Plant Association Information
Picea glauca/Salix glauca plant association (White spruce/grayleaf willow)
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The overstory of the Picea glauca/Salix glauca plant association consists of widely spaced Picea glauca (15% cover), and an understory of Salix glauca (60% cover; Appendix 4). Tree height is 6 meters and the shrubs average 1.5 meters tall. Calamagrostis canadensis (50% cover) dominates the herbaceous layer. Other common species include Salix lanata and Alnus crispa. Trace amounts of Mertensia paniculata, Zygadenus elegans, Boykinia richardsonii, and Vaccinium uliginosum occur.
This association is found within the subalpine zone on the north side of the Alaska Range and the Kantishna Hills. The one site sampled is located on a 40-degree sideslope.
Associated Plant Species: Alnus viridis,
Boykinia richardsonii,
Calamagrostis canadensis,
Mertensia paniculata,
Picea glauca,
Salix glauca,
Salix richardsonii,
Vaccinium uliginosum,
Zigadenus elegans