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A3780 Phlox spp. - Lomatium spp. - Carex spp. Alpine Talus & Scree Sparse Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: The most common dominant species are Carex spectabilis, Lomatium martindalei, and Phlox diffusa. This alliance is known from the Olympic Mountains and northern Cascade Range of Washington and British Columbia, but it is expected to occur in other parts of the Cascade Range at least in Washington.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Phlox species - Desert-parsley species - Sedge species Alpine Talus & Scree Sparse Alliance
Colloquial Name: Phlox - Desert-parsley - Sedge Alpine Talus & Scree
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The vegetation within this alliance is sparse, generally covering less than 10% of the ground. There may be patches of vegetation where within a square meter the total cover is higher than 10%, but for the community as a whole, bare ground or bare rock characterize the structure. The species composition is highly variable with different shrub and herbs being the most abundant "dominant" species. However, there are usually common species nearly always present and that can be abundant. These are Carex spectabilis, Lomatium martindalei, and Phlox diffusa. Other species that may be more abundant include Arnica x diversifolia, Astragalus cottonii, Athyrium americanum, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Delphinium glareosum, Elmera racemosa, Penstemon davidsonii, Senecio neowebsteri, and Vaccinium deliciosum. When these later species are the most abundant (that being about 3-6% cover), one of the previously mentioned species is usually present, but may also be entirely absent. Many other associated dwarf-shrub, forb and graminoid species may be found in this alliance, including Carex phaeocephala, Elmera racemosa, Elymus elymoides, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri, Luetkea pectinata, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, Lupinus latifolius, and Phacelia sericea. This alliance is described from the Olympic Mountains and northern Cascade Range of Washington and British Columbia, but it is expected to occur in other parts of the Cascade Range at least in Washington. This sparsely vegetated alliance appears at elevations of 1460 to 2040 m (4800-6700 feet). It is most often found on steep, loose talus slopes, but it is also known to appear of scree slopes, cliff faces, ridges and glacier-scoured bedrock. It can also occur on gentle slopes. It occurs on all aspects. Soils are thin to nonexistent, the substrate broken and very coarse rock and bedrock.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Vegetation of this alliance is characterized by sparely vegetated loose talus slopes, scree slopes, cliff faces, ridges and glacier-scoured bedrock. The species composition is highly variable with different shrub and herbs being the most abundant "dominant" species. However, there are usually common species nearly always present and that can be abundant and include Carex spectabilis, Lomatium martindalei, and Phlox diffusa.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The description is based on 207 plots from Olympic, Mount Rainer and North Cascades national parks. There are some similarities with Rocky Mountain types; however, many component species that are unique to the Olympic Mountains and Cascades (endemics such as Eucephalus paucicapitatus and Elmera racemosa) make these associations different from their Rocky Mountain counterparts that share the same, often dominant species, such as Carex spectabilis, Athyrium americanum, and Cryptogramma acrostichoides.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Sparse cover of forbs, grasses, lichens, shrubs and small trees, but the total vascular plant cover is typically less than 25% due to the high cover of exposed rock.
Floristics: The vegetation within this alliance is sparse, generally covering less than 10% of the ground. There may be patches of vegetation where within a square meter the total cover is higher than 10%, but for the community as a whole, bare ground or bare rock characterize the structure. The species composition is highly variable; the most abundant "dominant" species varies from site to site. However, there are common species which are usually present and that can be locally abundant. These are Carex spectabilis, Lomatium martindalei, and Phlox diffusa. Other species that may be more abundant include Arnica x diversifolia, Astragalus cottonii, Athyrium americanum, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Delphinium glareosum, Elmera racemosa, Penstemon davidsonii, Senecio neowebsteri, or Vaccinium deliciosum. When these later species are the most abundant (that being about 3-6% cover), one of the previously mentioned species is usually present, but may also be entirely absent. Other associated species found in this eclectic mix include forbs and dwarf-shrubs Achillea millefolium, Anaphalis margaritacea, Campanula rotundifolia, Cryptogramma acrostichoides (= Cryptogramma crispa), Douglasia laevigata, Elmera racemosa, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Erigeron compositus, Eriophyllum lanatum, Erysimum arenicola, Eucephalus paucicapitatus (= Aster paucicapitatus), Luetkea pectinata, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, Lupinus latifolius, Paxistima myrsinites, Phacelia sericea, Polygonum bistortoides, Smelowskia calycina, Spiraea splendens (= Spiraea densiflora), and Valeriana sitchensis. The graminoid species Carex phaeocephala, Elymus elymoides, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri, Juncus parryi, and Poa cusickii may also be present (Schreiner 1994, Crawford et al. 2009).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sparsely vegetated alliance occurs at elevations of 1460 to 2040 m (4800-6700 feet). It is most often found on steep, loose talus slopes, but it is also known to appear of scree slopes, cliff faces, ridges and glacier-scoured bedrock. It can also occur on gentle slopes. It occurs on all aspects. Soils are thin to nonexistent, the substrate broken and very coarse rock and bedrock.
Geographic Range: This alliance is known only from the Olympic Mountains and northern Cascade Range of Washington and British Columbia, but it is expected to occur in other parts of the Cascade Range in Washington. The description is based on 207 plots from Olympic, Mount Rainer and North Cascades national parks (Crawford et al. 2009).
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899832
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.d Racomitrium Moss species - Snow Lichen species - Phlox species North Pacific Alpine-Subalpine Bedrock & Scree Group | G319 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.d |
| Alliance | A3780 Phlox species - Desert-parsley species - Sedge species Alpine Talus & Scree Sparse Alliance | A3780 | 4.B.1.Nb.3.d |
Concept Lineage: A.NCCN-073
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- 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.
- Schreiner, E. G. 1994. Appendix A1: Vegetation sampling. In: D. B. Houston, E. C. Schriener and B. B. Moorhead, editors. Mountain goats in Olympic National Park: Biology and management of an introduced species. Scientific Monograph NPS/NROLYN/NRSM 94/25. USDI National Park Service.