Print Report

CEGL001140 Vaccinium (cespitosum, scoparium) Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Dwarf Bilberry, Grouse Whortleberry) Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This dwarf-shrub association occurs near treeline in the mountains of northern Colorado and northwestern Wyoming. It has also been reported from the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada and Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Slopes range from gentle to steep (1-100%), and sites may be oriented to any aspect. Sites are generally on lee slopes and are snow-covered throughout the winter and into the late spring, but one Colorado stand was on an exposed ridgetop below treeline. Sites generally remain mesic throughout the growing season. This vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense carpet of either Vaccinium cespitosum and/or Vaccinium scoparium. Herbaceous species reflect the subalpine/low alpine character of the association and vary greatly across the range of this association. Because of the late snowmelt and mesic soil conditions, some wetland species may be present. Herbaceous species that are abundant may include Polygonum bistortoides, Danthonia intermedia, Sibbaldia procumbens, Penstemon whippleanus, Poa cusickii, Carex pyrenaica, Geum rossii, Erigeron peregrinus, Caltha leptosepala, and Juncus drummondii. Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and/or Pinus albicaulis seedlings may be scattered through the community.

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 by a moderate to dense carpet of dwarf-shrubs occurring near treeline. Total vegetation cover ranges from 40 to 70% and is dominated by either Vaccinium cespitosum or Vaccinium scoparium. Both shrubs may be present, but typically one species is dominant. Herbaceous species reflect the subalpine/low alpine character of the association and vary greatly across the range of this association, with few species in common between Wyoming and Colorado stands. Because of the late snowmelt and mesic soil conditions, some wetland species may be present. Herbaceous species that are abundant may include Polygonum bistortoides (= Bistorta bistortoides), Danthonia intermedia, Sibbaldia procumbens, Penstemon whippleanus, Poa cusickii, Carex pyrenaica, Geum rossii, Erigeron peregrinus, Caltha leptosepala, and Juncus drummondii. Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and/or Pinus albicaulis seedlings may occur with 1-3% cover in the short-shrub layer.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This dwarf-shrub association occurs near treeline in the mountains of northern Colorado and northwestern Wyoming. It has also been reported from the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada and Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Slopes range from gentle to steep (1-100%), and sites may be oriented to any aspect. Sites are generally on lee slopes and are snow-covered throughout the winter and into the late spring, but one Colorado stand was on an exposed ridgetop below treeline. Sites generally remain mesic throughout the growing season. The unvegetated surface is typically covered by rocks and litter.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. It is reported to occur in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada, as well as in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CO, NV, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M048 2.B.2.Nf.2
Group 2.B.2.Nf.2.d Blueberry species - Rusty Menziesia / Common Beargrass Central Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Mesic Shrubland Group G305 2.B.2.Nf.2.d
Alliance A3969 Thinleaf Huckleberry - Whortleberry - Grouse Whortleberry Montane-Subalpine Shrubland Alliance A3969 2.B.2.Nf.2.d
Association CEGL001140 (Dwarf Bilberry, Grouse Whortleberry) Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001140 2.B.2.Nf.2.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Vaccinium scoparium - Vaccinium caespitosum / Lidia biflora Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Vaccinium scoparium - Vaccinium caespitosum / Lidia biflora Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Association Vaccinium scoparium - Vaccinium caespitosum (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1979)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: J.J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-03-05
  • ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
  • Benedict, J. B. 1977b. A master plan for the Bunker Hill Placer Preserve, Boulder County, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Denver, CO. 61 pp.
  • 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/]
  • 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.
  • Holway, J. G. 1960. Phenological observations on the major alpine species in the vicinity of False Mummy Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 84 pp.
  • Holway, J. G. 1962a. Phenology of Colorado alpine plants. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 154 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.
  • Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Olmsted, C. E., III, and W. R. Taylor. 1977a. Ecological resource inventory of the Bunker Hill Property, Boulder County, CO. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Denver, CO. 35 pp.
  • 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.
  • Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
  • WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.