HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPA11441982 Revi sian of Prel'iminary Classification for Vegetation of Alaska L.A. Viereck, C.T. Dyrness, and A.R. Batten May 1982 This revision incorporates changes in the classification that were discussed at the Workshop on Classification of Alaskan Vegetation held in Anchorage on 24 December 1981. At that workshop the classification -"' was revised to Level III, definitions were agreed upon which helped delineate the major units of the classification, and descriptions of the 11descriptors11 and 11States11 for determining the various levels were discussed1. At the workshop it was also agreed that the next addition of the classification should be more complete with keys, descriptions, photographs, discussions, and guidelines for data collection. Thi~ revision is preliminary to this next edition and does not include most of the suggested categories. It does include a brief glossary of definitions decided upon at the workshop. 1The authors would like t9 acknowledge the excellent summary of the December 1981 Workshop on Classification of Alaskan Vegetation prov·ided by Dr. H. William Gabriel, Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage. Much of the material in his 21 December 1981 memorandum has been incorporated into this revision.
We have used the basic outline to level III as agreed upon at the
workshop with only slight modification. We have fitted 1 evel s IV a·nd V
into the new system as best·we can, but field use may indicate that
additional changes will be needed. The authors believe that it is
advisable to field test the revised classification for at least one
summer before attempting to publish a .. more complete revised edition.
The main differences· and· similarities in this 1982 revision over
that of the May 1981 revision are as follows. The first three levels of
the 1981 and 1982 are given in Table 1 and 2 for quick comparison.
1. The categories in level I have been reduced from four to three:
The aquatic vegetation has been placed in the herbaceous category.
The more universally accepted term 11 Scrub 11 replaces 11 Shrubland".
2. The forest categories remain the same except that the terminology
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has been changed slightly to more closely conform to other classification
systems: needleleaf replaces conifer and broadleaf replaces deciduous.
3. A new category, dwarf tree scrub, has been placed in scrub (shrubland).
It was felt by many users of the old classification that there was
a need for a category for the dwarf or stunted trees found commonly
at treeline and on very poor sites such as treed bogs. This category
was considered to be more closely related to scrub vegetation than
to forest and was therefore placed in scrub. It includes all types
in which the tree species reach to less than 3 m in height at
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4. Another major' change in the scrub category was the elimination of
11 Shrub tundra 11 as a major level III category under low shrub. The
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old shrub tundra types are now listed under level IV, thus eliminating
the use of the tenn 11 tundra 11 in any of the upper three levels.
5. The herbaceous category has undergone several major changes in
addition to incorporating the aquatic vegetation.
a. The old level II categories of tall grass, midgrass, and sedge
grass have been combined at level II with Graminoid Herbaceous.
b. The old level II category ·Of Herbs has been changed to Forb
Herbaceous.
c. The old level III tundra categories have been eliminated and
replaced in part by Dry, Mesic, and Wet Graminoid Herbaceous
and Forb Herbaceous categories. The tundra types are separated
out at level IV.
6. There has been some combining of level IV categories: for example,
the five E1ymus types are now combined into one and the 4 tussock
tundra types are now included under one tussock tundra at level IV.
7. A few new level V communities are listed from published or unpublished
reports. In addition some level V communities have been moved into
new or different level IV categories. As one example several
communities have been moved from shrub tundra into Dwarf Shrub
Scrub based on the fact that their overall height is less than 20
em.
8. Tundra -Tundra was included at the highest level (I) in our
original classification but users had great difficulty in separating
tundra types from both shrub and herbaceous types. We now consider
tundra to be a landscape (location) term similar to others such as
taiga, steppe, or prairie, rather than a unqiue vegetation type.
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We continue to use the term to label the mosaic of level IV vegetation
types found beyond the temperature limits of tree growth, both to
the north and west of treeline and at elevations above treeline.
Near treeline there is an integrading ecotone where forest and
tundra can be found in an interdigitating mosaic pattern.
At the Vegetation Classification Workshop in December 1981 a list
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of vegetation types that were considered to ~ be tundra was made. It ~)
might be useful to the users of the classificaiton to include some of
this list here.
1. Tall shrubs and dwarf trees above and beyond treeline.
Examples (1) alder thickets above the treeline in coastal mountains.
(2) willow thickets along streams on the North Slope.
2. Treeless bogs, fens, and marshes below treeline which may be
dominated by low shrubs, grasses, sedges, horsetails, mosses, or
Eriophorum tussocks.
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3. Herbaceous and low shrub vegetation resulting from recent burns
in forest scrub.
4. Grasslands in the Aleutians and near treeline in southwestern
Alaska.
5. Saline and brackish wetlands coastal marshes.
6. Glandular birch shrub scrub at and adjacent to treeline is
sometimes referred to as "shrub tundra" but it is more appropriately
classified as scrub.
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Table 1. 1981 Revision of Classification System for Vegetation of Alaska to Level III
Level I
1. Forest
2. Shrubland
3. Herbaceous
vegetation
4. Aquatic
vegetation
Level II
A. Conifer
B. De.ci duo us forest
C. Mixed conifer and deciduous
A. Ta 11 shrub
B. Low shrub
-C. Dwarf shrub
A. Tall grass
B. Midgrass
C. Sedge-grass
D. Herbs
E. Bryoids
A. Freshwater
B. Brackish
C. Marine
Level III C'
1. Closed conifer
2. Open conifer
3. Conifer woodland
1. Closed deciduous forest
2. Open deciduous forest
3. Deciduous woodland
1. Closed mixed forest
2. Open mixed forest
3. _Mixed woodland
1. Closed tall shrub
2. Open tall shrub
1. Shrub tundra
2. Closed low shrub
3. Open low shrub
1. Mat and cushion tu~~
1 . Bl uejoi nt
2. Bluejoint-herb
3. Bluejoint shrub
4. Elymus
1. Dry midgrass
2. Mesic midgrass
1. Sedge-grass tundra
2. Tussock tundra
3. Sedge-grass marsh
4. Sedge-grass wet meadow
5. Sedge grass bog meadow
1. Herbaceous tundra
2. Mesic subarctic herbs
3. Wetland herbs
1. Mosses
2. Lichens
1. Ponds and Lakes
1 . Ponds
1. Sheltered C,
2. Exposed
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Level I · Level II
l. Forest
2. Scrub
3. llerbaceous
A. Needleleaf (Conifer) Forest
B. Broadleaf Forest
C. Mixed forest
A. Dwarf Tree Scrub
B. Tall Shrub Scrub
C. low Shrub Scrub
D. Dwarf Shrub
A. Gram1no1d Herbaceous
B. Forb Herbaceous
C. Bryoid Herbaceous
0. Aquatic (Non-emergent)
tterbaceous
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~evel III
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1) Closed Needleleaf (Conifer) Forest
2) Open Needleleaf (Conifer) Forest
3) Needleleaf (Conifer) Woodland
(2 Open Broadleaf forest
(11 Closed Broadleaf Forest
(3 Broadleaf Woodland
(l) Closed Mixed forest
(2) Open Mixed Forest
(3) Mixed Woodland
2) Open Dwarf Tree Scrub !l) Closed Dwarf Tree Scrub
3) Dwarf Tree Scrub Woodland
( 1)
(2)
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Closed Tall Shrub Scrub
Open Tall Shrub Scrub
Closed low Shrub Scrub
Open low Shrub Scrub
(1) Closed Dwarf SHrub Scrub
(2) Open Dwarf Shrub Scrub
Ill Dry Graminoid Herbaceous
2 Mesic Graminoid Herbaceous
3 Wet Graminoid Herbaceous (Emergent)
Ill Dry Forbs tierbaceous
2 Mesic Forbs Herbaceous
3 Wet Forb Herbaceous
(1) Mosses
(2) lichens
(1) Freshwater Aquatic tierbaceous
(2) Brackishwater Aquatic Herbaceous
(3) Marine Aquatic Herbaceous
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Definitions:
The following definitions are used in determining the various
categories of the classification.
1. Vegetation: In order to be considered as a vegetation type in this
system there must be at least 2% cover of vegetation. Any area with
less.than 2% cover is not included in this classification and would be
considered to be unvegetated or barren.
2. Forest: Vegetation with at least 10% cover of trees; i.e., single
stemmed woody plants at least 3 meters in height at maturity.
3. Scrub: Treeless vegetation or with less than 10% tree cover and
with shrubs comprising 25% or more more of the absolute cover. A special
category, dwarf tree scrub, has dwarf trees (under 3 m at maturity) with
10% or more cover.
The dilemma caused by communities of dwarf trees on certain sites
led to recognition of a 11 dwarf tree scrub 11 class under level II of
scrub. This is defined as vegetation having 10% or more of cover in
tree species that on the site will not achieve 3 meters in height at
maturity.
The break between 11 dwarf tr-ee scrub 11 and same unproductive forest
types will be difficult to make and the user of the classification may
have to develop additional criteria than the 3 meter tree height to
separate 11 dwarf tree scrub 11 from such types as the conifer woodland.
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The authors have been unable to determine from the published descriptions
C-of ~orne of the unproductive forest corrmunities whether or not they
should be moved from forest to scrub. We ask users of this revision to
give special attention to this new category and its relationships with
slow growing forest types.
4. Herbaceous: Vegetation with 2% or more of vascular and nonvascular
(mosses and lichens) cover and less than 25% cover of woody plants.
5. Tall shrub scrub: Scrub vegetation, 1.5 meters or more in height,
and with 25% or more cover in tall shrubs.
6. Low shrub scrub: Scrub vegetation between 20 em and 1.5 meters in
~ height and with 25% or more cover in this category. If tall shrubs are
present they must have less than 25% cover.
7. Dwarf shrub scrub: Scrub vegetation that is less than 20 em tall
and with 25% or more cover in dwarf shrubs. If tall and low shrubs are
present their combined cover should be less than 25%.
8. Aquatic vegetation: Predominance of cover in floating or submerged
plants growing in water. It can include mosses and algae as well as
vascular plants. Emergent plants are not included in aquatic vegetation,
they are in the Wet Forb and Graminoid Herbaceous categories.
9. Graminoid Herbaceous: Herbaceous vegetation with the predominance
~~ ~, of cover in grasses or sedges.
1 0. ·Forb Herbaceous.: Herbaceous ve.getati on with the predominance of
cover in non-graminoid plants. This includes all broad-leafed herbs
(forbs), ferns, and horsetails.
11. Bryoid: This is a special category of vegetation in which the
predominance of cover is in mosses or lichens.
The level III categories for forest and scrub are the same as those
used in the original c1assificaiton.
12. Closed forest: Forest vegetation with 60 to 100% tree crown canopy
cover.
13. Open forest: Forest vegetation with 25 to 60% tree crown canopy
cover.
14. Woodland: Forest vegetation with 10 to 25% tree crown canopy
cover. Vegetation with scattered trees with less than 10% tree cover are
classified as either scrub or herbaceous vegetation types.
15. Closed, open, and woodland dwarf tree scrub have the same % cover
of trees as do the forest categories, ie,
Closed dwarf shrub scrub: 60.-100: cover of dwarf trees
Open dwarf shrub scrub: 25-60% cover of dwarf trees
Dwarf tree scrub woodland: 10-25% cover of dwarf trees.
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16. Closed and open tall, low, and dwarf shrub scrub. The level III
categories for the scrub is based on canopy cover of the shrubs.
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~ Closed shrub: · shrub canopy cover greater than 75 percent.
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Open shrub: shrub canopy cover ranges from 25 to 75 percent.
Some additional wetland definitions that are used at level IV and
which were presented in the last revision are included here.
17. Marsh-Characteristically these sites are flooded with 15 ern or
more of water. Some sites may have no standing water late in the summer,
but soils remain saturated. The vegetation is generally dominated by
emergent herbaceous plants. Typical species are Arctophila fulva,
Scirpus spp., Equisetum fluviatile, and Eleocharis palustris. Woody
plants, lichens, and Sphagnum spp. are absent or rare.
18. Swamps-Sites dominated by tall shrubs, with occasional trees.
Standing or flowing water is generally present. Although peat is
generally absent, soils may be high in organic matter content.
Fens -Characterized by slowly flowing water. Vegetation is generally
characterized by sedges and grasses, often with low shrubs and sometimes
a sparse cover of trees. Sphagnum mosses are absent or of low cover.
Sedge peat is often present.
19. Bogs -Vegetation may be dominantly herbaceous, shrubs, or trees.
Sphaanum spp. are usually present,. and often dominate the moss layer.
Substrate is comprised of very wet sedge peat or sphagnum peat. Depth
of peat may range from 30 em to several·meters.
20.. Wet Meadows -These sites are characterized by saturated soils or
by flooding to depths of less than 15 em. The vegetation is dominated
by herbaceous species, usually by graminoids. Moss cover varies, but is
generally low. Soils are mineral but may be overlain by a shallow
organic layer.
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References:
The original classification contained a list of 122 references
which contained information on Alaskan vegetation and which had been
used in formulating the classification. The 1981 revision contained
an addttional 40 references.that were used in updating the classification
and listing of communities.
Although there are a number of new reports, theses, and papers
distributed during the past year we have not had time to review them or
to add their communities to the level V list. We have added information
from only three new sources for this revision: Jorgenson and Slaughter
(1981) was used to add some new interior forest types and Shacklette
(1961) published on· a number of moss communities that were not listed in
the previous editions of the classification. In addition, J. Labau has
~ suggested several additional types from southeastern Alaska from a review
of forest inventory data.
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Shacklette, H. 1961. Substrate relationships of some bryophyte communities
on Latouche Island, Alaska. Bryologist 64(1):1-16.
Jorgenson, T. and C.W. Slaughter. 1981. Vegetation of the Caribou-
Poker Creeks Research Watershed~ Central A~aska: Revised mapping,
preliminary geobotanical analysis and community description.
Unpublished report on file, Institute of Northern Forestry, Fairbanks.
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Key to the first 3 levels of the
1982 Revision of the Classification of Alaska Vegetation
la. Trees over 3 m in height present and with a
·canopy cover of 10 percent or more •..•••••••••••• 1 ~ Forest ••......•...•...•. 2
lb. Trees over 3 m in height absent or nearly so,
with less than 10% cover. (Dwarf trees, less 1
than 3m tall at maturity may be present and abundant ••••••••••••••••••.••• 7
I FOREST
2a. Over 75% of tre~ cover co~tributed by 3 need1eleaf (con1fer) spec1es ••••••••••••••••• 1-A Need1eleaf forest •••• : ..•. 3
2b. Less than 75% of tree cover contributed 4-
by needleleaf (conifer) species •••••••••••••••••.••••.••..•••.•••••••••.•.. 4
3a. Tree canopy of 60-100% cover ••••••••.•••••.••• l-A(l) Closed needleleaf forest
3b. Tree canopy of 25-59% cover •••••••••••••••.•••••• 1A(2) Open needleleaf forest
3c. Tree canopy of 10-24% cover ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1A(3) Needle1eaf woodland
4a. Over 75% of tree cover contributed by .-
broadleaf species ••••••••••••••••••• l-8 8roadleaf forest •••.•...•••.••• ? .... 5
4b. Broad1eaf or needleleaf species contribute .
25 to 75% of the tree cover ••••• l-C Mixed broadleaf or needleleaf forest.P .• 6
Sa. Tree canopy 60-100% cover ••••••••••.••••••••.• l-8(1) Closed broadleaf forest
5b. Tree canopy of 25-59% cover .•••••••.•••••••••••. l-8(2) Open broadleaf forest
5c. Tree canopy of 10-24% cover •••••.••.•••••.•••••••••. 1B(3) Broadleaf woodland
6a. Tree canopy of ~100% cover •.•••• ~ •••.•••....•.••.• 1C(1) Closed mixed forest
6b. Tree canopy of 25-59% cover •••••••.••••••••.•••.••••• lC(2) Open mixed forest
6c. Tree canopy of 10-24% cover ••••.••..•••••••••.•.•••••••. 1C(3) Mixed woodland
7a. Vegetation with at least 25% cover of erect to
decument shrubs or with at least 10% cover of y
dwarf trees (less than 3m tall at maturity) •.•••.••••••..•.•....••........• 8
7b. Vegetation herbaceous (may have up to 25% /~
shrub cover) ...•.•.•••••••••••.••••••.••••••••••••••••••.............••. ; ... 15
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II SCRUB
(~a. Vegetation with at least 10% cover
of. dwa ~f trees ••.••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••.• 2A Dwarf tree scrub • • . • . • 9
8b. Vegetation with at least 25% cover of·
·shrubs and less than 10% cover of
dWarf trees . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0
9a. Dwarf tree canopy of 60-100% cover ••••••••••.• 2-A(l) Closed dwarf tree scrub
9b. Dwarf tree canopy 25-59% cover ••••••••••••.••••. 2-A(2) Open dwarf tree scrub
9c. Dwarf tree canopy of 10-24% cover ••••••••••• 2-A(3) Dwarf tree scrub woodland
lOa. Shrubs more than 1.5 meters ta11 ••••.••••••• 2-B Tall shrub scrub •••.••••••.• ll
1 Ob. Shrubs 1 ess than 1 • 5 meters ta 11 •••••.••••••••••••••.•••.•••••••••.••••••••• 12
lla. Shrub canopy cover greater than 75% ..•••.•••••• 28(1) Closed tall shrub scrub
llb. Shrub canopy cover 25-74% ••••••..•••..••••.•.•••• 28(2) Open tall shrub scrub
12a. Shrubs 20 em to 1.5 m tall ••••••••••••••••••••••••.• 2C Low shrub scrub •••••• 13
12b. Shrubs under 20 en in heighf •••••••• _. •••••••••••• 2D Dwarf shrub scrub •...... 14
13a. Shrub canopy cover greater than 75% ..•••••••••• 2-C(l) Closed low shrub scrub
13b. Shrub canopy cover 25-74%, or to as low as 2%
if there is little or no other vegetation
C\ cover .••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••.•• 2-C(2) Open low shrub scrub
la. Dwarf shrub cover greater than 75% ••••••••••• 2-0(1) Closed dwarf shrub scrub
14b. Dwarf shrub ~over between 25 and 75% or to
as low as 2% if there is little or no
other vegetation cover ••..••••••••.••..•••••••. 2-0(2) Open dwarf shrub scrub
III HERBACEOUS
15a. Terrestrial vegetation or if growing in the
water then dominated by emergent vegetation ••••..••••••..••..••.••••.•••••.• 16
15b. Dominant vegetation growing submerged in
water or floating on the water surface, but
not emerging above the water •••.•••••••••• 3D Aquatic herbaceous •.....•...•.. 21
16a. Grasses, sedges or rushes (graminoid)
plants dominant •••••••.••••••••.•••••••.•• 3A Grami noi d herbaceous ........... 17
16b. Forbs or bryophytes dominant .•.•.••••..•..••..•.....•.•..•....••.•..••...... 18
17a.
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Grasslands of well drained, dry sites, such
as south facing bluffs, old beaches, and
sand dunes. Typically (but not always)
dominated by Elymus spp., Festuca spp., and
Deschamosia spp .•..•.•.•••..•••.••••••.•...••• 3A(1) Dry graminoid herbaceous
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17b. On moist sites, but usually not with standing . ~
water. Usually dominated by Calamagrostis ( ·,
spp., Carex spp. or Eriophroum spp.; tussocks ~"/
often present •••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••.• 3A(2) Mesic graminoid herbaceous
17c. On wet sites, standing water present
for part of the year, dominated by
either sedges or grasses -includes
wet tundra, bogs, marshes and fens •••••••.•••• 3A(3) Wet graminoid herbaceous
18a. Vegetation domi-nated by forbs (broadleafed herbs) .•• 3B Forb herbaceous.!1 ••• 19
18b. Vegetati'on dominated by mosses or 1ichens •••.•• 3C Bryoid herbaceous •••• ~ ••• 20
19a. On dry sites usually rocky and well drained,
mostly tundra sites ••••••.••••••••••••••••.•••••••••• 3B(l) Dry forb herbaceous
19b. On moist sites but without standing
water, mostly within forested areas •••.•.••••.••••. 3B(2) Mesic forb herbaceous
19c. On wet sites, usually with standing
water for part of the year ••••••••••••••••••••••••••. 3B(3) Wet forb herbaceous
20a. Vegetation cover dominated by mosses ••••••••••..••••.••.••••• 3C(l) Bryoid moss
20b. Vegeta~ion cove·r dominated by lichens ••••••.•.••.•••••.••.. 3C(2) Bryoid lichen
Vegetation submerged or floating
in fresh water ••••••••••••••••••••••••.••.• 3D(1) Freshwater aquatic herbaceous
21a.
2lb. Veget~tion submerged or floating in . . ~)
brack1sh water •••••••••••••••••••••••.• 3D(2) Brack1sh water aquat1c herbaceous ~
Vegetation submerged or floating •
in salt water ••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••.•• 3D(3) Marine aquatic herbaceous
21c.
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Prettmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Hay 1982 Revision)
Level I
1. Forest
Level II Level Ill
A. Needleleaf (1)
forest
Closed
needle-
leaf
forest
(canopy
60-1002:)
Level IV
a. Sitka spruce -occupies wet sites In
southeastern Alaska, pdmart1y alluvial
flood plains; occurs as a narrow coastal
band In south-central Alaska and occupies
much of the forested area on Afognak
Island.
b. Sitka spruce-western hemlock -occurs on
moist sttes throughout southeastern
Alaska and In a narrow coastal band In
south-central Alaska.
c. Western hemlock-Sitka spruce-(western
redcedar) -Is a widespread forest type
In southeastern Alaska. It also occurs
In a narrow coastal band In aouth-
central Alaska. South of 57 N, It
usually contains western redcedar.
d. Western hemlock-western redcedar -
occurs In low producing, poorly drained
ecosystems In southeastern Alaska.
e. Alaska cedar-mountain hemlock-western
hemlock-a cou1non old growth type In
southeastern Alaska.
f. Western red cedar-mountain hemlock
(Aiaska-cedar)-occaslonal to COIIIIlOII In
southeastern Alaska.
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Level V
Plcea sltchensls/Oplopanax horrldwn-Rubus spectabllls/
Cornus canadensis (Aiaback 1980, Helland 1971, Stephens
et al. 1969)
Plcea sltchensls-Tsuga heterophyl1a/Lyslchlton amerlcanum/
S11hagnum spp. (Alaback 1980, Neilan~ 1971, Stephens
et a1. 1969)
Picea-s ltchens ls-Tsuga heterophyl h/Vacc lnlutn ova II to llum-
V. alaskensls-Henzlesla ferruglnea (Helland 1971, Stephens
et al. 1969)
Picea s ltchens Is-Tsuga heterophylla/Moneses unl flora-Hare lla
trlfollata/Hnlum spp. (Helland 1971, Stephens et aJ. 1969)
Tsuga heterophyl1a-Picea sltchensts-(Thuja pllcata)/VacclniUtn
ovallfoltum-V. alaskensts/Rhytidladelphus 1oreus (Alaback
1980, Helland 1971, Stephens et al. 1969)
Tsuga heterophy11a-Picea sitchensts-(Thuja pltcata)/LyslchHon
amerlcanum/Sphagnum recurvum (Helland 1971)
Tsuga heterophylla-Thuja plicata/Vacctnlum ova llfollu•n-
Lyslchfton amerlcanum (Aiaback 1980. Stephens et aJ.
1969)
Chamaecyparls nootkatensis-Tsuga mertenslami-Tsuga heterophylla/
Vaccinium ovalifolium-Lyslchlton amertcanum (Labau 1981)
Thuja pllcata-Tsuga mertensJana (Ch4maJcyparls nootkatensls)t "
Vacclnium ovallfollum-Hcnzlesta ferruglnea (Labau 1981)
Preliminary Classification tor Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level 1
1. forest
(continued)
Level II Level Ill
A. Needleleaf (1)
forest
(continued)
Closed
neJ!dle-
leH
forest
(con t1 nued)
0
Level IV
f.. Mountain hemlock -occurs near Umber-
lines, nonnally on saturated soils.
This type covers considerable land
area both on-the mainland and on the
major Islands of southeastern Alaska.
It also occurs as a narrow subalpine
band In south-central Alaska.
j. Western hemlock-mountain hemlock -tn
southeastern Alaska. Is trans It lona 1
between the subalpine mountain hemlock
zone and the Sftka spruce-western
hemlock zone.
h. Sliver fir -has a lfmtted distribution
In southern portions of southeastern
Alaska.
L. Subalpine fir -occurs In scattered
locations near treeltne tn southeastern
Alaska.
0
Level V
Tsuga mertenstana/Vacdntum ovallfoHum-Cladothamnus
pyrolaeflorus (Aiaback 1980, Stephens et al. 1969)
Tsuga heterophylla-T. mertenstana/Vacctntum ovalHoJium-
V. alaskensts/Rubus pedatus/Rhyttdladelphus loreus
(Neil and 1971)
Abies amabllts-Tsuga heterophylla (Juday et al. 1979)
Ables 1asfocarpa-Tsuga mertenstana (llarrls 1965, Worley and
Jaques 1973)
()
_.
