Alpine dwarf scrub earth hummocks

Description

The reference community supports a single dominant plant community which is characterized as a dwarf ericaceous scrub crowberry tundra community (Viereck et al., 1992). Notable shrub species include crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), partridgefoot (Luetkea pectinata), Alaska bellheather (Harrimanella stelleriana), and bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Slight variation in micro-topography may alter species composition between high positions on top of hummocks and low positions between hummocks and is discussed further in the community 1.1 description.

Dominant plant species

1. partridgefoot (Luetkea pectinata), shrub

2. Alaska bellheather (Harrimanella stelleriana), shrub

3. black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub

4. bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), shrub

5. white arctic mountain heather (Cassiope tetragona), shrub

6. lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), shrub

7. bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis), grass

8. western oakfern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris), grass

9. fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), grass

Submodel