Subalpine Plant Communities of the Western North Cascades, Washington
Douglas GW. 1972. Subalpine Plant Communities of the Western North Cascades, Washington. Arctic and Alpine Research. 4(2):147-166
This paper studies the structure, composition, and pattern of the vegetation in the subalpine zone of the western North Cascades. This 7,200-km2 area is recognized as a relatively homogeneous ecological province. Ten major plant communities occur within three general habitat types. These plant communities are the Carex nigricans, Luetkea pectinata (residual or regosolic phase), Cassiope mertensiana-Phyllodoce empetriformis, Vaccinium deliciosum, Tsuga mertensiana-Abies amabilis (immature phase), Tsuga mertensiana-Abies amabilis (mature phase), and Vaccinium membranaceum-Rhododendron albiflorum communities in the typical meadow habitat; the Saxifraga tolmiei and Luetkea pectinata (rawmark phase) communities in the rawmark meadow habitat; and the Rubus parviflorus-Epilobium angustifolium, Valeriana sitchensis-Veratrum viride, and Carex spectabilis communities in the colluvial slope meadow habitat. Soils range from the immature profiles of the rawmark meadow habitat to the well developed podzols of the typical meadow habitat. Soil pH shows a marked decrease with advanced soil development.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Douglas, George
- Units
- NOCA
- Keywords
- North Cascades WA, Plant Communities, Plant Studies, Public Record, Soil Associations, Subalpine Zone