Print Report

A3363 Phlox covillei - Ericameria discoidea Alpine Fell-field Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of important Sierran fell-field species that vary is dominance and include Ericameria discoidea, Erigeron pygmaeus, Eriogonum incanum, Hulsea algida, Minuartia nuttallii, Phacelia hastata, Phlox covillei, Phlox pulvinata, and Podistera nevadensis. Communities are composed of herbaceous species predominantly with some subshrubs. This alliance occurs in the Sierra Nevada, generally above 3000 m in elevation.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coville''s Phlox - White-stem Goldenbush Alpine Fell-field Alliance

Colloquial Name: Coville''s Phlox - Goldenbush Alpine Fell-field

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This is an alliance of herbaceous and subshrub fell-field species that include Ericameria discoidea, Erigeron pygmaeus, Eriogonum incanum, Hulsea algida, Minuartia nuttallii, Phacelia hastata, Phlox covillei, Phlox pulvinata, Podistera nevadensis, and species of Achnatherum, Draba, Erigeron, Festuca, Ivesia, Penstemon, and Poa. Subshrubs and herbs are <40 dm in height, and the canopy cover is sparse to intermittent. Most fell-field plants are cushioned or matted, frequently succulent, flat to the ground in rosettes, and often densely hairy and thickly cutinized. This alliance occurs in the Sierra Nevada, generally at 3000-4300 m in elevation. Habitats are alpine fell-fields on windswept summits and ridges, rocky scree areas, talus slopes, basins and slopes. Substrates are well-drained mixtures of sand, pebbles, and cobbles and boulders that cover poorly developed soil.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Fell-field or rocky gravelly slopes with typically mostly cushion plants. Diagnostic taxa include Ericameria discoidea, Erigeron pygmaeus, Eriogonum incanum, Hulsea algida, Minuartia nuttallii, Phacelia hastata, Phlox covillei, Phlox pulvinata, and Podistera nevadensis. Total cover is often low.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This concept follows Sawyer et al. (2009) Mediterranean Alpine Fell-field Group, and much of this information is derived from that report. Some stands fit the classic concept of "fell-fields" (windswept saddles and ridges with little to no snow cover in winter) whereas others are on rocky slopes (talus or scree) and basins with enough stability to allow establishment of the plants.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Subshrubs and herbs are <40 dm in height, and the canopy cover is sparse to intermittent. Most fell-field plants are cushioned or matted, frequently succulent, flat to the ground in rosettes, and often densely hairy and thickly cutinized.

Floristics: Stands include Ericameria discoidea, Erigeron pygmaeus, Eriogonum incanum, Hulsea algida, Minuartia nuttallii, Phacelia hastata, Phlox covillei, Phlox pulvinata, Podistera nevadensis, and species of Achnatherum, Draba, Erigeron, Festuca, Ivesia, Penstemon, and Poa. Some common species include Achnatherum pinetorum, Achnatherum occidentale, Arenaria kingii ssp. compacta, Carex filifolia, Elymus elymoides, Eriogonum ovalifolium, Linanthus pungens, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Phacelia hastata var. compacta (= Phacelia frigida), Poa wheeleri, Astragalus kentrophyta, Astragalus purshii, Astragalus whitneyi, Draba oligosperma, Erigeron compositus, Eriogonum gracilipes, Festuca brachyphylla, Festuca minutiflora, Ivesia muirii, Ivesia shockleyi, Linum lewisii, Penstemon davidsonii, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola, and Selaginella watsonii. Subshrubs and herbs are <40 dm in height, and the canopy cover is sparse to intermittent.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands tend to occupy open rocky areas above timberline, usually on north- and east-facing convex slopes. Snow appears to persist longer in these settings than exposed south-facing convex slopes at similar elevations. Habitats are alpine fell-fields on windswept summits and ridges, rocky scree areas, talus slopes, basins and slopes. Lag gravel (well-drained mixtures of sand, pebbles, and cobbles and boulders) covers the soil, and patterned ground features are present on summits and ridges. Substrates can be granitic and metamorphic, including andesite, marble or chalky rhyolite. Soils are generally poorly to undeveloped. Elevation ranges from 3000-4300 m.
Geographic Range: This herbaceous cushion-plant alliance is found in scattered locations along the Sierra Nevada crest, and east into the Inyo, White and Sweetwater mountains of California and Nevada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, NV


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.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup M099 4.B.1.Nb.2
Group 4.B.1.Nb.2.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group G314 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Alliance A3363 Coville''s Phlox - White-stem Goldenbush Alpine Fell-field Alliance A3363 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL003162 Pacific Alpinegold - White-stem Goldenbush - Compact Phacelia Alpine Fell-field CEGL003162 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL003488 Coville''s Phlox - Squirreltail - Sierran Woodroot Alpine Fell-field CEGL003488 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL003489 Sierran Woodroot - Squirreltail - Pygmy Fleabane Alpine Fell-field CEGL003489 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL008658 Purple Reedgrass - Granite Prickly-phlox Alpine Fell-field CEGL008658 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Calamagrostis purpurascens (Fell-fields with purple reed grass) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.211.00]
> Carex congdonii (Congdon’s sedge talus) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.160.00]
? Carex congdonii-Arnica amplexicaulis Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
> Ericameria discoidea - Hulsea algida (Fell-fields with California heath-goldenrod and Pacific alpine gold) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [38.120.00]
> Festuca brachyphylla (Alpine fescue fell-fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [91.170.00]
> Oxyria digyna (Mountain sorrel patches) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [91.122.00]
> Oxyria digyna Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
> Phlox covillei (Coville’s phlox fell-fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [91.123.00]
> Phlox pulvinata (Cushion phlox fell-fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [91.150.00]
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid after Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., P. E. Moore, E. T. Reyes, J. M. Menke, D. N. Johnson, and D. L. Karavidas. 2012. Yosemite National Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YOSE/NRTR--2012/598. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.