Print Report
CEGL001967 Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Alpine Turf
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ross'' Avens - American Bistort Alpine Turf
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This alpine plant association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains extending north into Wyoming. Stands are found on relatively wind-protected alpine slopes with light to moderate snow accumulation. These mesic alpine turf sites frequently occur on gentle, mid to upper slopes, mostly with a flat or concave surface topography, but also occur on flat to moderately to steep (0-46%) slopes. Snowmelt is slightly delayed to moderately prolonged which favors Geum rossii. Substrates are moderately deep, well-drained, gravelly to cobbly, silty loam to sandy loam soils derived from various metamorphic and igneous rocks such as gneiss and granite. Litter typically dominates the ground cover. The vegetation is characterized a moderately dense to dense (40-80% cover), low herbaceous layer dominated by Geum rossii, with Polygonum bistortoides and Artemisia scopulorum codominant. Other common forbs, such as Anemone narcissiflora var. zephyra, Caltha leptosepala, Castilleja occidentalis, Gentiana algida, Minuartia biflora, Lloydia serotina, Mertensia alpina, Mertensia oblongifolia, Saxifraga rhomboidea, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polemonium viscosum, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola integrifolia, Tetraneuris grandiflora, Silene acaulis, and Trifolium parryi, may be present. Although forbs dominate the herbaceous layer, low to moderate cover of graminoids may be present, including Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Carex scopulorum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca brachyphylla, Poa arctica, and Trisetum spicatum. Mosses and lichens have low cover, if present. Diagnostic characters are Geum rossii- and Polygonum bistortoides-dominated mesic turf and meadow which separates it from Geum rossii-dominated cushion plant communities.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized a moderately dense to dense (40-80% cover), low herbaceous layer dominated by Geum rossii, with Polygonum bistortoides and Artemisia scopulorum codominant. Other common forbs, such as Anemone narcissiflora var. zephyra (= Anemonastrum narcissiflorum), Caltha leptosepala, Castilleja occidentalis, Gentiana algida, Minuartia biflora (= Lidia biflora), Lloydia serotina, Mertensia alpina, Mertensia oblongifolia (= Mertensia viridis), Saxifraga rhomboidea (= Micranthes rhomboidea), Pedicularis groenlandica, Polemonium viscosum, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola integrifolia, Tetraneuris grandiflora (= Rydbergia grandiflora), Silene acaulis, and Trifolium parryi, may be present (Tweit and Houston 1980, Hess 1981, Hess and Wasser 1982, Komarkova 1986). Although forbs dominate the herbaceous layer, low to moderate cover of graminoids may be present, including Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Carex scopulorum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca brachyphylla, Poa arctica, and Trisetum spicatum. Dwarf-shrub Salix arctica is often present to abundant. Mosses and lichens have low cover, if present.
Dynamics: Geum rossii has one of the widest ecological amplitudes among alpine taxa occurring in almost any alpine habitat (Komarkova 1986). However, there are few habitats where it can dominate, including disturbed areas (gopher gardens), and certain snowbed and fellfield communities (Willard 1963, Komarkova 1986).
Environmental Description: This alpine plant association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains extending north into Wyoming. Stands are found on relatively wind-protected alpine slopes with light to moderate snow accumulation at elevations of 3430 to 4025 m (11,250-13,200 feet) in Colorado and above 2900 m (9500 feet) in Wyoming. These mesic alpine turf sites frequently occur on gentle, mid to upper slopes, mostly with a flat or concave surface topography, but also occur on flat to moderately to steep slopes (0-46%). Snowmelt is slightly delayed to moderately prolonged which favors Geum rossii (Komarkova 1979, 1986). Substrates are moderately deep, well-drained, gravelly to cobbly, silty loam to sandy loam soils derived from various metamorphic and igneous rocks such as gneiss and granite. Soils are classified as Cryorthents, Cryoborolls, or Cryumbrepts (Wasser and Hess 1982). Soil pH is 4.6-5.2 (Komarkova 1979, Wasser and Hess 1982). Litter typically dominates the ground cover.
Geographic Range: This alpine plant association occurs in the Southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado and extends north into northwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687520
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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 | A3155 Blackroot Sedge - Curly Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf Alliance | A3155 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001967 Ross'' Avens - American Bistort Alpine Turf | CEGL001967 | 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: = Acomastylis rossii - Bistorta bistortoides Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Acomastylis rossii ssp. turbinata - Bistorta bistortoides Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
< Geum rossii Turf Community Type (Tweit and Houston 1980) [somewhat broader but very similar to this association.]
>< Association Acomastylidetum rossii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1979)
< Habitat Type #6 Geum rossii, Poa spp. (Shepherd 1975)
= Acomastylis rossii ssp. turbinata - Bistorta bistortoides Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Geum rossii - Polygonum bistortoides Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
< Geum rossii Turf Community Type (Tweit and Houston 1980) [somewhat broader but very similar to this association.]
>< Association Acomastylidetum rossii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1979)
< Habitat Type #6 Geum rossii, Poa spp. (Shepherd 1975)
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