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CEGL005859 Xerophyllum tenax Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Beargrass Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This herbaceous vegetation type occurs from upper montane to alpine environments in northwestern Montana and southern Alberta. It ranges in elevation from 1790 to 2222 m (5870-7290 feet). It is virtually always associated with moderate to steep slopes with warm exposures (predominantly southeast- to west-facing aspects). Often stands are associated with the upper slopes of ridgeline and slope shoulders, positions among the earliest to lose snow at a given altitude. Parent material is quite variable, ranging from glacial drift to colluvium derived from calcareous and noncalcareous rock types. Soils are often quite well-drained with a significant rock component of 50% or more. The ground surface is usually 90% or more litter with the remainder composed of basal vegetation and a trace of bryophytes and exposed rock. This association presents a distinctive aspect with what can initially appear to be a monoculture of Xerophyllum tenax (greater than 70% average cover) of tall, dense tussocks rising to 0.3 m (1 foot) and when in flower the stalk projects delicate, clustered white blooms more than 1 m (3.3 feet) above the tussocks. Over 90 vascular species occur within this association; about 20% of these are shrubs which never comprise more than 10% cover in the aggregate and of which only Vaccinium membranaceum attains greater than 50% constancy. Tree species, mostly Abies lasiocarpa in the tall-shrub layer, may occur sparsely scattered. The only graminoid of consequence is Carex geyeri, though its cover seldom exceeds 5%. Though diverse, the herbaceous component has only six species (exclusive of Xerophyllum tenax) with more than 50% constancy, including Erigeron peregrinus, Valeriana sitchensis, Veratrum viride, Erythronium grandiflorum, Thalictrum occidentale, and Chamerion angustifolium. Generally this forb component does not, individually or in the aggregate, exhibit more than 10% cover, and should the first three named forbs exceed this cover, then another association is possibly indicated. This association often occurs in areas that have experienced fire in the past; though evidence is often old, the burns appear to have been intense and occurred in primarily closed forest conditions.
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 presents a distinctive aspect with what can initially appear to be a monoculture of Xerophyllum tenax (greater than 70% average cover) of tall, dense tussocks rising to 0.3 m (1 foot) and when in flower the stalk projects delicate, clustered white blooms more than 1 m (3.3 feet) above the tussocks. Over 90 vascular species occur within this association; about 20% of these are shrubs which never comprise more than 10% cover in the aggregate and of which only Vaccinium membranaceum attains greater than 50% constancy. Tree species, mostly Abies lasiocarpa in the tall-shrub layer, may occur sparsely scattered. The only graminoid of consequence is Carex geyeri, though its cover seldom exceeds 5%. Though diverse, the herbaceous component has only six species (exclusive of Xerophyllum tenax) with more than 50% constancy, including Erigeron peregrinus, Valeriana sitchensis, Veratrum viride, Erythronium grandiflorum, Thalictrum occidentale, and Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium). Generally this forb component does not, individually or in the aggregate, exhibit more than 10% cover, and should the first three named forbs exceed this cover, then another association is possibly indicated.
Dynamics: This association often occurs in areas that have experienced fire in the past; though evidence is often old, the burns appear to have been intense and occurred in primarily closed forest conditions.
Environmental Description: This herbaceous vegetation type occurs from upper montane to alpine environments in northwestern Montana and southern Alberta. It ranges in elevation from 1790 to 2222 m (5870-7290 feet). It is virtually always associated with moderate to steep slopes with warm exposures (predominantly southeast- to west-facing aspects). Often stands are associated with the upper slopes of ridgeline and slope shoulders, positions among the earliest to lose snow at a given altitude. Parent material is quite variable, ranging from glacial drift to colluvium derived from calcareous and noncalcareous rock types. Soils are often quite well-drained with a significant rock component of 50% or more. The ground surface is usually 90% or more litter with the remainder composed of basal vegetation and a trace of bryophytes and exposed rock.
Geographic Range: This herbaceous vegetation type occurs from upper montane to alpine environments in northwestern Montana and southern Alberta.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, WA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728610
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup | M168 | 2.B.2.Nf.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group | G271 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Alliance | A3948 Sitka Valerian - Hitchcock''s Smooth Woodrush - Common Beargrass Subalpine Mesic Meadow Alliance | A3948 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Association | CEGL005859 Common Beargrass Meadow | CEGL005859 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Xerophylletum tenacis Association (Damm 2001)
= Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
= Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Xerophyllum tenax Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- Damm, C. 2001. A phytosociological study of Glacier National Park, Montana, U. S. A., with notes on the syntaxonomy of alpine vegetation in western North America. Dissertation from Georg - August University, Germany. 297 pp. plus appendices.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.