macrogroup
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This dwarf-shrub-, herb-, or lichen-dominated vegetation occurs above treeline on northeastern mountains of North America, where wind, snow, and cloud-cover fog limit plant growth. Sites encompass the ancient and weathered summits and plateaus of the Canadian Shield, Canadian maritime provinces, and the northern Appalachian Mountains. Most of the cover is dwarf-shrubland or lichen-dominated; islands of taller shrubs or small graminoid meadows may occur in protected spots. The dominant plants are ericads: <i>Vaccinium uliginosum</i> is diagnostic and often dominant; <i>Vaccinium vitis-idaea</i> and, less often, <i>Vaccinium boreale</i>, is often common. Other alpine-restricted heaths such as <i>Arctostaphylos alpina, Loiseleuria procumbens, Phyllodoce caerulea</i>, and <i>Rhododendron lapponicum</i> are present, with composition generally varying by microsite characteristics. Other low shrubs include dwarf birches, alders and willows, such as <i>Alnus viridis, Betula glandulosa, Betula minor, Salix argyrocarpa, Salix herbacea</i>, and <i>Salix uva-ursi</i>. <i>Diapensia lapponica</i> is a characteristic cushion-plant, especially in highly exposed flats. <i>Carex bigelowii</i> is a characteristic and locally dominant sedge, <i>Agrostis mertensii</i> and <i>Anthoxanthum monticola ssp. alpinum</i> are characteristic grasses, and <i>Juncus trifidus</i> is a dominant rush. Forbs are comparatively scarce (except in snowbank settings), with characteristic species including <i>Minuartia groenlandica, Prenanthes boottii, Solidago cutleri</i>, and in a few locations, <i>Geum peckii</i> and <i>Potentilla robbinsiana</i>. In Atlantic Canada, some alpine forbland/grassland is characterized by alpine plants such as <i>Festuca altaica, Juncus trifidus, Luzula spicata, Polygonum viviparum</i>, and other (boreal) plants.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40518-{5A975A9C-2387-47EF-BCAB-C02BC3CA7275}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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