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CEGL001398 Cassiope mertensiana - Phyllodoce empetriformis Alpine Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Moss-heather - Pink Mountain-heath Alpine Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs at or above treeline, usually in the lower portion of the alpine zone. Sites have well-drained mesic soils, and can be rocky. The vegetation is dominated by Cassiope mertensiana and/or Phyllodoce empetriformis. Both are typically present and more often prominent. Tree species are usually absent. Other relatively abundant species (sometimes prominent) include Luetkea pectinata, Vaccinium deliciosum, Carex spectabilis, Pedicularis ornithorhyncha, and Antennaria lanata. This association occurs in the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is distinguished from the similar, but more subalpine parkland type ~Phyllodoce empetriformis / Vaccinium deliciosum Alpine Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL001407)$$, by the alpine setting, presence of alpine species such as Phyllodoce glanduliflora, and the lower mean abundance and height of Vaccinium deliciosum. These could be combined into a generalized heather type encompassing alpine and subalpine subassociations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, ID, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685520
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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.3 Vancouverian Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M101 | 4.B.1.Nb.3 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.3.a Black Crowberry - Pink Mountain-heath - Western Moss-heather Alpine-Subalpine Dwarf-shrubland & Heath Group | G317 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A3331 Pink Mountain-heath - Western Moss-heather - Cascade Bilberry Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A3331 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001398 Western Moss-heather - Pink Mountain-heath Alpine Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL001398 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Carex - Cassiope (Schreiner 1994)
= Cassiope mertensiana-Phyllodoce empetriformis Alpine Dwarf-shrubland (Crawford et al. 2009)
> Cassiope mertensiana Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
= Cassiope mertensiana Community (Edwards 1980)
> Phyllodoce empetriformis Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
= Cassiope mertensiana-Phyllodoce empetriformis Alpine Dwarf-shrubland (Crawford et al. 2009)
> Cassiope mertensiana Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
= Cassiope mertensiana Community (Edwards 1980)
> Phyllodoce empetriformis Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
- 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.
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- Douglas, G. W., and L. C. Bliss. 1977. Alpine and high subalpine plant communities of the North Cascades Range, Washington and British Columbia. Ecological Monographs 47:113-150.
- Edwards, O. M. 1980. The alpine vegetation of Mount Rainier National Park: Structure, constraints, and development. Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
- Hamann, M. J. 1972. Vegetation of alpine and subalpine meadows of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Unpublished thesis, Washington State University, Pullman. 120 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Schreiner, E. G. 1994. Appendix A1: Vegetation sampling. In: D. B. Houston, E. C. Schriener and B. B. Moorhead, editors. Mountain goats in Olympic National Park: Biology and management of an introduced species. Scientific Monograph NPS/NROLYN/NRSM 94/25. USDI National Park Service.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- del Moral, R. 1979. High elevation vegetation of the Enchantment Lakes Basin, Washington. Canadian Journal of Botany 57(10):1111-1130.