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CEGL008658 Calamagrostis purpurascens - Linanthus pungens Alpine Fell-field
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Purple Reedgrass - Granite Prickly-phlox Alpine Fell-field
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This herbaceous association is currently only known from Yosemite National Park in California, and the following description is based on occurrences there. Additional information will be added as it becomes available. This association grows in a fairly wide variety of xeric alpine habitats at elevations ranging from 2900-3230 m (9500-10,600 feet). Slopes can be moderate to fairly steep, and aspects are highly variable. Some stands grow in seasonally saturated soils in convex basins, while others are on xeric lower to middle slopes. Soils are rocky, well-drained and derived from metamorphic parent materials, but range in texture from sands to silt loams. This highly diverse herbaceous association is characterized by an intermittent canopy of graminoids and forbs with Calamagrostis purpurascens an important species. Linanthus pungens is diagnostic for this association, and its preferred habitat is well-drained rocky sites. Elymus elymoides is a fairly frequent graminoid associate, but at least 13 other graminoids have been recorded in stands at low cover values and frequencies. Traces of cover may be provided by the graminoids Carex exserta, Achnatherum pinetorum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex heteroneura, Carex leporinella, Carex subnigricans, Festuca spp., and/or Poa spp. The most important forbs are Penstemon davidsonii, Ericameria discoidea, Minuartia nuttallii, and traces of Castilleja nana, Eriogonum ovalifolium, and/or Potentilla gracilis. A few, scattered, emergent shrubs may be present, including krummholz Pinus albicaulis and/or Salix planifolia.
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 highly diverse herbaceous association is characterized by an intermittent canopy of graminoids and forbs with Calamagrostis purpurascens an important species. Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens) is diagnostic for this association, and its preferred habitat is well-drained rocky sites. Elymus elymoides is a fairly frequent graminoid associate, but at least 13 other graminoids have been recorded in stands at low cover values and frequencies. Traces of cover may be provided by the graminoids Carex exserta, Achnatherum pinetorum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex heteroneura, Carex leporinella, Carex subnigricans, Festuca spp., and/or Poa spp. The most important forbs are Penstemon davidsonii, Ericameria discoidea, Minuartia nuttallii, and traces of Castilleja nana, Eriogonum ovalifolium, and/or Potentilla gracilis. A few, scattered, emergent shrubs may be present, including krummholz Pinus albicaulis and/or Salix planifolia.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association grows in a fairly wide variety of xeric alpine habitats at elevations ranging from 2900-3230 m (9500-10,600 feet). Slopes can be moderate to fairly steep, and aspects are highly variable. Some stands grow in seasonally saturated soils in convex basins, while others are on xeric lower to middle slopes. Soils are rocky, well-drained and derived from metamorphic parent materials, but range in texture from sands to silt loams.
Geographic Range: This association is only known from the vicinity of Yosemite National Park. Information about its global range is not available without additional inventory. It has also been observed in Kings Canyon National Park.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688315
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A3363 Coville''s Phlox - White-stem Goldenbush Alpine Fell-field Alliance | A3363 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL008658 Purple Reedgrass - Granite Prickly-phlox Alpine Fell-field | CEGL008658 | 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: = Calamagrostis purpurascens - Leptodactylon pungens Association (Taylor 1984)
= Calamagrostis purpurascens - Leptodactylon pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Calamagrostis purpurascens - Leptodactylon pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Calamagrostis purpurascens - Linanthus pungens (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.211.01]
= Calamagrostis purpurascens - Leptodactylon pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Calamagrostis purpurascens - Leptodactylon pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Calamagrostis purpurascens - Linanthus pungens (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.211.01]
- Keeler-Wolf, T. 2002. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. August 2002.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., P. E. Moore, E. T. Reyes, J. M. Menke, D. N. Johnson, and D. L. Karavidas. 2012. Yosemite National Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YOSE/NRTR--2012/598. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Taylor, D. W. 1984. Vegetation of the Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Inyo National Forest, California. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.