Print Report
CEGL005884 Larix lyallii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Luzula glabrata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Larch / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Smooth Woodrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has been described from only the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana and their continuation into Alberta (as the Canadian Rockies). It occurs on mesic to hygric sites at the highest extents of the subalpine zone (2030-2225 m [6660-7300 feet]) on slopes of all degrees of inclination, with moderate to steep (30-70%) lee slopes (east- and north-facing) predominating. Colluvial landforms with well-drained soils are the norm. These sites are hypothesized to be snow-accumulation positions and because of their cool aspects melt-off of the deep snowpack occurs late in the growing season. Stand structure is generally quite open, with the upper tree canopy cover varying from 15% to slightly greater than 50% and tree heights generally not exceeding 12 m (40 feet). Larix lyallii is the dominant tree and sometimes only tree represented (considered diagnostic at 5% or greater cover), though common associates are Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii; in the subcanopy Abies lasiocarpa may often have greater cover than Larix lyallii. Vaccinium membranaceum is highly constant, though its cover and stature are much reduced from that recorded from lower subalpine sites; it is sufficiently diminutive to be confused with Vaccinium myrtillus, which is only about 20% constant with around 5% average cover. The cover of the undergrowth diagnostic Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii ranges widely, 10-70%, and it is generally the undergrowth dominant as well; its high cover is indicative of deep and late-persisting snowpack. A number of herbaceous species associated with mesic to hygric moisture regimes have relatively high constancy, including Senecio triangularis, Erigeron peregrinus, Mitella breweri, Veratrum viride, and Valeriana sitchensis. Arnica x diversifolia and Pedicularis bracteosa are also commonly occurring forbs. Bryophytes and lichen are generally sparse both on the ground and as epiphytes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The association described here is very similar to, perhaps the same as, ~Larix lyallii / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (CEGL000951)$$ of the North Cascades of Washington and British Columbia (and speculated to occur in Idaho and Montana). However, due to what is presumed to be the stochastic operation of plant distribution, Vaccinium scoparium is not present to any extent for long stretches on the east slope of the northern Rocky Mountains. Vaccinium myrtillus is somewhat of an ecological analogue of Vaccinium scoparium but is not found in sites as cold and stressful and is present with generally less than 5% cover in this type. The fact that Vaccinium membranaceum, not Vaccinium scoparium or Vaccinium myrtillus, is the dominant shrub in this association and that mesic to hygric forbs are plentiful argues for considering this a separate association until more information is accumulated. The fact that tree species, other than Larix lyallii, are considered at the extreme limits of their distribution, present in stunted form in the North Cascades association also argues for these being harsher sites. The Larix lyallii / Luzula hitchcockii association of Williams and Smith (1990) for the Wenatchee National Forest is included in ~Larix lyallii / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (CEGL000951)$$ of the USNVC.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stand structure is generally quite open with the upper tree canopy cover varying from 15% to slightly greater than 50% and tree heights generally not exceeding 40 feet. Larix lyallii is the dominant tree and sometimes only tree represented (considered diagnostic at 5% or greater cover), though common associates are Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii; in the subcanopy Abies lasiocarpa may often have greater cover than Larix lyallii. Vaccinium membranaceum is highly constant, though its cover and stature are much reduced from that recorded from lower subalpine sites; it is sufficiently diminutive to be confused with Vaccinium myrtillus, which is only about 20% constant with around 5% average cover. The cover of the undergrowth diagnostic Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii ranges widely, 10-70 %, and it is generally the undergrowth dominant as well; its high cover is indicative of deep and late-persisting snowpack. No other graminoids of even moderate constancy or cover occur. A number of herbaceous species associated with mesic to hygric moisture regimes have relatively high constancy, including Senecio triangularis, Erigeron peregrinus, Mitella breweri, Veratrum viride, and Valeriana sitchensis. Arnica x diversifolia and Pedicularis bracteosa are also commonly occurring forbs. Bryophytes and lichen are generally sparse both on the ground and as epiphytes.
Dynamics: Achuff et al. (2002a) report that stands of this association in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, are 165 to greater than 350 years old, and are successionally mature.
Environmental Description: This association has been described from only the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana and their continuation into Alberta (as the Canadian Rockies). It occurs on mesic to hygric sites at the highest extents of the subalpine zone (2030-2225 m [6660-7300 feet]) on slopes of all degrees of inclination, with moderate to steep (30-70%) lee slopes (east- and north-facing) predominating. Colluvial landforms with well-drained soils are the norm. These sites are hypothesized to be snow-accumulation positions and because of their cool aspects melt-off of the deep snowpack occurs late in the growing season. According to Arno and Habeck (1972) Larix lyallii is closely restricted to the outer fringe of the Pacific Northwest maritime mountain climate zones. It also has a nearly constant association with cool aspects and heavily glaciated, acidic, rocky sites.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from only the northern Rocky Mountains of northwestern Montana and their continuation into Alberta (as the Canadian Rockies).
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID?, MT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728669
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.g Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Northern Rocky Mountain Woodland Group | G223 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Alliance | A0631 Subalpine Larch Woodland Alliance | A0631 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Association | CEGL005884 Subalpine Larch / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Smooth Woodrush Woodland | CEGL005884 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
Concept Lineage: Larix lyallii associations have been developed for Montana, and so this provisional type is no longer needed.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Larix lyallii - Abies lasiocarpa Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
= Larix lyallii / Luzula hitchcockii Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= Larix lyallii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
= Larix lyallii / Luzula hitchcockii Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= Larix lyallii / Vaccinium membranaceum / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- Achuff, P. L., R. L. McNeil, M. L. Coleman, C. Wallis and C. Wershler. 2002. Ecological land classification of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Volume I: Integrated resource description. Parks Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. 226 pp.
- 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]
- Arno, S. F., and J. R. Habeck. 1972. Ecology of alpine larch (Larix lyallii Parlatore) in the Pacific Northwest. Ecological Monographs 42:417-450.
- 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.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- 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.
- Williams, C. K., and B. G. Smith. 1990. Forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished draft prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 217 pp.