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CEGL005901 Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silverleaf Phacelia - (Rocky Ledge Penstemon) Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is found in both Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks (Montana and Alberta), distributed primarily in the extensive talus slopes that lie in close proximity to the Continental Divide. This subalpine to alpine community occurs from 1800 to 2420 m (5405-7940 feet) on steep to very steep (45 to 78%) talus slopes spanning a range of exposures from east to primarily southwest (facing prevailing winds). The upper portions of these scree areas may receive and retain considerable snow which contributes meltwater to downslope positions. These are active, unstable sites for the most part with loose surface rocks of argillite, diorite and limestone and obvious areas of slope movement. Rock dominates the surface with more than 95% exposure being common and litter being the other component, never having more than 10% cover. Considerable amounts of fine soil accumulate below the scree cover and, due to this cover, is to some degree protected from evaporation resulting in sites being considerably more mesic than indicated by exposure and surface rock. Many of these sites, perhaps the most typical of scree slopes, are transitional between USNVC vegetated and sparsely vegetated categories with vascular plant cover ranging between 1% and 25%. The subshrub Penstemon ellipticus may have the greatest cover, up to 25%, or occasionally be absent. Elymus alaskanus ssp. latiglumis is the only graminoid with even modest constancy and occurs with less than 5% cover. The forb component is diverse and heterogeneous with even the nominal species Phacelia hastata present in only 80% of the plots. Other forbs evidencing only a modest constancy include Stellaria americana, Minuartia nuttallii, Arenaria capillaris, and Phacelia sericea. The moss and lichen components are negligible due to the disruption of slope movement.
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: The subshrub Penstemon ellipticus may have the greatest cover, up to 25%, or occasionally be absent. Elymus alaskanus ssp. latiglumis (= Agropyron latiglume) is the only graminoid with even modest constancy and occurs with less than 5% cover. The forb component is diverse and heterogeneous with even the nominal species Phacelia hastata present in only 80% of the plots. Other forbs evidencing only a modest constancy include Stellaria americana, Minuartia nuttallii (= Arenaria nuttallii), Arenaria capillaris, and Phacelia sericea. The moss and lichen components are negligible due to the disruption of slope movement.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is distributed primarily in the extensive talus slopes that lie in close proximity to the Continental Divide. This subalpine to alpine community occurs from 1800 to 2420 m (5405-7940 feet) on steep to very steep (45 to 78%) talus slopes spanning a range of exposures from east to primarily southwest (facing prevailing winds). The upper portions of these scree areas may receive and retain considerable snow which contributes meltwater to downslope positions. These are active, unstable sites for the most part with loose surface rocks of argillite, diorite and limestone and obvious areas of slope movement. Rock dominates the surface with more than 95% exposure being common and litter being the other component, never having more than 10% cover. Considerable amounts of fine soil accumulate below the scree cover and, due to this cover, is to some degree protected from evaporation resulting in sites being considerably more mesic than indicated by exposure and surface rock. Many of these sites, perhaps the most typical of scree slopes, are transitional between USNVC vegetated and sparsely vegetated categories with vascular plant cover ranging between 1% and 25%.
Geographic Range: This community is found in both Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks (Montana and Alberta). Its distribution elsewhere has not been determined.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728744
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Nb Western North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D052 | 6.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Nb.1 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Moss Western North American Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M887 | 6.B.1.Nb.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b Nonvascular Rocky Mountain Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G565 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A3741 Yellow Columbine - Silverleaf Phacelia Cliff, Scree & Rock Alliance | A3741 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005901 Silverleaf Phacelia - (Rocky Ledge Penstemon) Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005901 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Phacelia hastata - (Penstemon ellipticus) Sparse Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
> Phacelia hastata - Penstemon ellipticus basal community (Damm 2001)
> Phacelio hastatae - Arnenarion nuttallii Alliance (Damm 2001)
> Phacelia hastata - Penstemon ellipticus basal community (Damm 2001)
> Phacelio hastatae - Arnenarion nuttallii Alliance (Damm 2001)
- 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]
- 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.