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CEGL001906 Juncus parryi - Erigeron ursinus Alpine Snowbed
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Parry''s Rush - Bear River Fleabane Alpine Snowbed
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This alpine association has been reported from 2900 to 2990 m (9500-9800 feet) elevation only in southwestern Montana, specifically within the Gravelly Range. This is a small-patch type locally common at the base of gentle to steep slopes with warm aspects (generally southerly to westerly). These are snow-accumulation sites that experience early meltoff. Sites are open, having in excess of 50% exposed substrate. ~Festuca idahoensis - (Festuca campestris) / Potentilla diversifolia Grassland (CEGL001623)$$ is most commonly the adjacent plant community. These sites lack a shrub component, and the graminoid component averages 35% cover with the forb cover more scarce at 20%. The dominant graminoids are the diagnostic Juncus parryi and Festuca idahoensis. Poa glauca is consistently present. Dominance of the forb component is shared among Erigeron ursinus, Erigeron peregrinus, Erigeron simplex, Antennaria umbrinella, and Lewisia pygmaea. Cover of mosses and lichens is typically low (2%).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is weakly supported by plot data and almost no formal inventory has been conducted, though the authors of the type noted the type was common in the mountain range from which it was described. This type has not been crosswalked with other alpine snowbed site associations, and some communities described from Colorado superficially appear comparable in site parameters and vegetation. Herb-dominated snowbed sites in general appear to have considerable compositional variability on what appear to be environmentally comparable sites. In the Lewis Range of Glacier National Park Juncus parryi-dominated snowbed sites have been classified as ~Juncus parryi / Sibbaldia procumbens Alpine Snowbed (CEGL005871)$$. Until a crosswalk is completed, this association should be considered a low-confidence type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association lacks a shrub component, and the graminoid component averages 35% cover with the forb cover more scarce at 20%. The dominant graminoids are the diagnostic Juncus parryi and Festuca idahoensis. Poa glauca is consistently present. Dominance of the forb component is shared among Erigeron ursinus, Erigeron peregrinus, Erigeron simplex, Antennaria umbrinella, and Lewisia pygmaea (Cooper et al. 1997, 1999). Cover of mosses and lichens is typically low (2%).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alpine association has been reported from 2900 to 2990 m (9500-9800 feet) elevation only in southwestern Montana, specifically within the Gravelly Range. This is a small-patch type locally common at the base of gentle to steep slopes with warm aspects (generally southerly to westerly). These are snow-accumulation sites that experience early meltoff. Sites are open, having in excess of 50% exposed substrate (bare ground and gravel). Soils are rocky (mean coarse fragments of 25%), with mean organic content of 20%, clayey fine fraction and mean pH of 5.6 (Cooper et al. 1997, 1999). Parent materials are quartz and andesite.
Geographic Range: This alpine association has been reported from southwestern Montana, specifically within the Gravelly Range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685802
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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 | CEGL001906 Parry''s Rush - Bear River Fleabane Alpine Snowbed | CEGL001906 | 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 parryi - Erigeron ursinus Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
= Juncus parryi/Erigeron ursinus c.t. (Cooper et al. 1997)
? Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1979) [This could be related, but more research in needed.]
? Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Willard 1979) [Juncus parryi was classified as Juncus drummondii var. parryi and included in this association. This could be related, but more research in needed.]
= Juncus parryi/Erigeron ursinus c.t. (Cooper et al. 1997)
? Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1979) [This could be related, but more research in needed.]
? Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Willard 1979) [Juncus parryi was classified as Juncus drummondii var. parryi and included in this association. This could be related, but more research in needed.]
- 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.
- 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., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
- 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.
- Holway, J. G., and R. T. Ward. 1963. Snow and meltwater effects in an area of Colorado alpine. The American Midland Naturalist 69(1):189-197.
- Komarkova, V. 1976. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks Area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 655 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1979. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Flora et vegetatio mundi 7, R. Tuxen, editor, 2 volumes, Vaduz: J. Cramer. 591 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.
- Willard, B. E. 1963. Phytosociology of the alpine tundra of Trail Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder.
- Willard, B. E. 1979. Plant sociology of alpine tundra, Trail Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Colorado School of Mines Quarterly 74(4):1-119.