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CEGL005891 Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Thinleaf Huckleberry / Common Beargrass Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community type is found throughout Glacier National Park in Montana and is also documented from a single record for Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This dwarf-shrubland occurs in small to large patches at mid to upper subalpine elevations, from 1600 to 2020 m (5250-6630 feet). It is found primarily on steep (to 70%), southeast- through south- to southwest-facing slopes. Topographic situation is variable and includes all slope positions, but upper slopes and slope shoulders are quite commonly represented. It develops on both calcareous and noncalcareous substrates, usually red and green argillites. Soils are moderately to well-drained with loamy textures predominating. The litter layer is nearly continuous. This vegetation type is largely interpreted to be an early-seral expression of burned subalpine forests, usually those potentially dominated by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii. Variable combinations of Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Pinus contorta are common in the seedling and sapling size classes. The shrub layer dominant Vaccinium membranaceum averages 35% cover (10-80%). Other shrubs of high constancy include Paxistima myrsinites, Spiraea betulifolia, and Sorbus scopulina; Rubus parviflorus is present in lower elevation plots and low coverage of Vaccinium scoparium (or Vaccinium myrtillus) is characteristic of higher elevation sites. Xerophyllum tenax almost invariably dominates the forb layer, averaging 40% cover. Carex geyeri and Luzula glabrata have high constancy. The remainder of the forb component varies depending on moisture status, with Valeriana sitchensis, Veratrum viride, Erigeron peregrinus, and Eucephalus engelmannii being regularly present in moister sites. Increaser species such as Arnica cordifolia, Arnica latifolia, Chamerion angustifolium and Erythronium grandiflorum are present across the range of sites.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Henderson (1973) reports a Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax community type in his dichotomous key, occurring in the north Cascades in Mount Rainier National Park. However, he does not present any descriptions or data to substantiate his type. He does report, however, that the occurrence of his Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax community is tied to fire history, occurring as an early-successional, post-fire community (Henderson 1973). It is likely that the association reported here for Glacier National Park is synonymous with Henderson''s.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: At Glacier National Park, this vegetation type is largely interpreted to be an early-seral expression of burned subalpine forests, usually those potentially dominated by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii. Variable combinations of Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Pinus contorta are common in the seedling and sapling size classes. The shrub layer dominant Vaccinium membranaceum averages 35% cover (10-80%). Other shrubs of high constancy include Paxistima myrsinites, Spiraea betulifolia, and Sorbus scopulina; Rubus parviflorus is present in lower elevation plots and low coverage of Vaccinium scoparium (or Vaccinium myrtillus) is characteristic of higher elevation sites. Xerophyllum tenax almost invariably dominates the forb layer, averaging 40% cover. Carex geyeri and Luzula glabrata have high constancy. The remainder of the forb component varies depending on moisture status, with Valeriana sitchensis, Veratrum viride, Erigeron peregrinus, and Eucephalus engelmannii being regularly present in moister sites. Increaser species such as Arnica cordifolia, Arnica latifolia, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium) and Erythronium grandiflorum are present across the range of sites.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  At Glacier National Park, this dwarf-shrubland occurs in small to large patches at mid to upper subalpine elevations, from 1600 to 2020 m (5250-6630 feet). It is found primarily on steep (to 70%), southeast- through south- to southwest-facing slopes. Topographic situation is variable and includes all slope positions, but upper slopes and slope shoulders are quite commonly represented. It develops on both calcareous and noncalcareous substrates, usually red and green argillites. Soils are moderately to well-drained with loamy textures predominating. The litter layer is nearly continuous.
Geographic Range: This association occurs from Washington to Montana and Alberta.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, ID?, MT, WA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?

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 CEGL005891 Thinleaf Huckleberry / Common Beargrass Shrubland CEGL005891 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 membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax (Allen 2005)
= Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Community Type (Henderson 1973)
= Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Shrubland (Hop et al. 2007)
= Vaccinium membranaceum/Xerophyllum tenax Shrubland (Crawford et al. 2009)
>< Xerophylletum tenacis Association (Damm 2001)
Concept Author(s): Hop et al. (2007)

Author of Description: Western Ecology Group

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-21-04
  • Allen, L. 2005. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre Preliminary Plant Community Tracking List. Alberta Community Development, Edmonton, Alberta. 94 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]
  • 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.
  • Henderson, J. A. 1973. Composition, distribution and succession of subalpine meadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Unpublished dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 150 pp.
  • 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.