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A.1000 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1000
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: These communities are located in the moderate to high-elevation (1200-3000 m) seep habitats of the Cascade Range where deep snow accumulations are common. They usually occur in shallow but deeply sloping ravines that receive moisture from snowmelt or groundwater discharge throughout the growing season. Often the ravines where these communities occur are also avalanche tracts. The wet soils and/or avalanche disturbance act to discourage colonization by coniferous trees and allow full sunlight to reach the ground at these sites. Soils are often composed of unstable talus, but may also be similar in structure to adjacent forest soils. A dense tall-shrub cover of ~Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata$ characterizes these communities. ~Acer circinatum$ and/or ~Alnus incana$ may be codominant in the tall-shrub layer in some stands. ~Acer glabrum, Spiraea douglasii$, and ~Sorbus scopulina$ may also be present. Low cold-deciduous or ericaceous shrubs may be abundant, including ~Rubus spectabilis, Rubus parviflorus, Oplopanax horridus, Paxistima myrsinites$, and ~Vaccinium$ spp., particularly west of the Cascade crest. A lush herbaceous layer is usually present, including forbs such as ~Aconitum columbianum, Veratrum viride, Senecio triangularis, Urtica dioica, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Achillea millefolium$, and large ferns, including ~Athyrium filix-femina$ and ~Polystichum munitum$. Adjacent vegetation is usually montane or subalpine coniferous forest dominated by ~Abies amabilis, Tsuga mertensiana, Pinus contorta, Picea engelmannii$, or other forest species. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.771.A1000
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: III.B.2.N.e
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: ALNUS VIRIDIS SSP. SINUATA SEASONALLY FLOODED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1000
  Common: Sitka Alder Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance