Print Report
CEGL005856 Chamerion angustifolium Rocky Mountain Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fireweed Rocky Mountain Meadow
Colloquial Name: Rocky Mountain Fireweed Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This tentative, early-successional association is known from one stand in Glacier National Park, Montana, east of the Continental Divide. The stand occurs on a gentle mountain valley of glacial-fluvial deposits, with an elevation of 1837 m (6023 feet). The soil is moderately well-drained clay loam with a large amount of silt and clay. The ground surface is mostly covered with litter and duff. This lush herbaceous community (80% total cover) consists of a high diversity of forbs and a few graminoids. There are a few short shrubs; Ribes inerme, Salix farriae, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda are found within this stand, with a combined cover of less than 5%. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Chamerion angustifolium, which has an average cover of 50%. Fragaria virginiana is the second most abundant forb with 30% average cover. Other common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Geum macrophyllum, Potentilla gracilis, Thalictrum occidentale, and Senecio integerrimus. Graminoids present include Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Carex preslii.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This tentatively identified, early-successional community type is highly likely to be widespread in the Northern Rockies. The dominant forb Chamerion angustifolium can be abundant in a number of post-disturbance locations, especially post-fire stands. It rapidly succeeds to other vegetation types, hence has not been previously recognized in the vegetation literature as anything other than an ephemeral community.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This lush herbaceous community (80% total cover) consists of a high diversity of forbs and a few graminoids. There are a few short shrubs; Ribes inerme, Salix farriae, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda are found within this stand, with a combined cover of less than 5%. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Chamerion angustifolium, which has an average cover of 50%. Fragaria virginiana is the second most abundant forb with 30% average cover. Other common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Geum macrophyllum, Potentilla gracilis, Thalictrum occidentale, and Senecio integerrimus. Graminoids present include Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Carex preslii.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The stand occurs on a gentle mountain valley of glacial-fluvial deposits, with an elevation of 1837 m (6023 feet). The soil is moderately well-drained clay loam with a large amount of silt and clay. The ground surface is mostly covered with litter and duff.
Geographic Range: This tentative, early-successional association is known from one stand in Glacier National Park, Montana, east of the Continental Divide.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID?, MT, WA?, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.732589
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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 | CEGL005856 Fireweed Rocky Mountain Meadow | CEGL005856 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
Concept Lineage: Upgraded to Standard during screening.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chamerion angustifolium Rocky Mountain Herbaceous Vegetation [Provisional] (Hop et al. 2007)
- 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.