Alaska Arctic Plant Communities

11. Cassiope tetragona-Dryas integrifolia subtype Depauperate

Photo A. <em>Cassiope tetragona</em>-<em>Dryas integrifolia</em> community on the south-facing slope of a pingo near Frontier Camp, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. This site is just south of bioclimate subzone C. Walker, 1985, Fig. 18. D.A. Walker.


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Photo B. <em>Cassiope</em>-<em>Dryas</em> snowbed on Angel pingo, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Walker slide 74-12-12. D.A. Walker


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Bioclimate Subzone: C

Floristic Subprovince: Northern Alaska

Substrate Chemistry: Nonacidic

Position along mesotopographic gradient: Snowbed, early-melting

Summary of Habitat: Moist nonacidic early-melting snowbeds in subzone C

Described from:

 

Common plant functional types and species:

Hemiprostrate dwarf shrub: Cassiope tetragona;

Prostrate dwarf shrubs: Dryas integrifolia; Salix reticulata;

Graminoid: Carex scirpoidea; Carex bigelowii;

Forb: Pedicularis capitata; Papaver macounii; Bistorta vivipara; Astragalus umbellatus; Parrya nudicaulis;

Moss: Tomentypnum nitens; Hylocomium splendens; Distichium capillaceum; Ditrichum flexicaule; Sanionia uncinatus; Rhytidium rugosum; Hypnum procerrimum;

Lichen: Flavocetraria nivalis; Flavocetraria cucullata; Cetraria islandica; Dactylina arctica; Masonhalea richardsonii;

 

General Comments:

 

Other names from the Alaska literature: