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A.1085 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1085 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: Vegetation in this alliance occurs in the alpine tundra in the Rocky Mountains. The climate regime is continental, with long, cold winters and short summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Strong westerly winds are common in the winter and spring. Stands are found between 3350 and 3750 m elevation. Stands are usually located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide on flat to gently sloping ridges and summits. The ridgetops are subject to extremely high winds and are blown free of snow in winter. The ground is covered with rocks that have been stabilized for a long period of time. The sites are called fell-fields and differ from talus or scree which are located on steeper slopes and are unstable and often moving. The soils are poorly developed, have little organic matter, and are classified as Inceptisols (Cryochrepts). The majority of the species are cushion- or mat-forming and spread horizontally over the ground surface to form a dense cover of foliage. ~Paronychia pulvinata, Silene acaulis, Minuartia obtusiloba$, and ~Trifolium nanum$ are the dominant species. ~Festuca brachyphylla, Geum rossii, Luzula spicata, Polygonum bistortoides$, and ~Selaginella densa$ are common vascular plant associates. The cryptogam layer has a high diversity of mainly lichen species. ~Candelariella aurella, Cornicularia aculeata$, and ~Dactylina madreporiformis$ are the most common lichens, and ~Polytrichum piliferum$ is the most common moss species. Adjacent communities are often dominated by ~Carex rupestris$ or ~Polemonium viscosum$.  Accession Code: VB.CC.855.A1085 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: IV.A.1.N.c This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: PARONYCHIA PULVINATA DWARF-SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE   Code: A.1085   Common: Rocky Mountain Nailwort Dwarf-shrubland Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Paronychia pulvinata Dwarf-shrubland Alliance