Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense cover of graminoids that is dominated by perennial bunch grasses less than 0.5 m tall. There is also a sparse to moderate cover of perennial forbs (cushion plants) <0.5 m tall. Annual forbs and grasses are sparse, if present.

Floristics: Stands in this alliance are dominated by diagnostic graminoid species Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii) with Carex elynoides, Oxytropis campestris, Phlox pulvinata, or Poa fendleriana ssp. fendleriana present to codominant. Other associated species include Agoseris glauca, Cymopterus nivalis, Erigeron compositus, Lupinus argenteus, Minuartia obtusiloba, Oxytropis sericea, Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella), Potentilla ovina and Solidago multiradiata. Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may be present in lower elevation stands, such as Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata, and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus.

Dynamics:  Alpine vegetation is controlled mostly by a moisture-exposure gradient with soil movement and geologic substrate also important (Moseley 1987a). Turf communities are associated with sites with relatively gentle terrain where the wind scours the winter snow. Where wind exposure increases, the soils are shallow, rocky, less developed and support cushion plant communities (Cooper et al. 1997). The presence of species such as Phlox pulvinata indicate a relatively stable substrate, as opposed to Leucopoa kingii stands on steep, unstable or eroding slopes, which tend to have lower vegetative cover, higher cover of bare ground, lack mat species such as Phlox pulvinata, and instead include disturbance indicators such as Achillea millefolium, Penstemon attenuatus, and Poa secunda (Moseley 1987a).