(X)
n '· . 0 ·n \
Pt·eltmlnary ClassU1catlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level
1. Forest
(con tl nuet.l)
Level II Level Ill
A. Needleleaf (1)
forest
(con tt nued)
Closed
needle-
leaf
forest
(continued)
level IV level V
j. White spruce -Is widespread In south-Plcea glauca/feathem10ss (Buckley and libby l957i Drury
central and Interior Alaska and extends 1956; VIereck 1970a, 1975) .
to the limits of tree growth along rhers Plcea glauca/VIburnum edule/Equtsetum arvense (Foote·1976)
draining the Brooks Range. It genera11y Ptcea !.Jlauca/ltnnaea borealls-Equlsetum sylvatfcum (Foote
occupies sHes with well-drained. perma-1976) .
frost-free soils. Plcea glauca/Rosa aclcularls-Shepherdla canadensis/
lhmaea borealis (Yarte 1981)
~. Black spruce-generally occurs on
poorly drained organic soils. often
underlain by permafrost. It has
wide distribution in Interior.
western. southwestern. north-
western. and south-central Alaska.
Plcea glauca/Alnus spp./Arctostaphylos uva-ursl (Yarle 1981)
Plcea glauca/Hertenstana spp./Gramtnae (Yarle 1981) .
Plcea glauca/Sa llx spp./Shepherdla canadensis/
Arctostaphylos spp./Pel ttgera spp. (Yarte 1981)
Plcea glauca/Rosa aclcularls/Equlsetum sp. (Yarie 1981)
Plcea glauca/Shepherdla canadensls/Equlsetum sp.-
Arctostaphy1os spp. (Yarle 1981)
Plcea glauca/Alnus crlspa/Rosa aclcularls/Arctostaphylos
rtlbra (Yarfe 1981)
Pfcea glauca/Rosa adcularfs-Shepherdia canadensis/
Arctostophylos rubra-linnaea borealis (Yarie 1981)
Plcea mariana/feather1110ss (Drury 1956. lutz 1956. Heiland
and Viereck 1977. VIereck 1975)
Plcea mariana/Rosa actcu1arls/Pe1tlgera (Foote 1976. laRot
1967)
Plcea martana/ledum palustre/Vacclnlunl vitls-idaea/
C1adonla spp. (Yarte 1981) ·
Ptcea mariana/Rosa acfcularls/Equlsetum sp./Cladonta
rangHerlna (Yarle 1981)
_.
\0
Pre ltmlnary Class HI cation for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1
1. forest
(continued)
Leve 1 II Level Ill
A. Needleleaf (I)
forest
(continued)
Closed
needle-
leaf
forest
...... .,, ...
n ' ,/
(continued)
. ..... •) . .. . . ··~ ...
(2) Open
needle-
leaf
forest
(canopy
25-60%)
level IV
.1. Black spruce-white spruce -occurs
to Interior Alaska near the northern
and western limits of trees. It also
occurs on terraces and at the bue of
south-tieing slopes~
' .. ~_,,, < \~•;• , •• ·"·~ ••:
a. Shore pine-western hemlock-(western
redcedar-Alaska yellow-cedir) (western
redcedar south of 57 N) -Is 1 tnat ted
In southeastern Alaska and generally
found on boggy, poorly drained sHes
that are locally termed muskegs and
bogs.
b. Sitka spruce -occurs In coastal areas
to south-central and southeastern
Alaska, often on a 11 uvb 1 deposIts and
glacial n~ratnes and outwash, and
adjacent to coastal wetlands.
level V
Ptcea Plar1ana-P. glauca/feathermoss (Foote 1976l LaRot 1967.
Hetland and Viereck l977i Viereck l970a, 1975J
Plcea glauca-Ptce~ mariana/Salix spp./Arctostophylos
spp. (Yarle 1981)
Ptcea glauca-Ptcea martana/Saltx spp./Vacctntum vttts-idaea/
lly1ocomtum splendens (Yarte 1981)
Plcea glauca-Ptcea mar1ana/Saltx spp./Vacctnturn vttls-tdaea/
lichen (Yarte 1981)
Ptcea marlana-Ptcea glauca/Saltx spp./Ledum palustre/
Empetrurn ntgrurn (Yarle 1981)
Plcea marlana-Ptcea glauca/Saltx spp./Potentllla frulttcosa/
Rubus arcttcus-Arctostaphylos spp. (Yade 1981)
Pinus contorta-Tsuga heterophy11a-(Thuja pltcata-Chamaecyparts
nootkatens is )/Vacdntwn ova 1t follum-V. a las kens h-ledum
groen landtcum/Sphagnurn squarrosum (Net land 1971)
Plcea sltchensls/Alnus slnuata/Calamagrostls canadensis
(VIereck 1979. Worley 1977)
Ptcea sHchensls/Alnus tenuHolla
c. Alaska-cedar-western hemlock-mountain Chana!!cypar1s nootkatensls-Tsuga heterophyJia.,.Tsuga mertenslana/
hemlock-Is Hmlted to southeastern Alaska VacdnlumovaiHoltum (labau 1981)
d. Western hemlock-Is a con••~n type In
southeastern Alaska
0
Tsuga heterophyl la/Vacctntum ova tt foJium-Oplopanax horddu1n
(Labau 1981) N
0
()
() 0
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level
1. forest
(continued)
level II level Ill
A. Needleleaf (2)
forest
(continued)
Open
needle-
leaf
forest
(continued)
level IV
e. Mountain hemlock -tonus a transition
between the continuous closed stands
of mountain hemlock and the alpine
tundra zone In southeastern Alaska.
<1. White spruce -1s slmtlar to the
closed white spruce type but with
nKlre shrub cover because of the more
open tree canopy. found con•tKlnly on
well-drained sites and near treeline
In Interior. southwest, northwest.
and south-central Alaska.
r,(),
\,
level V
Tsuga mertensiana/Cassiope spp.-Vacctntunt ovalffolium-
faurta crtsta-galli (Alaback 1980, Jacques 1973)
Plcea glauca/Betula glandulosa/llyloc0011um splendens
(lletttnger and Jam: 1974; Viereck 1970 b. 1975. 1979;
Williamson and Peyton 1962)
Plcea glauca/Betula glandulosa/Sphagnum (llettfnger and Janz
1974; Viereck 1970b. 1975. 1979; Williamson and Peyton
1962)
Ptcea glauca/Betula 9landulosa/Cladonia· (Racine and Anderson
1979, VIereck 1979)
Plcea glauca/Alnus tenuifolla
Plcea glauca/Sallx bebblana/Rosa acicularfs/Equisetum sp.-
Epllobium sp./ltchen (Yule 1981)
Plcea glauca/Saltx spp./Shepherdia canadensls/Vacclniwn
vltls-idaea (Yarie 1981)
Picea glauca/Sallx spp./ledum palustre/Vacclniunt v1tts-
idaea (Yarle 1981)
N
""""
Preliminary ClassHicat1on for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level I
I. Forest
(continued)
Level II Level Ill
A. Needleleaf (2)
forest
(continued)
Open
needle-
leaf
forest
(continued)
n ', '
Level IV
g. Black spruce -Is extremely cotnnon on ,
poorly drained. cold sites In interior
and south-central Alaska.
~. Black spruce-white spruce -occurs
mostly near treeline in Interior.
southwestern. western, northwestern.
and south-central Alaska.
n
Level V
Picea marlana/Vaccinlum/feathenttoss (Drury l956i foote
1976 0 Lutz 1956• VIereck 1975. 1979)
Ptcea marlana/feathennoss-Cladonta (foote 1976• Viereck
1975, 1979)
Plcea martana/Betula glandulosa-Ledum palustre/Spha9num
spp. (Oyrness and Grlga1 1979, Drury 1956. Nelland and
VIereck 1977. Oachnowski-Stokes 1941)
Ptcea mariana/Alnus tenulfolta-Betula nana-ledum palustre/
Sphagnum spp. (Batten et al. 1978, McCon11lck and Pichon 1978)
Plcea mariana/Arctostaphylos rubra-Empetrum nlgrum/Ciadonla
spp. (Yarte 1981)
Plcea n~rlana/Betula nana-Potenti11a frultlcosa/
Carex spp. (Yarle 1981)
Picea martana/Betula nana/Carex spp. (Yarte 1981)
Picea mariana/Alnus crlspa/Oetula nana/Vacctnlum spp./
Cladonla spp. (Yarie 1981) ·
Ptcea n~r1ana/Vacc1n1Utll ullglnosum/Empetrum ntgrum/
lichen (Yarle 1981)
Ptcea marlana/VacdniUtll ul tgtnosunt/Arctostophylos
rubra/Dicranum sp. (Yarle 1981)
Ptcea mariana/Sa 11x spp./Potentllla fruH I cos a/
Arctostaphylos rubra/Peltlgera spp. (Yarte 1981)
Ptcea marlana/Betula 9landulosa/feathermoss (Jorgenson
and Slaughter. 1981)
Plcea marlana-P. glauca/Oetula glandulosa (Viereck 1979)
Picea glauca-Picea n~rtana/Vacdnium ul tglnosunt/
Arctostophylos rubra/Dtcranum sp. (Yarfe 1901)
Picea martana-Ptcea glauca/Betula nana/Arctostophylos
rubra-Vacctntunt ulfgtnosunt (Yarle 1901)
Plcea marlana-Ptcea ~lauca/Ledum palustre/Petasttes
spp./Oicranum sp. ( Yarfe 1901)
Ptcea martana-Picea glauca/Shepherdta canadensis/
Epilobiunt spp./Pelt lgera spp. (Yarle 1981)
()
/
N
N
~~
\ /
/
(~ ~~J
(-\
'l )
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Conttnued)
level 1
1. Forest
(continued)
level II level Ill
A. Needleleaf (2)
forest
(continued)
Open
needle-
leaf
forest
(conUiaued)
(3) Needle-
leaf
woodland
(canopy
I0-25%)
level IV
·J. Black spruce-tamarack -ts found on
wet lowland sttes with shallow
permafrost. It ts restricted
to tntertor Alaska.
a. Shore plne-(Alaska yellow cedar) -
(treed bog) Is. found only In south-
eastern Alaska and ts generally on
boggy. poorly drained sites.
level V
Plcea "martana-lartx larlctna
c ... , .... ~ ........
Pinus contorta-(Chamaecyparts nootkatensls)/Empetrum
nlgrum-Ledum groenlandtcum/Carex plurl flora/Sphagrrum
fuscum (NeHand 1911)
Pinus controta-(Chamaecyparls nootkatens Is )/Vacclnltlll
ullytnosum/Trlchophorum cespttosum/Sphagnum
compactum-S. tenellum-lichens (Nell and 1971)
Pinus contorta-(Chamaecyparh nootkatensts)/Carex ltvlda.:.
Erlophorum angustHoHum/Sphagnum Hndbergit-S.
paplllosum (NeHand 1971)
Pinus contorta-(Chamaecyparts nootkatensts)/Drosera angltca-
Rhynchospora a 1 ba/Sphagnum Jtndberg H -S. tene 11 um
(Helland 1971)
Pinus contorta/l<almla polifolta/Ertophorum angustifollum-
Carex plurltlora-Tofleldta ocddentalls-Fauria crtsta-yalll/
Sphagnum JlndbergH-S. compactum (Helland 1971)
Pinus controta/Carex ltvtda-C. phyllomantca-Rubus arcttcus-
Platanthera dllitata/Sphagnum paplllosum-S. recurvum
(Helland 1971)
b. Sitka spruce boy -re110rted trona Glacier Plcea sltchensls/Vacctnlum ultgtqosunt-Trlchophorum ·
Bay In southeastern Alaska on poorly caespHosum/SI>hagnum fuscum-S. paplllosum {Worley 1977)
drained sedge peat.
t:
Preliminary Classtflcat1on for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level
I. forest
(continued)
level II level Ill
A. Needleleaf (3) Needle-
forest leaf
(continued) woodland
(continued)
n
' /
Level IV
c. White spruce -ts very open, woodland
type especla lly conmon at the northern
Hmtts of tree growth and at e)evatlonal
tree lines.
d. Black spruce -ts found on wet, boggy
sl tes where It often grades Into a
sphagnum bog, and on dry upland sttes
where lichens are frequently Important
In the understory. It ts con1110n In
Interior, south-central, southwest.
and northwest Alaska.
e. Black spruce-white spruce -occurs tn
Interior, south-central, southwest
and northwest Alaska, especially near
the northern, western, and altitudinal
limIt of trees.
0 ',,,,,/
Level V
Plcea glauca/Oetula glandulosa/feathen10ss-Cladonla (llettlnger
and Janz 1974• Racine 1975i VIereck 1975, 1979• W11ltamson
and Peyton 1962)
Plcea glauca/Dryas-moss (Viereck 1979)
Ptcea g1auca/Cladonta (Racine 1976)
Ptcea giauca/Sallx lanata/Cladonta (LaPerrtere 1979)
Ptcea mariana/Sphagnum-Ciadonia (VIereck 1975, l979i tletlman
1966)
Ptcea marlanan/Cladonta (Foote l976i Racine l976i VIereck
1975. 1979)
Plcea marlana/Vacdntum spp. -Sa ltx spp./Sphagnum spp.
(Racine 1976. Webber et al. 1978, Williamson and
Peyton 1962)
Plcea· martana/Oetula nana/Ertphorum spp./Sphagm.tm spp.
