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CEGL001904 Juncus drummondii - Antennaria lanata Alpine Snowbed
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Drummond''s Rush - Woolly Pussytoes Alpine Snowbed
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This upper subalpine to alpine wetland community has been described from the southern Madison Range in southwestern Montana and the Grand Teton Mountains of northwestern Wyoming. Elevations range from 2743-3050 m. The community occurs regularly as small patches (much less than one acre in extent) in valley depressions, swales and cirque basins in association with late-persisting snowbeds. Slopes are gentle to moderate (3-41% slope) with various aspects, and the association often occurs as a mosaic with other snowbed communities. Soils are typically shallow, well-drained and have a sandy clay texture derived from gneiss and granite parent materials. Gravel and bare ground cover up to 50% of the soil surface. Diagnostic of this relatively sparse alpine association is the codominance of Juncus drummondii and Antennaria lanata. The major graminoids are Juncus drummondii, Poa fendleriana, and Carex paysonis. The most common forb species are Antennaria lanata, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Erigeron peregrinus. The dwarf-shrub Vaccinium scoparium and Carex paysonis are important (10% cover each), and mosses and lichens have relatively low cover. Scattered shrubs and trees may also be present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Macro- and mesoclimatic factors and substrates are not significantly different than those of surrounding ranges and do not explain why this vegetation community is restricted to the southern portion of the Madison Range of southwestern Montana (Cooper et al. 1997) and the mountains of Grand Teton National Park. Inventory of alpine areas in Montana is far from complete, so this association may be represented in other ranges. Snowbed environments dominated by Juncus drummondii are described from Colorado alpine, and Antennaria lanata-dominated snowbeds are documented for the North Cascades of Washington and the Canadian Rocky Mountains; this association maybe somewhat of a floristic hybrid. Cooper et al. (1997, 1999) contain detailed classification discussions with references.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is a subalpine to alpine wetland community. The diagnostic stratum is a mixture of graminoids (20-60% cover) and forbs (10-40% cover) with graminoids generally dominant. The major graminoids are Juncus drummondii, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa fendleriana, and Carex paysonis. The most common forb species are Antennaria lanata, Hieracium gracile, Oreostemma alpigenum, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Erigeron peregrinus. Mosses and lichens have relatively low cover. A shrub layer is generally absent, but the community can include small amounts of Vaccinium scoparium and/or Phyllodoce empetriformis. Pinus albicaulis and Abies lasiocarpa may be present as dwarfed trees.
Dynamics: This association appears to depend on areas of snow accumulation and late snowmelt.
Environmental Description: This upper subalpine to alpine wetland community has been described from the Madison Range in southwestern Montana and the Grand Teton Mountains of northwestern Wyoming. Stands are small patches much less than one acre in extent, occurring where snow collects in depressions, swales and cirque basins, often in a mosaic with other snowbed communities. Elevations range from 2743 to 3050 m (9000-10,000 feet), and slopes range from gentle to moderately steep (3-41% slope). Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, have sandy clay texture are derived from gneiss and granite parent materials. Gravel, rocks and bare ground cover 10-50% of the soil surface.
Geographic Range: This community has been described from the southern Madison Range, i.e., Beaverhead Mountains Section (Nesser et al. 1997) of Bailey''s (1995) Middle Rocky Mountain Province, where it occurs regularly. Macro- and mesoclimatic factors and substrates differ in no significant way from those of surrounding ranges; the uniqueness of these communities may be attributable to historical vagaries of floristic distribution. It has also been described from alpine and subalpine areas throughout Grand Teton National Park.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685069
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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 | A3172 Drummond''s Rush - Parry''s Rush - Creeping Sibbaldia Rocky Mountain Alpine Snowbed Alliance | A3172 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001904 Drummond''s Rush - Woolly Pussytoes Alpine Snowbed | CEGL001904 | 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: = Juncus drummondii - Antennaria lanata Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
= Juncus drummondii/Antennaria lanata c.t. (Cooper et al. 1997)
= Juncus drummondii/Antennaria lanata c.t. (Cooper et al. 1997)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Cooper, S. V., C. Jean, and B. L. Heidel. 1999. Plant associations and related botanical inventory of the Beaverhead Mountains Section, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 235 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., P. Lesica, and D. Page-Dumroese. 1997. Plant community classification for alpine vegetation on Beaverhead National Forest, Montana. Report INT-GTR-362. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 61 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., and P. Lesica. 1992. Plant community classification for alpine vegetation on Beaverhead National Forest, Montana. Conservation Biology Research, Helena, MT. 80 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.