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CEGL001959 Cirsium scopulorum - Polemonium viscosum Alpine Sparse Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Thistle - Sticky Jacob''s-ladder Alpine Sparse Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This high-elevation herbaceous association occurs in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This description is based on information from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This association is known from mid to high talus, scree, and colluvial slopes at 3525 to 3890 m elevation. Slope ranges from moderate to very steep (19-45°) with variable aspects. Soils are rapidly drained sandy loam, loamy sand, sand, and sandy clay. Stands are dominated by rock cover (25-95%) and gravel (0-58%). There is evidence of marmot and pika in the sampled areas. Herbaceous vegetation is sparse with less than 10% cover. Cirsium scopulorum has the greatest cover (up to 10%) along with Polemonium viscosum (up to 3%). Other frequent species with trace amounts of cover include Trisetum spicatum, Trifolium dasyphyllum, Silene acaulis var. subacaulescens, Senecio fremontii, Geum rossii var. turbinatum, and Festuca brachyphylla.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association occurs as high-mountain scree and alpine talus.
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: This herbaceous association occurs in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687625
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GU
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.c Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Saxifrage species Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock & Scree Group | G571 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
| Alliance | A4021 Rocky Mountain Alpine Sparse Herb Bedrock & Scree Alliance | A4021 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001959 Mountain Thistle - Sticky Jacob''s-ladder Alpine Sparse Meadow | CEGL001959 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Polemonium viscosum - Cirsium scopulorum Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
? Association: Placelio sericeae - Polemonietum viscosi (Komarkova 1976)
? Association: Placelio sericeae - Polemonietum viscosi (Komarkova 1976)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- 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. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.