Name:
A.1096
Reference:
EcoArt 2002
Description:
Vegetation within this alliance is associated with moist subalpine and alpine meadows, snowbeds, lake margins, and other low-gradient depressions of the northern Rockies and Pacific mountain ranges from 1600-4000 m in elevation. These habitats are cold and snowy, with snowfields lingering into June or later. Soils are frigid, derived from bedrock or aggraded alluvium, usually high in organic matter, and strongly acid. These communities are often associated with hummocky topography, which provides a juxtaposition of saturated and somewhat drained microhabitats. Water tables are often at or near the surface for much of the growing season and organic decomposition is slow. A dominant dwarf-shrub layer of ~Kalmia microphylla$ typifies these communities. Other ericaceous shrubs, including ~Phyllodoce empetriformis, Phyllodoce breweri, Ledum glandulosum$, and ~Vaccinium$ spp., are common associates. Dwarf ~Salix$ spp. may also be present. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by graminoids, of which Carices usually predominate. ~Carex scopulorum, Carex aquatilis, Carex canescens$, and ~Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa)$ are especially common. Grasses, such as ~Deschampsia caespitosa, Danthonia intermedia$, and ~Phleum alpinum$, may also be locally abundant. Mesic forbs are usually scattered through the graminoid matrix, including ~Symphyotrichum spathulatum (= Aster occidentalis), Pedicularis groenlandica, Caltha leptosepala, Gentiana$ spp., ~Dodecatheon$ spp., and ~Epilobium$ spp. Adjacent vegetation types are typically subalpine coniferous forests dominated by ~Abies, Tsuga$, or ~Picea$ spp., wet ~Carex$ meadows, wet heaths dominated by ~Cassiope mertensiana$ and/or ~Phyllodoce empetriformis$, or alpine fell-fields.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.867.A1096
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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