Print Report

CEGL001935 Trifolium dasyphyllum Alpine Fell-field

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alpine Clover Alpine Fell-field

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This vegetation association has been described from the alpine zone of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. Stands are generally found in the upper alpine zone on broad, gently sloping ridges that are covered with shallow snow most of the winter, but include stands on ridges, steeper talus and scree slopes (forming a mosaic with barren patches), fell-fields or turf where snow is removed by strong prevailing winds and sites are snow-free most of the winter. Aspects are variable. Sites vary from gentle to steep lower to high slopes. Substrates are variable and range from moderately deep, well-developed coarse-textured soils with high organic content to shallow rocky, sandy loam soils derived from granite. Surface rock (15-30%) and moss and lichen (to 40%) are abundant in most stands. The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense (70% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Trifolium dasyphyllum (>25% cover) and combination of cushion plants, upright forbs and graminoids. Associated forb species include Artemisia pattersonii, Artemisia scopulorum, Arenaria fendleri, Campanula rotundifolia, Castilleja occidentalis, Geum rossii, Mertensia oblongifolia, Minuartia obtusiloba, Oreoxis alpina, Paronychia pulvinata, Phlox pulvinata, Phlox caespitosa, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Sedum lanceolatum, Silene acaulis, Tetraneuris acaulis, Tetraneuris grandiflora, Tonestus pygmaeus, and Trifolium parryi. Graminoids are codominant in some stands. Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Danthonia intermedia, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus alaskanus, Elymus bakeri, Elymus scribneri, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola, and Trisetum spicatum are the most common graminoids. Selaginella densa is present to abundant in many stands. Diagnostic of this alpine herbaceous plant association is the dominance of Trifolium dasyphyllum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Some stands in this association occur as high-mountain scree slopes and alpine fell-fields. This is a broadly defined association characterized by dominance of Trifolium dasyphyllum and includes communities from diverse habits. Johnston (1987) and others have classified stands of this association into finer communities. More survey and classification review are needed to determine if finer classification is warranted to fully characterize Trifolium dasyphyllum-dominated communities.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This alpine plant association is characterized by an open to dense (70% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Trifolium dasyphyllum (>25% cover) and combination of cushion plants, upright forbs and graminoids. Associated forb species include Artemisia pattersonii, Artemisia scopulorum, Arenaria fendleri, Campanula rotundifolia, Castilleja occidentalis, Geum rossii, Mertensia oblongifolia (= Mertensia viridis), Minuartia obtusiloba, Oreoxis alpina, Paronychia pulvinata, Phlox pulvinata, Phlox caespitosa, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Sedum lanceolatum, Silene acaulis, Tetraneuris acaulis, Tetraneuris grandiflora, Tonestus pygmaeus, and Trifolium parryi (Holway 1960, Marr and Willard 1970, May 1973, Komarkova 1979, 1986, Baker 1983a). Graminoids are codominant in some stands. Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Danthonia intermedia, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus alaskanus, Elymus bakeri, Elymus scribneri, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola (= Poa rupicola), and Trisetum spicatum are the most common graminoids. Selaginella densa is present to abundant in many stands (Komarkova 1979).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This vegetation association has been described from the alpine zone of the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. Stands are generally found in the upper alpine zone between 3325 and 4060 m (10,990-13,300 feet) elevation on broad, gently sloping ridge that are covered with shallow snow most of the winter, but include stands on ridges, steeper talus and scree slopes (forming a mosaic with barren patches), fell-fields or turf where snow is removed by strong prevailing winds and sites are snow-free most of the winter. Aspects are variable. Sites vary from gentle to steep lower to high slopes. Substrates are variable and range from moderately deep, well-developed coarse-textured soils with high organic content to shallow rocky, sandy loam soils derived from granite. Surface rock (15-30%) and moss and lichen (to 40%) are abundant in most stands.
Geographic Range: This alpine vegetation association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and north-central New Mexico. It may have a wider distribution, as the diagnostic species is common throughout the alpine zone of the Rocky Mountains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class C04 4
Subclass 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass S12 4.B
Formation 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation F037 4.B.1
Division 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division D043 4.B.1.Nb
Macrogroup 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup M099 4.B.1.Nb.2
Group 4.B.1.Nb.2.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group G314 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Alliance A3154 Twin-flower Sandwort - Rocky Mountain Nailwort - Moss Campion Alpine Fell-field Alliance A3154 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001935 Alpine Clover Alpine Fell-field CEGL001935 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Trifolietum dasyphyllentis Association (Willard 1963)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum - Carex Alpine Meadow, M-8 (Braun 1969)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum - Poa Alpine Meadow, C-6 (Braun 1969)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum / Carex rupestris Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum / Elymus scribneri Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum / Lidia biflora Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum / Lidia biflora Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
> Trifolium dasyphyllum Meadow (Baker 1983a)
= Alpine Clover Fellfield (Marr and Willard 1970)
> Association Trifolietum dasyphylli (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1979)
= Association: Trifolietum dasyphylli (Willard 1963) (Willard 1979)
= Association: Trifolietum dasyphylli (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1976)
= Association: Trifolium dasyphyllum (MU 3) (Komarkova and Webber 1978)
> Habitat Type 18, Trifolium dasyphyllum, Carex spp. (Shepherd 1975)
> Habitat Type 20, Trifolium dasyphyllum, Agropyron scribneri (Shepherd 1975) [open canopy, talus and scree slopes and ridgetops.]
> Nodum II - Trifolium dasyphyllum - Silene acaulis; Dry Fellfield (May 1973)
= Stations #1, 3, 4, 10 (Holway 1960) [All are dominated by Trifolium dasyphyllum.]
= Stations #1, 3, 4, 10 (Holway and Ward 1963) [All are dominated by Trifolium dasyphyllum.]
< Survey 248 (Kiener 1967) [dominated by Trifolium dasyphyllum.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-18-05
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