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CEGL000317 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Luzula glabrata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Smooth Woodrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a minor one, occurring as small-patch occurrences at the highest subalpine elevations within the northern Rocky Mountains, southern portion of the Canadian Rockies and west to the eastern slope of the Cascade Range. Across the core area of its distribution its known elevational range is 1830 to 2500 m (6000-8200 feet). It occupies cold sites that receive snow in excess of what is received by surrounding topography and also retains the snow cache late into summer. Sites may occur on all aspects and degrees of slope so long as snowpack is long-persisting. Parent materials are various, including extrusive and intrusive volcanics (primarily granitics), sedimentary colluvium and morainal detritus; regardless of parent material, kind/source soils weather to coarse-textured, extremely acidic soils (usually less than pH of 4.2). Stands are usually very open with short-stature Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii dominating the canopy. Scattered seral tree species include Pinus albicaulis and Pinus contorta. The shrub component is generally depauperate with thin patches of a variable mix of Vaccinium scoparium, Vaccinium membranaceum (dwarfed in size to less than 0.2 m), Lonicera utahensis, Ribes montigenum, and Phyllodoce empetriformis. The forb component is strongly dominated by Luzula glabrata, which can occur as a dense sward (cover approaching 100%) to the near exclusion of other herbs. Arnica latifolia is universally the most abundant and constant forb in a very depauperate layer.
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: Stands are usually very open with short-stature Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii dominating the canopy. Scattered seral tree species include Pinus albicaulis and Pinus contorta. The shrub component is generally depauperate with thin patches of a variable mix of Vaccinium scoparium, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium membranaceum (dwarfed in size to less than 0.2 m), Lonicera utahensis, Sambucus racemosa, Ribes montigenum, and Phyllodoce empetriformis. The forb component is strongly dominated by Luzula glabrata, which can occur as a dense sward (cover approaching 100%) to the near exclusion of other herbs; most studies report an average cover between 20 and 40%. Other graminoids present vary by region with Juncus parryi, Carex rossii, and Carex geyeri being most prevalent in central and northern Idaho where the type is ostensibly most extensive. Arnica latifolia is universally the most abundant and constant forb in a very depauperate layer. In Idaho Chionophila tweedyi, Pedicularis contorta, Polemonium pulcherrimum, and Valeriana sitchensis are the species with highest constancy; with the exception of Chionophila tweedyi, the same expression is found on the east slope of the Cascades (Lillybridge et al. 1995). In Montana Arnica latifolia, Hieracium gracile, Viola orbiculata, and Xerophyllum tenax tend to be consistently present, though only the first and last named attain high coverages. In Grand Teton National Park, forbs include Pedicularis racemosa, Sibbaldia procumbens, Arnica latifolia, Ligusticum filicinum, Erigeron spp., Eucephalus engelmannii, and Lupinus sp.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is a minor one, occurring as small- or infrequently as large-patch occurrences at the highest subalpine elevations within the northern Rocky Mountains and southern portion of the Canadian Rockies. Across the core area of its distribution its known elevational range is 1830 to 2500 m (6000-8200 feet); outliers of the association are found in Wyoming''s Teton Range at 2990 m (9800 feet) and higher. It occupies cold sites that receive snow in excess of what is received by surrounding topography and also retains the snow cache late into summer. Sites may occur on all aspects and degrees of slope so long as snowpack is long-persisting. Parent materials are various, including extrusive and intrusive volcanics (primarily granitics), sedimentary colluvium and morainal detritus; regardless of parent material, kind/source soils weather to coarse-textured, extremely acidic soils (usually less than pH of 4.2) with a high gravel content, reflected in the considerable amount displayed on the surface. Soils are poorly developed (Inceptisols, Entisols) with virtually no horizonation.
Geographic Range: This association is a minor one, occurring as small- or infrequently as large-patch occurrences at the highest subalpine elevations within the northern Rocky Mountains and southern portion of the Canadian Rockies. Documented outliers occur in the Teton Range of Wyoming.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID, MT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689997
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group | G218 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A3614 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL000317 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Smooth Woodrush Woodland | CEGL000317 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/LUHI WEN ASSOCIATION CEG121]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Steele et al. 1983)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii / Luzula wahlenbergii Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1969)
>< Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii - Vaccinium myrtillus Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type (Cooper et al. 1987)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Steele et al. 1983)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii / Luzula wahlenbergii Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1969)
>< Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii - Vaccinium myrtillus Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
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