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CEGL005834 Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Wet Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Drummond''s Mountain-avens / Dwarf Fireweed Wet Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dwarf-shrubland association is apparently widespread in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, being reported from northwestern Montana, north and west into Alberta and British Columbia. This is a small-patch community associated with fluvial and glacial landforms, most especially point bars and stream terraces having well- to rapidly drained cobbly soils (Inceptisols of U.S. and Regosols of Canadian designation). It is found in the montane to lower subalpine zones, ranging in elevation from 1000 to 1700 m. Sites typically have gentle slopes and various aspects. Landforms include point bars, fluvial terraces or benches, gently sloping banks, moraines, and lakeshores. These sites are temporarily flooded in spring runoff, experiencing both fluvial deposition and erosion. That portion of the surface not covered by a vegetation mat is occupied by a variable combination of exposed soil and small cobbles that ranges between 15 and 65% cover. Dryas drummondii cover ranges from 25% to more than 80%, seldom projecting more than 0.03 m above the surface. Shepherdia canadensis, Salix brachycarpa, and Juniperus communis are the only other shrubs with more than 50% constancy, and they generally occur in low amounts. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi can occur in drier stands. The herbaceous layer is species-poor and has low cover. Oxytropis sericea and Chamerion latifolium are the only forbs present in half the plots or more and in greater than trace amounts. Seedlings of Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Picea glauca, and Picea engelmannii are found here, but given the high energy environment of these sites, they apparently are uprooted before they can become securely established.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A number of other communities characterized by Dryas drummondii are reported by Achuff et al. (2002a) as occurring throughout western Canada.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: With the grey-green carpet of the dwarf-shrub (predominantly prostrate) Dryas drummondii often blending with the colors of the rocky substrate, this community can often be overlooked on casual inspection; Dryas drummondii cover ranges from 25% to more than 80%, seldom projecting more than 0.03 m above the surface. Shepherdia canadensis, Salix brachycarpa, and Juniperus communis are the only other shrubs with more than 50% constancy, and they generally occur in low amounts. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi can occur in drier stands. The herbaceous layer is species-poor and has low cover. Oxytropis sericea and Chamerion latifolium (= Epilobium latifolium) are the only forbs present in half the plots or more and in greater than trace amounts. Chamerion latifolium is generally found in moist depressions and near stream channels. Graminoids also occur in trace amounts with no particular constancy. Seedlings of Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Picea glauca and Picea engelmannii are found here, but given the high energy environment of these sites, they apparently are uprooted before they can become securely established.
Dynamics: This association is an early-successional type, found on recently deposited / created landforms subject to regular flooding or scouring.
Environmental Description: This small-patch community is associated with fluvial and glacial landforms, most especially point bars and stream terraces having well- to rapidly drained cobbly soils (Inceptisols of U.S. and Regosols of Canadian designation). It is found in the montane to lower subalpine zones, ranging in elevation from 1000 m (in the north) to 1700 m (3280-5576 feet). Sites typically have gentle slopes and various aspects. Landforms include point bars, fluvial terraces or benches, gently sloping banks, moraines, and lakeshores. These sites are temporarily flooded in spring runoff, experiencing both fluvial deposition and erosion. That portion of the surface not covered by a vegetation mat is occupied by a variable combination of exposed soil and small cobbles that ranges between 15 and 65% cover.
Geographic Range: This dwarf-shrubland association is apparently widespread in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, being reported from Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana, north and west into a number of Canadian parks, including Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, and Glacier national parks of British Columbia.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728793
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M893 | 2.C.4.Nb.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.5.c White Marsh-marigold - Black Alpine Sedge - Alpine Laurel Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-shrubland Group | G520 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A3831 Alpine Laurel - Western Moss-heather - Drummond''s Mountain-avens Wet Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A3831 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL005834 Drummond''s Mountain-avens / Dwarf Fireweed Wet Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL005834 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff et al. 1993)
= Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff and Dudynsky 1984a)
= Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff and Dudynsky 1984b)
= Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff and Corns 1982)
= Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Dwarf-shrubland (Hop et al. 2007)
= H08: Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff and Dudynsky 1984a)
= Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff and Dudynsky 1984b)
= Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type, H08 (Achuff and Corns 1982)
= Dryas drummondii / Chamerion latifolium Dwarf-shrubland (Hop et al. 2007)
= H08: Dryas drummondii - Epilobium latifolium Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
- 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.
- Achuff, P. L., W. S. Taylor, and L. J. Knapik. 1993. Chapter III-Vegetation. Pages 40-136 in: P. L. Achuff, W. S. Taylor, and L. J. Knapik. Ecological land classification of Yoho National Park, British Columbia. Report prepared for Yoho National Park, Canadian Parks Service, Environment Canada.
- Achuff, P. L., and H. A. Dudynsky. 1984a. Chapter III. Vegetation. Pages 43-131 in: P. L. Achuff, W. D. Holland, G. M. Coen, and K. Van Tighem, editors. Ecological land classification of Kootenay National Park, British Columbia. Volume I: Integrated resource description. Alberta Institute of Pedology Publication No. M-84-10.
- Achuff, P. L., and H. A. Dudynsky. 1984b. Chapter III. Vegetation. Pages 33-79 in: P. L. Achuff, W. D. Holland, G. M. Coen, and K. Van Tighem, editors. Ecological land classification of Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier national parks, British Columbia. Volume I: Integrated resource description. Alberta Institute of Pedology. Publication No. M-84-11.
- Achuff, P. L., and I. G. W. Corns. 1982. Chapter III. Vegetation. Pages 71-156 in: W. D. Holland and G. M. Coen, editors. Ecological (biophysical) land classification of Banff and Jasper national parks. Volume II: Soil and vegetation resources. Alberta Institute of Pedology. Publication No. SS-82-44.
- 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.