Print Report
G320 Carex macrochaeta - Carex spectabilis - Phlox diffusa ssp. longistylis Alpine-Subalpine Tundra Group
Type Concept Sentence: This mesic alpine and subalpine herbaceous meadow group occurs in the mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest coast north to the maritime and boreal transition regions of Alaska where the vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer, often composed of a mixture of graminoids such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp., Festuca spp. and many forbs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longawn Sedge - Showy Sedge - Spreading Phlox Alpine-Subalpine Tundra Group
Colloquial Name: North Pacific Alpine-Subalpine Tundra
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This mesic alpine and subalpine herbaceous meadow group occurs in the mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest coast north to the maritime and boreal transition regions of Alaska. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer, often composed of a mixture of graminoids such as Calamagrostis canadensis (often present but not dominant), Carex breweri, Carex capitata, Carex macrochaeta, Carex nardina, Carex proposita, Carex spectabilis, Festuca brachyphylla, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri, and forbs such as Arenaria capillaris, Aconitum delphiniifolium, Anemone narcissiflora, Artemisia arctica, Athyrium filix-femina, Castilleja unalaschcensis, Chamerion spp., Eriogonum pyrolifolium, Fritillaria camschatcensis, Geranium erianthum, Lupinus spp., Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Packera cana, Pedicularis contorta, Phlox diffusa, Polemonium acutiflorum, Polygonum bistortoides, Sanguisorba canadensis, Saxifraga tolmiei, Senecio triangularis, Valeriana sitchensis, and Veratrum viride. Some stands have an open herbaceous layer. Scattered dwarf-shrubs may be present with low cover. Stands occur above 2350 m (7200 feet) elevation in the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range north into the Coast Mountains of British Columbia where it is confined to the coldest, wind-blown areas above treeline and above the subalpine parkland. The slope shape is usually straight to concave (depressions) where snow lingers, the soil has become relatively stabilized, and the water supply is more-or-less constant. Vegetation in these areas is controlled by snow retention, wind desiccation, permafrost, and a short growing season. The substrate is colluvium, residuum, or glacial till. The dominant disturbances are snow avalanche, soil creep and freeze-thaw action.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The group is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer, often composed of a mixture of mesic to wet alpine and subalpine graminoids and forbs from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
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: The group is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer, often composed of a mixture perennial graminoids and forbs.
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer, often composed of a mixture of graminoids such as Calamagrostis canadensis (often present but not dominant), Carex breweri, Carex capitata, Carex macrochaeta, Carex nardina, Carex proposita, Carex spectabilis, Festuca brachyphylla, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri (= Festuca roemeri), and forbs such as Arenaria capillaris, Aconitum delphiniifolium, Anemone narcissiflora, Artemisia arctica, Athyrium filix-femina, Castilleja unalaschcensis, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Chamerion latifolium, Eriogonum pyrolifolium, Fritillaria camschatcensis, Geranium erianthum, Lupinus arcticus, Lupinus nootkatensis, Lupinus sellulus, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Packera cana, Pedicularis contorta, Phlox diffusa, Polemonium acutiflorum, Polygonum bistortoides, Sanguisorba canadensis, Saxifraga tolmiei, Senecio triangularis, Valeriana sitchensis, and Veratrum viride. Overall species composition is diverse, and species richness is often very high; typically no single species is dominant. However, some stands have a more open herbaceous layer. Scattered dwarf-shrubs may be present with low cover such as Cassiope mertensiana, Phyllodoce empetriformis, Phyllodoce glanduliflora, and Luetkea pectinata. Floristic information was compiled from Franklin and Dyrness (1973), Viereck et al. (1992), DeVelice et al. (1999), Billings (2000), and Boggs et al. (2008a).
Dynamics: The dominant disturbances are snow avalanche, soil creep and freeze-thaw action.
Environmental Description: This mesic alpine and subalpine herbaceous meadow group occurs above the environmental limit of trees, at the highest elevations of the mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest coast and extends north to maritime and boreal transition regions of Alaska where it is found on mountain sideslopes. Stands occur above 2350 m (7200 feet) elevation in the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range north into the Coast Mountains of British Columbia where they are confined to the coldest, wind-blown areas above treeline and above the subalpine parkland. The slope shape is usually straight to concave (depressions) where snow lingers, the soil has become relatively stabilized, and the water supply is more-or-less constant. Vegetation in these areas is controlled by snow retention, wind desiccation, permafrost, and a short growing season. The substrate is colluvium, residuum, or glacial till.
Geographic Range: This mesic alpine and subalpine herbaceous meadow group occurs in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest coast and extends north to maritime and boreal transition regions of Alaska and from Kodiak Island through southeastern Alaska.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, CA, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857345
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.3 Vancouverian Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M101 | 4.B.1.Nb.3 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b Longawn Sedge - Showy Sedge - Spreading Phlox Alpine-Subalpine Tundra Group | G320 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A1300 Showy Sedge Subalpine Meadow Alliance | A1300 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A1640 Woolly Pussytoes - Parry''s Rush Alpine Meadow Alliance | A1640 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A3336 Buckwheat species - Woodrush species Alpine Snowbed Alliance | A3336 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A3337 Roemer''s Fescue - Rocky Mountain Fescue Alpine Meadow Alliance | A3337 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A3338 Twin-flower Sandwort - Donner Lake Lupine Cascade Alpine Fell-field Alliance | A3338 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- BCMF [British Columbia Ministry of Forests]. 2006. BEC Master Site Series Database. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC. [http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/becweb/resources/codes-standards/standards-becdb.html]
- Billings, W. D. 2000. Alpine vegetation of North America. Pages 537-572 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Second edition. Cambridge University Press, New York. 434 pp.
- Boggs, K., S. C. Klein, J. Grunblatt, G. P. Streveler, and B. Koltun. 2008a. Landcover classes and plant associations of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/KEFJ/NRTR-2008/093. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 255 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L., C. J. Hubbard, K. Boggs, S. Boudreau, M. Potkin, T. Boucher, and C. Wertheim. 1999. Plant community types of the Chugach National Forest: South-central Alaska. Technical Publication R10-TP-76. USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Region. 375 pp.
- Ecosystems Working Group. 1998. Standards for broad terrestrial ecosystem classification and mapping for British Columbia. Prepared by the Ecosystems Working Group, Terrestrial Ecosystem Task Force, Resources Inventory Committee, for the Province of British Columbia. 174 pp. plus appendices. [http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/teecolo/tem/indextem.htm]
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. General Technical Report PNW-8. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 417 pp.
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
- Viereck, L. A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. General Technical Report PNW-GTR286. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 278 pp.