(Yarle 1981)
Plcea marlana/Saltx spp./llylocomlum splendens-Cladonti!
ranglferlna (Yarte 1981)
Plcea martana/Erlophorum vagtnatUin (Jorgenson and ,
Slaughter. 1981)
Plcea marlana/ledum decwubens/Vacctnlum spp. (Jorgenson
and Slaughter. 1981)
Picea mariana/Sphagnum (Jorgenson and Slaughter. 1981)
Plcea mar1ana-P. glauca/Oetula glandulosa/feathern10ss
(Viereck 1979) ·
Plcea glauca-P. mariana/llcheq (Foote 1976)
Plcea mariana-Picea glauca/Alnus crlspa-Oetula glandulosa
(Jorgenson and Slaughter, 1981)
,.,,,, ..
~
/~
' /
r~\
'q )
()
\,c_,"/
n
Preliminary ChssHtcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I Level II level Ill level IV , Level V
1. Forest
(continued)
B. Broadleaf (1) Closed a. Red alder -occupied moist sites and Alnus rubra (del Moral and Watson 1978)
forest broad1eaf disturbed areas tn southeastern Alaska.
forest
(canopy
60-100%) b. Black cottonwood -Is generally found Populus trlchocarpa
along streams In southeastern and south-
central Alaska.
c. Balsam poplar-occurs 1110st frequently
on river flood plains In Interior.
south-central. and southwestern
Alaska. although there are several
Isolated clumps on the north slope of
the Brooks Range.
d. Paper birch -occurs on a variety of
upland sites. both wtth and without
pennafrost. fn lntedor and south-
central Alaska.
Populus balsamifera/Alnus tenulfolia/Calamagrostts canadensis
(Buckley and Libby l957i Drury 1956i Hettinger and Janz
1974i lutz l956i Netland and VIereck 1977i Racine 19768
Viereck 1970a. 1975)
Populus balsamifera/Salix barclayf/lleracleum lanatum
(Viereck 1970b)
Populus balsanllfera/SaHx-Alnus/herb (Viereck 1979)
Populus balsamifera/Alnus-Salix/Rosa actcu1arls/
Equisetum sp~ (Yarte 1981)
Populus ba Jsamtfera/Rosa ~clcularts/Equtsetum sp.-
Pyrola spp. (Yarie 1981)
Populus balsarutfen/Arctostophylos uva-ursi/Peltlgera spp.
(Yarte 1981)
Betula papyrlfera/Alnus crlspa/Calamagrostfs (Buckley and
libby l957i lutz l956i Viereck 1975)
Betula papyrftera/Viburmnn (foote 1976)
Betula papyrlfera/Ainus-Saltx (Radne 1976)
Betula papyrtfera/ledum groenlandlcum/Pieurozium schreberi-
Polytrlchum junlperlnum (Jorgenson and Slaughter. 1981)
N
U1
1rellmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
.evel 1
• forest
cor1tfnued)
Level II
8. Droadleaf
forest
(continued)
0
level Ill level IV Level V
(1) Closed e. Aspen -occurs on wann1 well-drained Populus tremulotdes/VIburnUin edule/Ltnnaea borealts
broad leaf
forest
(continued)
upland soils In Interior and (foote 1976)
south-central Alaska. Populus tremulotdes/Sa1tx spp./Arctostaphylos uva-ursl
(llettlnger and Janz 1974• VIereck 1975)
Populus tremuloldes/Saltx spp./Oreponocladus sp. (Yarle 1981)
f. Birch-aspen-Is found on moderately Populus tremulotdes -Betula papyrlfera/Rosa actcularls/
warm sites tn Interior and south-Arctostyphylos uva-urst/Hchen (Yarte 1981)
central Alaska and h generally
replaced by white spruce.
g. Aspen-balsam poplar-reported from Populus tremulotdes -P. balsamifera/Rosa actcularts (Yarte 1981)
the Porcupine River and In Interior
Alaska •
•• '' ~. 0
'" .... -~,, , ;. •, ~ •• ..--. •• , .. ,, 0 > '!;>'•'"'~·''•~ •' ~.' '<••~•·<~·· ,..,.,..,,, ',~,, ... , .. ..,, ~'"•'f'> -·~·· '• 1lN:<or '" ''-~,..._, ....... ' • ~,;..' .... ,., .. , .,.,, .. ~<l'• "; ,..,.. .. ,~.,·, •i>~~ :•JW\ol\'''1'•'1' • ··-···"""''< '"""'" "', •" ,, 0 1,,, ... .., ; '·' '•··"''"'''•'"'' • ~.·, '• • I "
(2) Open a. Paper birch -occurs on dry to
b1·oadleaf moist sites In Interior, south-
forest central, and western Alaska. On
(canop.y drier sHes 1 ltchens are Important
25-60%) In the understory, on moist sites,
shrubs are dominant.
b. Aspen -occurs prtmarlly on ex-
tremely dry sites on steep south
slopes In Interior and south-
central Alaska.
Betula papyrtfera/Cladonta (Racine 1976)
Betula papyrtfera/Detula glandulosa/llylocomlum (tlanson
1953• llettlnger and Janz 1974e Viereck 1975 1 1979)
Betula papyrtfera/VIburnu1n edule/Calamagrostts (Foote 1976)
Betula fapyrtfera/Ainus crtspa/ledum groenlandlcu111 (Jorgenson
and S aughter 1 198))
Populus tremulotdes/Saltx spp./Arctostaphylos uva-urst/
Gramlnae (Yarte 1981)
Populus tremuloides/Saltx spp/Arctostaphylos uva-urst/
Epllobium spp. (Yarle 1981)
n ---.-..11-J
I~
j
~
c\) C)
.ul-/
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I
1. Forest
(con t lnued)
level II
D. Droadleaf
forest
(con tt nued)
Level Ill Level IV
(2) Open c. Balsam poplar -occurs as open
clumf.s near tree ltne In Interior
sout1-centraJ, southwestern, and
northwestern Alaska and as
tsolated groves on the north slope
of the Brooks Range.
broadleaf
forest
(con tt nued)
(3)
d. Paper birch-poplar (cottonwood)
reported from the Sus1tlna Valley
In south-central Alaska. ·
Droadleaf a.
woodland
(canopy
10-25%)
. . ..... """~ .....
Paper birch -occurs on dry sites
such as old sand dunes and coarse
gravel deposits, In northwest
Alaska and the northern portion of
Interior Alaska.
b. Poplar (cottonwood) woodland -
reported from the floodplain of
the Sus1tna River In south-central
Alaska.
c. Paper birch-poplar/cottonwood-
reported from the Sus ttna Va 11 ey
south-central Alaska .
. 1.
level V
Populus balsamtfera/Sallx-Ainus/Calamagrostts (Racine and
Anderson l979i VIereck 1979)
Betula papyrifera-Populus balsamifera (trtchocarpa)
(Wtnterberger and labau)
......................
Betula papyri fera/Ciadonla (Racine 1976)
Populus balsamifera (trlchocarpa) (Winterberger and labau)
Betula pa11yrtfera-Populus balsamifera (trlchocarpa)
(Winterberger and labau)
()
....,. ..... ~----.. -.... _
N ......
Preliminary Class I ftcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level
1. forest
(continued)
Level II
C. Mixed
forest
(")
Level Ill
(1) Closed
mixed
forest
(canopy
60-100%)
Level IV Level V
a. Spruce-birch-tends to occur on cool Ptcea glauca-Betula papyrtfera/Alnus crtspa/Ca1amagrostts
wet sHes when black spruce is canadensis (Buckley and Libby 1957i llettinger and Janz
present in the mixture• white spruce 1974i Lutz 1956 0 VIereck 1975)
favors warmer. drier sites. The Plcea martana-Detula papyrHera/Alnus crtspa/llylocomlum
type is found prlmartly In Interior splendens (Jorgenson and Slaughter, 1981 J
and south-central Alaska and. to a Ptcea marlana-Betula papyrtfera/Ledum
lesser extent, tn northwest and Betula papyrtfera-Ptcea glauca-P. martana/Calamagrostts
southwest Alaska. (foote 1976)
Plcea glauca-Betula papyrtfera/Ainus-Saltx/Galtum boreale
(Yarte 1981)
Ptcea glauca-Betula papyrtfera/Alnus crtspa/Ledum groenlandtcu•n
(Jorgenson and Slaughter, 1981)
b. Spruce-birch-poplar (cottonwood)-
reported from the Sus ltna Va 11ey
In south-central Alaska.
c. Spruce-bt rch-aspen-reported front
Interior Alaska.
d. Aspen-spruce -Is an tntern~dlate
successional stage, with spruce
as the eventual climax. Aspen
generally occurs with white
spruce on wa nn. we 11-dra I ned
s ltes. The type h most conM110n
tn Interior and south-central
Alaska.
Plcea madana-Betula papyrtfera/Arctostophylos uva-ursl/ ·
lichen (Yarte 1981)
Plcea marlana-Betula papyrifera/Ledum palustre/Vacdnlum
vttls-ldaea (Yarte 1981)
Plcea glauca-Betula papyrlfera-Populus balsa1ntfera
(trichocarpa). (Winterberger and Labau)
Plcea martana-Betula papyrtfera-Populus tremuloldes/Ledum
groenlandtcum (Jorgenson and Slaughter. 1981}
Populus tremuloldes-Picea glauca/Arctostaphylos uva-urst
(Buckley and Libby 1957i Lutz 1956 0 VIereck 1975)
Populus tremuloides-Ptcea martana/Ledum (VIereck 1975)
Populus tremuloldes-Ptcea marfana/Cornus canadensts
(foote 1976)
Populus tremulotdes-Picea glauca/Saltx spp./Eptlobtu•n
SPf· (Yarte 1981)
Popu us tremulotdes-Picea glauca/SaHx spp./Arclostaphylos
.uva-urst (Yarle 1981)
Populus tremulotdes-Ptcea martana/Saltx spp./Rosa adcu1arts/
Equtsetum sp. (Yarte 1981)
0 ()
"-.
~
(;, c) ()
\ ' /1
Preliminary Chssiflcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level
1. forest
(continued)
level II
C. Htxed
forest
(conttnued)
Level Ill
(I) Closed
mixed
forest
(continued)
(2) Open
mixed
forest
(canopy
25-60%)
level IV level V
e. Poplar-spruce -Is an tnterA~dtate Populus ba1samtfera-Ptcea glauca/Alnus/Equisetum
successional stage leading tn.
white spruce climax on flood
plain sites In interior, south-
central, southwestern, and north-
western Alaska.
f. Spruce-birch-poplar (cottonwood)-
reported from the Susitna Valley
in south-central Alaska •
.. ..... . '' ·~·· .. , ................. ~ ..
a. Spruce-birch -occurs on a variety
of upland sites in Interior, south-
central, southwestern, and north-
western Alaska.
b. Aspen-spruce-repor·ted from the
Porcupine River area in Interior
Alaska.
c. Birch-poplar (cottonwood)-spruce-
reported from the Sus Hna Va 11 ey
south-central Alaska. ·
Ptcea glauca-Betula papyrtfera-Populus balsan1ifera
(trtchocarpa) (Wtnterberger and labau)
Ptcea glauca-Betula pafyrt fera/Ca lamagrostts-llylocomlum
(l~ttlnger and Janz 974; Viereck 1975)
Ptcea glauca-Oetula papyrHera/Alnus crlspa/Sphagnum
(VIereck 1975)
Ptcea glauca-Betula papyri fera/Sa 1 tx planttolta/Sphagnum
(VIereck l970b)
Plcea martana-Oetula papyrtfera/Ciadonla
Populus tremulotdes-Picea martana/Vacdnhlln ul tgtnosum/
Polytrtchum sp. (Yar1e 198\)
Betula papyrtfera-Populus balsamifera (trtchocarpa)-
Picea glauca (Winterberger and Labau)
.,.,.~ .. , .... , ....... i~ ........... , ••• .._ __
d. Spruce-poplar (cottonwood)-r·er.orted Plcea glauca-Populus balsamifera (trlchocarpa) (Wtnterberger
from the Sus ttna Valley, sout 1-. and labau)
central Alaska •. N ·ll)
Preltmlnary ClasstflcaUon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level
I. Forest
(con tf nued)
.,1
Level II
C. Mixed
forest
(continued)
()
Level Ill
(3) Mixed
woodland
(canopy
I0-25%)
level IV
a. Spruce-bl rch reported from the
Sus ltna VaHey. south-centra 1
Alaska.
Level V
Plcea marlana-Betula papyrtfera (Winterberger and Labau)
b. Spruce-poplar (cottonwood)-reported Ptcea glauca-Populus balsamifera (trlchocarpa)
from the SusHna Va Jley. south-(Winterberger and labau)
central Alaska.
c. Spruce-birch-poplar (cottonwood)-
reported from the Sus Una VaHey •
south-central Alaska .
Picea glauca-Oetula papyrlfera-Populus balsamifera
(tdchocarpa) (Wtnterberger and Labau)
.. .,,,,
' ... , ... ,,.,.,. __ , ,, ......... -:-...... ---.... -..... ..,. .......... _ ... "'" ... ~ .......... --···~-... ~ ....... .-... ....., __
0
w
0
()
n n ~ . .,//
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1
2. Scrub
level II
A. Dwarf
tree
scrub
Level Ill
1. Closed
dwarf
tree
scrub
(canopy
60-100%)
2. Open
scrub
(canopy
25-60%)
3. Dwarf
tree
scrub
woodland
(canopy
10-25%)
level IV
a. Undescribed but would include
dense stands of shrub-like conifers
(SJlruce, hemlock, and fir) from
altitudinal' treeline areas In coastal
Alaska. Apparently does not occur
at treeline In the mountains of
Interior Alaska nor at the tree
limits In western Alaska .
..... ___ ~-~ ............... ,
b. Undescribed but would Include
open stands of shrub-like conifers
and stunted broadleaf trees from
both coastal and Interior Alaska.
Thh type may also occur as stunted
trees on wet sites (treed bogs and
muskegs) throughout forested Alaska.
level V
Undescribed
..... ~ ... ._._ . ...., ..... -........ ~---
Undescribed
c. U~~es·c~·;b·~~·. s~;~~~·~~·~ ·~~·· b·~bo~·~·· b~~ .. ·--··U~d~;~;tb~d .....
with a more open dwarf tree canopy.
.. , ............... , .. ~ ... . .. .... ~ ... ~..,. ....... ~--~~-.........
(~
.w _.
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1
2. Scrub
(con tt nued)
Level II
D. Tall
sf. rub
scrub
Level Ill Level IV
(I) Closed a. Willow -(son~tfmes called willow
thickets) Is especially
characteristic of flood plains
and con1non in interior. western.
and northern Alaska.
tall shrub
scrub
(canopy
75-100%)
Level V
Salix alaxensts (Bliss and Cantlon 1957; Griggs 1936; llanson
1953; Johnson et a1. l966; Pegau and He1nnfng 1972;
Spetzman 1959> VIereck 1963)
SaHx a1axensls-S. glauca-5. lanata (Drew and Shanks 1965;
KomArkovA and Webber 1980; Spetzn~n 1959i Wiggins and
Thomas l962i Young 1974)
Saltx alaxensfs-S. pJantfoHa (Johnson et a1. 1966i Young
Racine 1977)
Salix a1axensls-S. planlfolta-Ainus tenu1fo11a/Vacclntum
u1tgfnosum-Betula glandulosa (Jorgenson and Slaughter. 1981)
Salix alaxensts-S. arbusculoldes-S. glauca/Equfsetum arvense-
Pyrola grandlflora (Batten 1977; Bltss and Cantlon 1957)
Sa1tx alaxensls-5. arbusculotdes/Calamagrostts canadensls-
Equlsetum pratense (Uult~n 1966)
Saltx p1anlfolfa (llopklns and Sigafoos 195h ltult~n 1962;
Johnson et al. 1966)
Salix glauca-S. planlfolia-S. lanata (Batten 1917i Childs 1969;
Griggs 1936; llanson 1953i Koranda 1960; Pegau 1968;
Racine and Anderson 1979i Racine 1977; VIereck l962a)
Salix barclayi (del Moral and Watson 1978; tlult~n 1960)
() 0 ()
!
w
N
() (';
"'-. '-" /
Preltmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetatton (Conttnued)
tevel I
2. Scrub
(continued)
Level II
D. Tall
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level Ill Level IV
(1) Closed b. Alder-closed Alnus slnuata com-
tan shrub munities are contnon in south-
scrub western, northwestern, and lntea·ior
(continued) Alaska, closed stands of Alnus
crlspa are con1110n.
c. Shrub birch -ts generally found
In openings In taiga in Interior
Alaska near tree line.
d. Alder-willow-occurs on flood plain
terraces and dralnageways on slopes.
Level V
!'~ '!~ )
',
Alnus crlspa/Calamagrostts canadensis (llanson 1953; Vler~ck
l962a; Young and Racine 1977; Jorgenson and Slaughter 1981)
Alnus crispa-SaHx arbusculoldes-S. glauca/Delphlntum
!Jiaucuna-Aconttum de lphlntfoltum-Ca lamagrost fs spp.
(VIereck 1963)
Alnus sinuata (Cooper 1942; Palmer 1942; Young and Racine
1978)
Alnus s lnuata/Ca Jamagros tts canadensis (llultlm 1960 0 1962)
Alnus stnuata/Rubus spectabtlts (lleusser 1960; lslelb and
Kessel 1973; Streveler and Paige 1971)
A I nus tenu lfo It a/Ca lamagros Us canadens ts ( tlanson 1 953)
Betula glandulosa (llanson 1953)
Betula glandulosa/Ledum decumbens-Vacctnium spp. (Jorgenson and
Slaughter 1981)
Alnus crispa-Sallx planlfolia/Carex bigelowtt (George et al.
1977; Racine and Anderson 1979)
Alnus crispa-Sallx glauca/Arctagrostts latifolia-Pyrola
grandi f1 ora (Church I 11 1955)
Alnus crtspa-Salix lanata-S. planlfolla-S. glauca (Bliss and
Cantlon 1957)
w w
Prel1mtnary Classlftcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level I
2. Scrub
(continued)
Level II
B. Tall
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level Ill Level IV
(1) Closed e. Shrub blrch-wtl low -Is apparently
not a very C0111110n type but present
on the Seward Peninsula.
tall shrub
scrub
(con tl nued)
(2)
f. Shrub swamp -Is contuon 1 y on sHes
wtlh poorly drained. fine textured
soil and hun1110cky microrelief with
the depressions containing stand-
Ing wateq reported from northern
and coastal southcentral Alaska.
.... ,. ,,_ ... .,, .. ,_.¥,.,, •.•. ,,.,., ' r·r••F\
Open . a.
tall shrub
scrub
(canopy
25-75%)
Willow -occupies a variety of
s ltes. from dunes to rt ver
banks i 11105 t con1110n In Interior
western. and northern Alaska.
Level V
Betula glandulosa-Sallx plantfolta-5. lanata-Alnus crtspa
(Uanson 1953)
Saltx plantfolta/Calamagrosth canadensis/Sphagnum
spp. (Webber et al. 1978)
Alnus tenutfo1ta/Ca1amagrostts canadensis (Batten et al.
1978 0 Quln~y 1972)
Betula papyrtfera-Ainus tenutfolta/Calamagrostls
canadensis (HcConntck and Pichon 1978)
Alnus s lnuata/Ca 1amagrostt s canadensIs (Crow 196B;
Scheler) and Meyer 1977}
.,.,., .. "'·"'•'"'• .. ,
~ m•p ··• .,.,., •• , ... , ...... ,.
Salix alaxensts-S. glauca(Kon~rkov4 and Webber 1980)
Salix alaxensfs/Arctostaphylos rubra (Webber et al. 1978)
Sa1tx alaxensls/Astra{lalus alplnus-EpHobtum lattfoitum
(Webber et al. 1978)
Salix a1axensis/Shepherdta canadensis/Dryas octopetala-
Arctostaphylos rubra-Ciadonta pyxldata (Scott 1974)
Salh brachycarpa-S. barclayf-S. glauca/tlylocomtum splendens
(VIereck 1966)
Salix planHoHa-S. glauca/Calamagrostts canadensts-EpHoMum
angusttfollum-Equhetum pratense (Young and Radne 1978)
0 n n ', ' '-...•. .....--
~
() n "--·~,,/
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetatton (Continued)
Level 1
2. Scrub
(continued)
Level II
B. Tall
shrub
scrub
(continued)
....
Level Ill Level IV
(2) Open , b.
tall shrub
scrub
(continued)
Alder -Is not nearly as abundant
as closed alder con•ntmHies but
can be found throughout the Stale,
c. Shrub birch -occurs at and above
tree line, especially in the
Alaska Range.
d. Aldet•willow -occurs on flood
plal1t terraces and steep slopes
near tree line In Interior and
northern Alaska.
e. Shrub b I rch-wi1 1 ow -occurs t n
the tree ltne zone, espec1a11y
In the Alaska Range and western
Alaska • this type has not yet
been descdbed .
~
11 )
\
Level V
Alnus crlspa/Calamagrostts canadensis (Young and Ractne 1977)
Betula glandulosa/Ledum palustre-Vacctnlum spp.-Arctostaphylos
a I ptna-Fes tuca a Ita tea (Batten et al. 1979)
Alnus crlspa-Saltx lanata-S. planlfolla/Ledum palustre-Carex
blgelowli/Sphagnum spp. (Viereck 1963)
"' ., ............ -~ • ··-• ' .............. -.,~ ... -y ":"···~-.. ~~-·~ ..... ~ ........ !'!~ •
w en
Prelhn1na.-y C1asstf1catlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1 level II level Ill Level IV
2. Scrub c. Low shrub 1. Closed a. Dwarf birch -thickets are not
(con t1 nued) scrub low shrub COIRnon but do occur on the Seward
scrub Peninsula and In Interior Alaska.
b. low willow -ts connwn In Interior.
western, and northern Alaska.
c. Dwarf blrch-wt11ow -has not been
'described yet.
d. Ertcaceous shrub tundr~ -Is
COIIIROn fn IROSt areas of the State
except north of the Brooks Range.
i'~::~• ,., >•"""'''";-' ~<:'1\ "'I"• ,.,, "'' •o .,,., ..
·-:;:",' -·-··-···' ···.r •·;· ··;,•:•:· .... _ ........
2. Open low a. Dwarf birch -Is con1110n In the
shrub Alaska Range and on the Seward
scrub Pen lnsu la.
(] c)
Level V
Betula nana (ttopkins and Sigafoos 1951 i Racine and Anderson
1979)
Betula glandulosa/Pleuroztum schreberi-llylocomlum splendens
(VIereck 1966)
Salix plaq1folta/Equtsetum arvense (Webber et al. 1978)
Salix glauca-S. p1anlfo1ta-S. lanata (Pegau 1968• Racine 1977)
Ledum palustre-Vacc1nlwn spp. •Arctostaphylos alptna-Casslope
tetragona (Johnson et al. 1966i Pegau and llennatng 1972)
Vacdnlum spr..-Ledum palustre-Empetrun1 nf9rum-Arctostaphyles
alptna/lfc 1ens (lfettlnger and Janz l974J
, ,. .. ,..,.,, .,.,..._.,.,.,, , , ·~ •li''O'i-"•'1,..,. , •• ,. -.·~ .. , , , ., , , , ., , • ,-•~~,, ,_.,,, .. ,, .... -, , , .,. ,,,,, ;·•M''' ..,,,,,,.,. ,.,,..~· •·•r•''"'""~ ,. ..... ,v.•,•~"f"'•"'-I'_.~,....,~,.P7
Betu1a glandulosa/llylocomtwn splendens (llettlnger and Janz 1974i
Viereck 1966)
Betula glandulosa/VacctniUIR ulfgtnosum-Carex btgelowtt/
Aulacomnlum pa1ustre-lly1ocolllilllll splendens (Scott 1974)
Betula glandulosa/Vacdnfum ul fglnosurn-Ledurn palustre/
Cladonla-Cetrarla (Kessel and Schaller 1960• Pegau 1968)
Betula glandulosa/Vacclnlurn ullgtnosum-Festuca altalca/Oryas
tntegrifolta-Saltx retlculata-Cetrarta cucu11ata-C1adonla SPf· (Viereck 1962b)
Betu a glandulosa/Ledurn palustre-Vacclnturn vHis-ldaea (Anderson
1974) ----
t,..--..,_
( )
w
0\
(~
' / 0 0
Pr·eltmtnary Chsstftcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level 1
2.' Scrub
(continued)
Level II
C. Low shrub
sc.rub
(continued)
Level Ill
2. Open low
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level IV Level V
b. Low willow-is con1110n In interior. Sa11x plantfolla/Carex btgelowti-Petas1tes frigtdus/llylocomium
northern. and western Alaska. splendens (lfetttnger and Janz 1974) .
Salix planifolta/Carex podocarpa-Petasttes frtyidus (Anderson 1974)
Sa 1 h planifol h/Carex bf gelowtt -Arctagrostis attfolia (Churchill
1955) .
Salix glauca/Petasttes frtgtdus (Churchill 1955)
Salix glauca/Oryas octopetala (Webber et al. 1978)
Salix glauca/S. rettculata-Carex podocarpa-Art~ntsta arctica
(Scott 1974)
Salix glauca/Arctostaphylos rubra-Dryas octopetala-Salb
reticulata-Oxytropts deflexa (Scott 1974~
Salix lanata-S. glauca/Dryas tntegrHo1ta. Kom4rkov4 and
Webber 1980)
Salix lanata/£quisetum arvense (Webber et al. l978)
w ......
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level
2. Scrub
(continued)
Level II
1;. Low
shrub
scrub
(continued)
level Ill level IV
(2) Open c. Dwarf birch-willow-h present
low shrub In Interior and northern Alaska.
scrub
(continued)
d. low alder -Alnus· crlspa fonos low
thickets at the north edge of Hs
range In the Brooks Range and
arcttc footh111s.
e. low alder-wtllow -Is an uncon1non
type found on flood plains in
northern Alaska, at the northern
edge of the range of alder.
f. Shepherdla-dryas -occurs on flood
plains in interior Alaska.
g. Sagebrush-juniper -occurs on
localize~, steep south-facing
bluffs In Interior Alaska.
level V
Betula nana-Salh brachycarpa-S. plantfolia-S. lanata/
Arctostaphylos rubra-Cass1ope tetragona-Ledum palustre
(Spetzman 1959)
Salix arbusculotdes-S. glauca-S. hastata-Betula glandulosa/
Bromus purnpeHianus-festuca altatca (Batten 1977) .
· Betu\a glandulosa-Saltx glauca-S. planffolta/festuca altatca-
Vacclnlwn vltls-tdaea-Arctostaphylos alptna/llylocomlurn
splendens (VIereck 1963)
Salix g1auca-8etula nana (Childs 1969)
Alnus crtspa/Vacdnturn ultgtnosuna-Ledum palustre-Betuh
nana-Carex blgelowli/llylocomtwn splendens-Aulacomnium
palustre (Bliss and Cantlon 1957)
Alnus crlspa-SaHx spp./Carex bigelowtt-Empetrum nlgrurn-
Vaccinlum vtth-ldaea/Cetraria cucu11ata-Cladonta spp.
(81 iss and Cantlon 1957)
Shepherdta canadensis/Dryas octopetala (Scott 1974)
~
0 0 ()
n n '--< •. /
~) I ;
l'rellmtnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (ConUnued)
Level
2. Scrub
(con Lt nued)
Level II
C. Low
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level Ill Level IV
(2) Open h. Dwarf btrch-erlcaceous shrub-
sphagnum bog -ts conw110n on peat
mounds and ridges. depressions,
and poorly drained lowlands in
northern. western. Interior. and
south-central Alaska.
low shrub
scrub
(continued)
L Dwarf btrch-ericaceous shrub -
sedge bog -is reported on peat
ridges on alluvial terraces in the
eastern ~rooks Range.
j. Ertcaceous shrub-sphagnum bog -1s
conn1on on peat mounds and rIdges 1
bogs in lowland and flood plain
positions. and in depressions and
poorly drained flats; reported to
be present on the Aleutian Islands
and In Interior. southwestern.
south-central. and southeastern
Alaska.
Level V
Betula nana-Ledum palustre/Sphagnu1n spp. (Oachnowski-Stokes
1941; Drew and Shanks 1965; Hanson 1950. 1951; Johnson et
a 1. 1966; l<01n4rkov4 and Webber 1978; Rae t ne 1976 I 1978;
Ract ne and Anderson 1979; Webber et a 1 • 1978)
Betula nana-Myrica gale-Andromeda poiHolta/Sphagnum spp.
(Drury (956t-tfanson: 1951 i Racine 1978)
Betula nafla.:.Myrtca -!Jale-:Carex Hmosa/Sphagnum Sflp. (Griggs 1936)
Betula nan~Empetr.um--nt9rum-Carex 1 lmosa/Sphagnum fuscum
(Viereck 1970)
Betula nana-Rhododendron Jappontcum-Carex spp. (Drew and
Shanks 1965)
Ledun1 palustre-Vaccinhan ultgtnosum/Sphagnum spp.
(Oachnowskt-Stokes 1941; Young and Racine 1976)
tedum palustre-Vacclnlum vHis-tdaea/Sphagnum spp. (Racine 1978;
Rtgg 1944)
Empetrum nigrum-leduna palustre/Sphagnum spp. (8os 1967; Cooper
1942; Rigg 1944; Viereck 1970)
Empetrum nfgrum-Vacctntum spp. -Carex plurtflora-Rubus chamaen10rus/
Sphagnum spp. (Hult~n 1960) .
Empetruna nigrum-Vacdnlum uJtgtnosum-Ertophorum angustifolluo•-
Carex pauclflora/Sphagnum recurvum-Pleuroztum schreberi
(Nell and unpub 1. data J
Empetrum nigrum-Carex plurtflora-C. pauclflora/Sphagnum
spp. (Batten et aL 1978; Oachnowskt-Stokes 1941; lleusser
1960; Scheler) and Meyer 1977)
'" ..,
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level 1 Level II Level Ill
2. Scrub C. Low (2) Open
(continued) shrub low shrub
scrub sc_rub
(continued) (continued)
()
Level IV
k. Erlcaceous shrub-sedge bog -ts
generally on sedge peat substrates;
reported tn Interior and southeast
Alaska.
Level V
Empetrum ntgrum-Ertophorum angusttfo11um-Carex plurtflora/
Sphagnum recurvum-Pleurozium schrebert (Neiland unpubl. data)
Empetrum ntgrum-Eriophorum angusttfoltum/Sphagnum magellanicum-
S. warnstorfll (Reiners et al. 1971i Streveler et al. 1973)
l<almta r.ollfolta-Empetrum nlgrum-Trtchophorum caespltosum-
Eriop 1oru•n augustHollum/Sphagnum spp. (Dachnowski-Stokes 1941 ;'
Netland 1971; Stephens et al. 1969, 1970) .
Chamaedaphne calyculata-Sallx spp.-Carex spp. (Calmes 1976)
l<a lmla poli folia-Empetrum nigrum-Trtchophorum caespltosum-
Carex spp. (Dachnowskt-Stokes 1941i Stephens et al. 1969)
,.r-··------._
1. Q5weetga 1 e) sphagnum bog -Is reported Myrica ga 1 e-Trlchophorwn caespltosum/Sphagnum megellanlcum
from stra-ngnaoor flarks tn south-(VIereck 1970)
estlfn1 Alaska and slope bogs tn Myrica ga le-Empetrum ntgrum-Ertophorwn august tfo Hum-Carex
south-central Alaska. plurlfJora/Sphagnum recurvum-Pleurozium schreberl (Heiland
unpub 1 • data)
m. Willow-sphagnum bog -Is reported
on JO cm.to l m peat on Kodiak
Island.
n. Willow-sedge fen -occurs tn low-
lands and drained lake basins.
shores of Jakes and streams, and
quaking sedge bogs In northern,
western. south-central and south-
eastern Alaska.
Salix spp./Carex spp./Sphagnum spp. (Netland unpubl. data)
Salix planifolta/Carex aquattlts (l<om4rkod and Webber 1978)
Salix planifolia-Sptraea beauverdlana/Carex aquatllts (lluH~n 1966)
Sa1tx lanata/Carex aquatt1ts/Camp_yllum stellatum (Webber and
Walker 1975 0 Webber et al. 1978)
Saltx co•••nutata/Carex aquatllts/Calllergon gtganteun1 (Streveler
et al. 1973)
(} (~
'4 •• ,,_./
"'
t;
r~ 0
Prell1nlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level
2. Scrub
(con tlnued)
leve 1 II
C. Low
shrub
scrub
(continued)
level Ill level IV
(2) O&len o. ~lllow-grass fen -has been re-
low shrub ported from flooded stream bottoms
scrub on the Kenat Peninsula and on
(continued) raised areas tn marshes tn Glacier
Bay.
/ p.A:=~~ale?grass fen -is reported
\..--from--coifstal wetlands and flood
plains in Cook Inlet and toter-
channel basins of the Copper River
Delta.
q. Owarf btrch-sedge fen -reported
from lakeshores In southwest Alaska.
()
level V
Salix barclayjJCalamagrosUs canadensis-Carex spp. (Streveler
et al. 1973)
Salix spp.-Betula nana/Calamagrostts candensts-Carex aquatUts
(Batten unpubl. data)
Myrica gale/Calamagrosth canadensis (Batten et al. 1978i Frohne
195li llanson 1951i HcConnlck and Pichon 1978;. Quimby 197l)
Myrica gale-Salix spp./Calamagrostis canadensis (Crow 1968i
Scheterl and Heyer 1977)
Hyrlca gale-Betula nana-Salix spp./Calamagrostls candensls-·
Carex spp. (Seguin 1977)
Betula nana-Splraea beauverdlana/Carex lyngbyael (llult~h 1962)
-"' .....
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Conttnued)
Level 1
2. Scrub
(con t1 nucd)
Level II
C. Low
shrub
scrub
(con tl nucd)
Level Ill Level IV
(2) Ojlcn r. Willow-sedge tundra -Is largely
low shrub concentrated north of the Brooks
scrub Range • where it occurs tn the
(continued) foothills and the arctic coastal
plain.
s. Willow-grass tundra -may not be
a very widespread type; It has
only been described from the
arctic coastal platn.
t. Birch and erlcaceous shrub tundra
Level V
Salix planlfolla-Carex aquattlls (Kom4rkov4 and Webber 1978.
1980) .
Salix lanata-Carex aquattlts (Webber and Walker 1975i Webller
et al. 1978)
Salb lanata-Carex vagtnata/llyloconllum splendens (lletttnger
and Janz 1974)
Salix plantfolta/S. rotundtfolta-S. phlebophylh-Petasttes
frlgidus-Poa arttca-Luzula confusa (C1ebsch 1957)
Betula nana-Ledum palustre-Vaccinlum spp.-Carex btgelowtt
(011ss and Cantlon l957i Churchill 1955• llanson 1950. 1951)
Betula nana-ledum palustre-Vaccintum spp.-Empetrum nlgrum-
Ertophorum vaglnatum-Carex btgelowt1-Arctagrostts latifoila
(Churchill 1955) .
Betula nana-ledum palustre-Vacdnlum vttts-idaea-Empetrum
ntgrum-Arctagrostts 1atifo11a-llterochloe alptna (ChurchHI
1955)
Betula nana-Ledum palustre-Vacclntum vttts-idaea-Arctagrosth
latifolla (Churchill 1955)
Betula nana-Ledum palustre-Vacctnlum spp.-Sallx planifolta (llanson
1953 0 Johnson et al. 1966 0 Koranda 1960)
Betula nana-Ledum palustre-Vacctntwn spp.-Salb planlfolia/
Cladonta spp.-Cetrarta ~pp. (llanson 1953 0 Pegau 1968)
Betula nana-Arctosta11hy1os alptna-Saltx arctlca-Dryas
tntegrlfoJia (Drew and Shanks 1965)
Betu~a nana-Vacctnlum u1tgtnosum-Saltx retlculata-Oryas
tntegrlto lta-Cass tope tetrl)gona (llett tnger and Janz 1974)
Betula nana-ledum palustre-Vacctnlum spp. (Batten 1977.
l<oranda 1960 0 Ugolini and Walters 1974; Webber et al. 1918;
Williamson and Peyton 1962)
Betula nana-Vacctntum spp.-Empetrum nlgrum (llult~n 1966)
Betula nana-Ledum palustre-Empetrum nlgrum/Cladonla spp.-
Stereocaulon spp. (Young and Ractne 1978)
(\
\ ! 0 ,1)
.,.
N
0 () i8
Preltmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level
Z. Scrub
(continued)
Level II
C. Low
shrub
scrub
(continued) ,. .
D. Dwarf
shrub
scrub
Level Ill Level IV
(2) Open u. Hlxed shrub tundra -may be
low shrub. relatively rare type.
scrub
(continued)
l.evel V
SaJtx glauca-Arctostpahylos rubra-Vacc1nium uliglnosum-
Arctagrostts lattfo11a (llettlnger and Janz 1974)
Salix glauca-Oryas octopetala-Oetula nana (Uettinger and
Janz 1974)
''"'"'!"·"• ., ., .. ,.
'"'' ... ·•·· .......... ,. •.••• ·~~~-.... , •••• ~ ...... '"'~"'·'"~·-· ''rJ' ,. '. "' . :-. .• ., .• ,,·r···--~..,"-"tlllflll"
(1) Closed
dwarf
shrub
scrub
a. Hat and cushion-sedge tundra -Is
found in all sections of Alaska
except southeastern.
Dryas octopetala-Carex sdrpotdea (Gjaerevoll 1954)
Dryas octopetala-Kobresta myosurotdes (Drew and Shanks
1965i Johnson et al. 1966i Spetzman 1959)
Dryas octopetala-Kobresia sfmpllctuscula (Gjaerevoll 1954)
Dryas octopetala-Vacclnlum vltis-ldaea-Luzula spp.-Carex
mlsandra (Childs 1969)
Dryas octopetala-Carex frankllnll (Gjaervoll 1954)
Dr.vas octopetala-SaJix arctlca-Carex btgelowH-mosses
(Anderson 1974)
Dryas tntegrlfolfa-Saltx retlculata-Carex scirpotdea (Batten
1977i Drew and Shanks 1965i llettlnger and Janz 1974)
Dryas integrHol ta-Sal fx rettculata-Carex blgelowi I (tlettlnger
Janza 1974)
Dryas tntegrtfoJta-Carex mlsandar-Rhytldlum rugosum
(Hettinger and Janz 1974)
Dryas integrlfolia-Vaccinium spp.-Carex spp. (Drew and.
and Shanks 1965)
Sa 1i x po larls-S. rettculata-llylocomiunl splendens-Carex
podocarpa (Scott 1974)
~ w
Preliminary ChssHtcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level I
2. Scrub
(cont lnued)
Level II
D. llwarf
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level Ill
(1} Closed
dwarf
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level IV
b. Hat and cushion-grass tundra -may
not be a very abundant type.
c. llryas tundra -Is a very widespread
type throughout Alaska except
southcentral and southeastern.
Level V
Vacctnlum vt tis-tdaea-Dryas octopeta la-Empetrum ntgrllln-
festuca altatca (Scott 1974)
Sa llx ova llfoHa-Empetrum nt grum-festuca rubra-Ca lamagrost ts
deschampstoldes (llanson 1951)
Dryas octopetala (VIereck 1963)
Dryas octopeta1a-Sa11x rettculata-Casslope tetragona (Anderson
1974i Batten 1977; Kessel and Schaller 1960; VIereck 1962a.
1963)
Dryas octopeta1a-Vacctntum u11glnostlln-Sallx retlculata
(Anderson 1974)
Dryas octopeta1a-Arctostaphylos alptna (Webber et at.
1978i Young 1974)
Dryas octopetala-Arctostaphylos alptna-TomenthypnunJ nttens-
Carex bigeJowH (Webber et a1. 1978) ·
Dryas octopetala-Diapensl1 lapponlca-Lotseleurta procumbens-
Vacctnlum vltts-tdaea-llchens (Racine and Young 1978)
Dryas octopetala-Cetrarta spp.-Ciadonta spp. (Pegau 1968;
VIereck l962a)
Dryas lntegrlfolla (Kom4rkov4 and Webber 1978, 1980;
Webber and Walker 1975)
Dryas lntegrlfolta-Casslope tetragona (Kom4rkov4 and Webber
1978, 1980; Koranda 1960)
Dryas lntegrlfolta-Arctostaphy1os rubra (Koranda 1960i
Webber et al. 1978)
:t
() n -1"'
I)
() CJ n
Prel hntnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1 level II
2. Scrub \C~ Dwarf
(continued) shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level Ill
(I) Closed
dwarf
shrub
scrub
(continued)
I
level IV
d. Casslope tund1·a -ts a widespread
type, usually tn relatively mesic
or shaded settings, In Interior,
western, and northern Alaska.
level V
Casslope tetragona (Anderson l974i KomArkov4 and Webber
1978, 1980i Pegau 1968i Scott 1974i Webber et a1. 1978)
Casslope tetragona-Saltx rotundtfolia-mosses (Batten 1977..
Webber and Walker 1975)
Cassiope tetragona-Vac.ctnlum uligtnosum-mosses (llanson l95li
Scott 1974)
Cassiope tetragona-Vacctnlllll vltts-tdaea (Childs l969i
Webber et a1. 1978)
e. Bearberry tundra -ts con1110n on the Arctostaphylos alplna-Vacctnlum vttis-ldaea (llanson 1953)
Seward Peninsula. Arctostaphylos alptna-Rhododendron camtschatlcum (Pegau 1968)
Arctostaphylos rubra-C1adonta (Webber et al. 1978)
f. Crowberry tundra -Is character-
Istic of southern Alaska and the
Aleutian Islands. ·
E11ipetrum ntgrum-Casstope stelleriana-PhyHodoce aleuttca-
Vacctnlum spp. (Cooper 1942i lteusser 1960)
Empetrum nlgrum-Vacctntwn spp.-Ledu111 palustre-Oetula nana
(Griggs 1936i Racine and Young 1978)
Empetrum nlgrum-lycopodlum spp./Brachytheclum alblcans-
Ciadonla spp. (Bank 1951)
Empetrum nlgrum-Carex plurlflora-C. macrochaeta/C1adonta
spp. (Bank 1951 i Everett 1911i llult~n 1960i Shacklette
et al. 1969)
Empetrum niyrum-Casstope 1ycollOdioldes-Carex clrcinnata/
mosses (Byrd and Wooltngton 1977)
Empetrum ntgrum-Arctostaphylos alplna (fries 1977)
Empelrum nlgrum-Vaccinlum ultglnosum (llult~n 1962)
.,.
tn
I
Preliminary C1asslflcat1on for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
l.eve 1 1
2. Scrub
(continued)
n /
Leve 1 II
C. Dwarf
shrub
scrub
(continued)
;
Level Ill
(1) Closed
dwarf
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level IV
g. Low ertcaceous shrub tundra -ts
abundant. In n~st areas of the
State except north of the Brooks
Range.
0
Level V
Vacctnlum vltts-tdaea-Empetrwn ntgrum/Cladlna spp. (Rictne
and Anderson 1979)
Vacctntum ullgtnosum-Oiapensta lappontca-Phyllodoce
coerulea-Sallx po1arls-S. arctlca (fries 1977)
Phyl1odoce aleuttca-Vacctntum spp.-Cassiope stellertaaa-
Empetrum nlgrum (lslefb and Kessel 1973· Palmer 1942)
Plyllodoce aleuttca-Casslope stellerlana lueusser 1961)
Phy11odoce aleutlca-Cassfope spp.-Vacclnl111n spp. (Klein 1965.
Ward 1957)
Casstope mertenslana-C. stellertana-Empetrwn nlgrum (lleusser
1954. 1960) .
Phyllodoce aleutlca-Casslope mertenstana (Jaques 1973)
Vacctntuan vi t ls-tdaea-Sa 1 ix phlebophy11a-Arc tostaphylos
a1plna (Anderson 1974)
Ledum palustre-Sa11x reticulata-Oryas octopeta1a-Empetrum
ntgrum-Poa alpfna (lfetttnger and Janz 1974)
LotSeleurta procumbens-Vacctnlwn ullgtnosum-Saltx arcttca-
Leduan pa1ustre (Griggs 1936)
··~ •' ,,.,. ,... • ._ .. ,,-'· ·"•'.-~ .. \;• ""N _,,.,, ·,o ""f ,,, '1'~;• ·«·•.~:lf"'f('"'l'),•~\'~· ... ,~"i>r'f""or,"'i~
:~
' /'
..,.
en
0 0 ()
'-..._'
11reltmlnary C1asstflcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1
2. Scrub
(continued)
level II
C. Dwarf
shrub
scrub
(con tl nued)
level Ill
(I) Open
dwarf
shrub
scrub
level IV
a. Snowbed -occurs in alpine draws
and on lee slopes where snow
accumulates.
level V
luetkea pectlnata-Phyllodoce aleuttca-Casstope spp. (Racine
and Young 1978; Streve1er et al. 1973)
Salix rotundtfolla (Klein 1958; f<om4rkov4 and Webber 1978;
White et al. 1975)
Salh rotundlfolta-Oxyrta dlgyna (Anderson 1974)
b. Dryas-Jtchen tundra -is widespread Dryas octopetala-ltchens (Anderson 1974; Chtlds 1969i
In northern and western Alaska. George et al. 1977; tlanson 1951; Spetzman 1959)
c. Dryas-herb tundra -15 COittnon on
dry exposed sites throughout the
State.
Dryas lnte9rlfo1ta-Hchens (Drew and Shanks 1965; llanson 195)j
komArkovA and Webber 1978; Webber and Walker 1975)
Dryas octopetala-11chens-Oxytropts nlgrescens-Sallx
phlebov.hylla-Carex mlcrochaeta (Johnson et a1. 1966)
Dryas octopeta1a-Stereocau1on tomentosum (Scott 1974)
Dryas octopetala-Cetraria cucu11ata-other ltchens-Rhacomltrlum
1anuglnosum (Scott 1974)'
Dryas octopetala-Empetrum nlgrum-Saltx arcttca-Cetrarla spp.-
Cladonla spp. (Young and Racine 1978)
Dry.as octopetala-Minuartta spp.-SaxHraga spp. (llettlnger and
Janz 1974; Nadler et al. 1978)
Dryas octof.etala-Astragalus spp.-tledysarum alplnunt (llanson
1953; Jotnson et at. 1966)
Dr~as lntegrlfolla-Oxytropls nlgrescens-Carex rupestrjs
(Koranda 1960; Webber and Walker 1975)
Dryas lntegrtfolla-luplnus arcttcus (Churchill 1955,
Dryas lntegrffolla-lledysarum a lplnum-Festuca rubra llanson 1951)
Dryas druntnondii-D. lntegrHol h-Astraga Ius spp. -Oxytropls
campestrls-lledysarum mackenztt (VIereck 1966)
Dryas lntegrtfolla-Poa glauca-Oxytropts borealis (Koranda
1960) .
Dryas octopetala-Anemone druntnondtt-lesquerella arcttca-
Crepls nana (Drew and Shanks 1965)
!:j
Prellntlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level 1
Z. Scrub
(continued)
Level II
C. Dwarf
shrub
(continued)
("!
"· /"
Level Ill
(1) Open
dwarf
shrub
scrub
(continued)
Level IV
d. Dryas-sedge tundra -is cou1non on
dry exposed sites throughout the
·state.
e. Low willow tundra -generally
occurs on stony soils. from
south-central Alaska north and west.
'
level V
Dryas octopetala-Carex mlcrochaeta (Webber et at. 1978)
Dryas octopetala-Carex mlsandra-C. blgelowtf (llanson 1951)
Dryas octopeta1a-Carex glacta\ts (Gjaerevo11 1954)
Dryas octopetala-Carex nardina-C. vagfnata-1tchen (George
et al. 1977)
Dryas fntegrtfolta-Carex scfrpoldea-Kobresla stmpltcluscula
(Koranda 1960)
Salix rotundHoHa {Webber 1978)
Sa1tx ovaltfolta (Webber et al. 1978a White et al. 1975)
Salix reticulata-Carex mtcrochaeta-Rhacomltrtum tanugtnoswn
(llettinger and Janz 1974) .
Salix r·eticulata-Carex saxatilts (tlettlnger and Janz 1974)
Salix rotundlfolta-Potenttlta vahHana-Saxtfraga opposittfolb
(Radne and Anderson 1979)
SaHx polarts-Cetrarta lslandtca-Ctadtna rangtfertna (Scot.t 1974)
Salix arcttca-Carex nesophtla-Cladlna alpestr.ts-Cetrarta cucullata
(Klein 1958)
Salix arcttca-S. rotundlfolta-Empetrum ntgrum (Shacklette et
al. 1969)
Salix rotundlfolla-S. ovallfolla-Casslope lycopodtoides-
. " •... , .... ,., ......... ., .... " ... ., .. , ........ .,..., ... ,, .. ,.,,.,., .... ~.-..• ~ .•.... _,,., .• ,.. .. ··-·~·-....... -............... , ... ~IIIP~h:!!m. ntgr.wn (Shacklette et al. 1969) .-·~ · " '' ' · ' ···· "·' -··· ... ~~-·-··-···~·· -·,.·~·-~·-· ... '!"'~·--... ~ .. · •. ·("••-~-.... ":.':'._., .... ,~-... 7 .. ..,. ... ,....., .. 1",,.,.....,,,...=,_..,.-:--r:o,•r,.....l'n'
&
·o ()
(\
\.,, / 0
Preliminary ClassHtcatton for Alaska Vegetatton (Continued)
Level
3. llerba-
ceous
level II
A. Gramlnold
herbaceous
Level Ill Level IV
(I) Dry a. Elymus -occurs on beaches. dunes
gramtnotd gravel outwash flats and dry slopes
herb-mostly in coastal areas but occa-
ceous stonally In the Alaska Range. Brooks
Range and Interior Alaska.
Level V
El~nus arenartus (Dank 1951; George et al. 1977; Griggs
1936; Uanson 1953; Klein 1958; Shacklette et al. 1969i
Spetzman 1959; Stephens and Billings 1967; Ugoltnt and
Wa Hers 1974 i Young 1971 i Racine and Andenon 1979)
n
Elymus arenartus-llonckenya peplotdes-Hertens Ia marH tma
(fries 1977·) Johnson et al. 1966i Potter 1974; Wiggins and
Thomas 1962
Elyu1us arenarlus-Senecto pseudoarntca-lathyrus marttlmus
(Dank 1951i llult~n 1960i Rausch and Rausch 1968)
Elymus arenartus-,Lathyrus mart ttmus-Poa eminens (llanson
1953)
E1.ymus arenartus-ltgusttcum scottcum-Anemone narcfs.siflora
(Shacklette et al. 1969)
Elymus arenartus-llerac1 eum lanatum-Ciaytonta s tbt rica
(Dyrd and Woolington 1977)
£1~nus arenartus-festuca rubra (Palmer and Rouse 1945)
Elymus arenarlus-Lathyrus mart tfmus-Senecio pseudoarntca-
Ange1tc~ luctda (fries 1977)
Elymus arenartus-Polemontum boreale-Senecto pseudoarntca
(Young and Racine 1978)
Elymus arenartus-Or·yas integrtfolta (Kom4rkov4 and Webber
1980) .
Elymus arenarfus (Racine and Anderson 1979)
Elymus tnnovatus-festuca aHalca/lly1ocomtum splendens
(Viereck 1966)
Elymus tnnovatus-Poa glauca (llanson 1951)
to
Preliminary Classtficatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1
3. tlerba-
ceous
(continued)
level II Level Ill level IV
A. Gramtnoid
herbaceous
(continued)
(1) Dry b. Dry fescue -occupies dry slopes
tn interior. south-centra 1, and
western Alaska.
gramtnoid
herbaceous
(continued)
.. ,,
c. Hid grass-shrub -1s co•••non on
localized, steep, south-facing
bluffs In interior and south-
centra 1 Alaska.
d. Htdgrass-herb -occupies a variety
of sHes. from alpine meadows to
streambanks. It is found tn the
Aleutian Islands and in south-
central. and interior Alaska.
e. llatr-grass -ts con1110n tn the
Aleutian Islands and along the
. southern coas.t of Alaska •
level V
festuca altaica (Hanson 1951, 1953)
festucal altatca-Calamagrosth canadensis (llanson 1951)
festuca altaica-Saltx lanata-Artemtsta arcttca (Scott 1974)
Calamagrostls purpurascens-Artemlsla frlglda (llanson 1951)
festuca altalca-Vacclnium vttts-ldaea-V. ultgtnosum-Dryas
octopetala (llanson 1951)
festuca altalca-Empetrum nlgrum-Saltx rettculata (Scott 1974)
Agropyron spicatum-Calamagrostts purpurascens-Artemlsla
frtglda (Batten et al. 1979)
festuca altalca-Anemone narctsstflora (Anderson 1974; Pegau
and llenvning 1972)
festuca allalca-Lupinus arcticus (Scott 1974)
festuca altaica-Carex podocarpa-Aconitwn delphinifollum-
Hertensta paniculata-Artemisia arctlca (Hanson 1951)
festuca a1taica-Sangutsorba sUpulata-lycopodtum alplnum-
Sal tx retlculata/llypn'aceae (ltanson 1951)
festuca altatca-Calamagrosth canadensis-Cornus canadensis-
Geranium ertanthum (llanson 1951)
festuca rubra-Angellca Iucida-Achillea borealts-Cardamtne
umbellata (Dyrd and Woo11ngton 1977)
Poa eminens-Oeschamps ta bertngens ls-festuca rubra (Shack Jette
et al. 1969)
Deschampsia beringensis (llanson 1951)
-:·.·· ··:;.···:-:·:""
()
' ,./ 0 n
tA
0
() 0 n
I Preltmlnary Classtffcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I
3. llerba-
ceous
(continued)
tevel II
A. G..amlnotd
herbaceous
(con tlnued)
level Ill level IV Level V
(2) Hestc a. Bluejotnt meadow-is found through-Cahmagrostis canadensis (Dank 195li Fries 1977; llanson 1953i
graminoid
herbaceous
out the State except for south-lleusser, 1960f· llult~n 1966; Pegau and llen1nlng 1972; Durns
eastern and northern Alaska i 1964; llanson 953 i Pegau 1974)
occcuples large areas in south-Calamagrostls nutkaensis/Festuca rubra (An~ndsen and Clebsch
central and southwestern Alaska. 1971 i Dyrd and Wolllngton 1977)
b. Bluejolnt-herb -fs widely dis-
tributed in the southern ha 1 f of
the State.
c. B1uejolnt-shrub -is extensive tn
southwestern Alaska but virtually
unknown throughout the rest of
the State.
Calamagrostts canadensis-Eptlobtum anyustlfollum (llanson
1951; Klein 1958; Young and Racine 978)
Ca lamagros tis canadens ts-Eptloblum angustl folium-Geranium
ertanthum (lleusser 1960) .
Ca lamagrosth canadens ts-Tha ltctrum minus-Geranium
erianthum-Eptlobtum angusttfol tum (llult~n 1960)
Ca lamagrosth canadensis-Eplloblum angustl foHum-lleracleum
lanatum-Angeltca genuflexa (Griggs 1936)
Ca lamagros tt s canadens t s-Oeschauaps fa bering ens t s-Herac 1 eum
lanatum-Angelica ludda (Dank 1951)
Calamagrostls canadensis-Alnus slnuata (Griggs 1936)
Ul ....
Preliminary Classtttcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I
3. llerba-
ceous
(continued)
Level II
A. Gramlnotd
herbaceous
(continued)
()
Level Ill
(2) Mesic
gramlnotd
herbaceous
(continued)
Level IV
d. Tussock tundra -Is widely dis-
tributed throughout western.
Interior and nor·thern Alaska.
Level V
Er I ophorum va9l na tum (Johnson e t a 1. 1966. KomA rkov4 and
Webber 1978)
Ertophorum vaglnatum-Saltx planlfolta-Carex blge1owH/
llylocomlum splendens (llettinger and Janz 1974)
Ertophorum vagtnatum-Sa1tx piantfolta-S. lanata (Koranda
1960)
Eriophorum vaglnatum-Carex blge1owtt-Ledum palustre-
Vacclntum vi Us-1daea (Childs 1969; Dean and Chesemore
1974 • tlan,on I 950) 1 .
frlophorum vagina tum-Detula nana-ledurn pa 1ustre-Vacc1n tum
spp. (Clebsch 1957i Drew and Shanks 1965i Hanson 1953;
Pegau 1968; Ugo1tnt and Walters 1974; Young and Racine 1978)
Erlophorum vagina tum-Detula nana-Sa 1 tx flanl fol ta-Ledum
palustre-Vacclntum spp. (Johnson et a • 1966; Koranda 1960 0
Young 1974)
Eriophorum vagina turn-Detula nana-Sa ltx lana ta-Ledum
palustre-Vacclntum spp. (Webber et al. 1978)
Erlophorum vagina turn-Detula nana-Ledum pa 1ustre-Vacclntunr
spp.-Carex blge1owtl (ChurchiiJ 1955; tlopklns and Sigafoos
1951 0 Racine 1977 0 VIereck 1966; Young and Racine 1977)
Erlophorum vagtnatum-Oetu1a nana-Salix planlfolia-Ledurn palustre-
Vacdnlurn spp.-Carex blge1ow1t (Spetzman 1959 0 Webber et al. 1978)
Eriophorum vagtnatum-Detula nana (Batten 1977; Kessel and Schaller
1960 0 KomArkovA and Webber 1980i Webber et al. 1978)
Carex blge1owit-Detula nana-Saltx p1antfolta-Ledum pa1ustre-
Vacclnlurn spp. (Racine and Anderson 1979 0 Racine and Young 1978)
0 n ',
m
N
r) n _,_...v
Prell1nlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
,level
3. llerba-
ceous
(continued)
Level II
A. Gramlnold
herbaceous
(con tl nued)
Level Ill
(2) Mesic
g..aminoid
herbaceous
(con t1 nued)
Level IV
e. Heslc sedge-grass medow tundra -
Is usually of minor extent.
f. Mesic sedge-herb meadow tundra -
Is usually of minor extent; pro-
bably most co11~110n In south-central
and southeastern Alaska.
g. Mesic grass-herb meadow tundra -
occurs In small, limited areas,
111alnly reported from the arctic
slope but probably u10re widespread.
h. Sedge-willow tundra -Is widely
distributed In tundra areas
throughout Alaska, except the
south-central and southeastern
partsi probably most abundanC
from the Brooks Range northward.
Level V
Carex aquatllts-Poa arctlca (Ciebsch 1957i Webber 1978)
Carex mlcrochaeta-Poa arcttca (Batten 1977)
Carex podocarpa-Arctagrostls Jattfo11a (Scott 1974)
Carex macrochaeta-Geranlum erlanthum-Erfgeron peregrlnus-
Luplnus nootkatensis (lljeljord 1911) ·
rt)
'-11
Ep1Joblum Ia tHo Hum-Mertens ta pantculata-Arctagrostf s lattto Ita
(Anderson 1974)
BroniUs pwnpel I lanus-lrtsetum spfcatwn-Oupleurum trtradlatum
(Koranda 1960)
luzula confusa-Poa arcttca-Petasl tes frlgldus (Wiggins 1951)
Carex aquattlts-Saltx flanlfolta (Childs l969i Clebsch J957i
Dennis 1969; llanson 95li llettlnger and Janz 1974i
Webber eta). )976)
Carex aquat1Jis-Salh 1anata (Scott 1974· Spetzman 1959)
Carex aquatllls-Alnus crlspa-Saltx spp. lBJtss and Cantlon 1957)
Carex blgelowii-Saltx planifo11a (llettlnger and Janz l974i
Johnson et a1. 1966i Koranda 1960)
Carex blgelowii-Sallx reticulata-S. planifolla (Batten 1977;
llettlnger and Janz 1974)
Carex btgelowii-Saltx retlculata (llettlnger and Janz 1974)
Ertophorum angusttfollum-Salh plantfoHa (Fries 1917)
Carel< blgelowlt-C. membranacea-Saltx polarh-Equlsetum
arvense (llanson 1950)
Carex nesophtla-Sa llx rotund I to lia-S. rettcu1ata (Klein 1958)
Carex mlcrochaeta-Sa 1 tx plan lfolta-S. ret tcu1a ta (Batten 1977)
U1 w
·eltmlnary Classtflcatfon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
!Vel I
llerba-
ceous
:onttnued)
leve I II
A. Gramtnoid
herbaceous
(continued)
c-)
' /
Level Ill
(2) Mesic
gramt(lold
herbaceous
(continued)
.... ,, .. ,,. ... R""''"' .. '\..•z:-~
Level IV
t. Sedge-birch tundra -occurs tn
northern and western Interior
Alaska.
j. Sedge-dryas tundra -is widely
distributed In tundra areas
throughout the State, with the
exception of south-centra 1 and
southeastern Alaska.
k. Sedge-bearberry tundra -Is only
reported from the Seward Peninsula
and northeastern Interior Alaska
but Is probably r.resent in other
areas, such as L 1e Alaska Range. ,
level V
Carex blgelowlt-Batula nana (Webber et al. 1978)
Carex btgelowtt-C. aquattlts-Betula nana (Hettinger and
Janz 1974)
Carex aquatllls-Dryas tntegrtfolta (Webber and WAlker 1975i
Webber et al. 1978)
Carex blgelowU-Dryas tntegrtfo1ta (Childs 1969• lletttnger
and Janz 1974i Webber et al. 1978)
Carex bigelowii-Drays octopetala-Sallx rettculata (Anderson
1974i Scott 1974; Webber et al. 1978)
ICobresta slmpltduscula-Oryas tntegrtfolta (Webber et al. 1978)
Carex membranacea-Arctostaphylos rubra (Bettinger and Janz 1974)
Carex btgelowtt-Arctostaphylos alptna-Loiseleurla procumbens-
Otape~sla lappontca (Racine and Anderson 1979)
....•. ,..,,_, .. 7"'~•· -, ... , .. ,,,r~ ,,.,.,,.r.,u.,··~"l'l'w~•.~...,,. .... ...,. • .,..,..,.....,~
Ul .,.
c-) c,nl .
II ..
. ~--•-''
il, \, )
'reltmtnary Classtttcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
.evel I
I. l~rba
ceous
continued)
Level II Level Ill Level IV
A. Gramtnotd. (3) Wet a. Wet sedge meadow tundra -ts found
In very wet areas, generally under-
lain by pennafrost, In every part
of the State except southeast but
Is especially characteristic of
herbaceous gramlnold
(continued) herbaceous
the arctic coastal plain.
0 n
Level V
Erlophorum angustlfoltum (llo11owaychuk and Smeck 1979;
Hurray 1974a Racine and Anderson 1979i Racine 1976;
VIereck 1963)
Erlophorum angustlfoHurn-E. scheuchzerl (Britton 1967)
Erlophorum angus t Ito It um-Carex membranacea (Hurray 1974)
Erlophoruna angus tlfo 11 urn-E. brachyantherum-Carex
aquatllls (Hurray 1974; Young 1974)
Erlophorum angustifoltum-Trlchophorum caespltosum (Hurray 1974)
Ertophorum angustlfoltum-Carex plurlflora-Sallx retlcu1ata
(llanson 1951)
Ertophorum angustifollum-Carex aqua tilts-C. lachena 111
(klein l958i Rausch and Rausch 1968)
Carex aquatllh-Ertophorurn angustlfoltum (Batten 1977; Bergman
et al. 1977; Childs 1969; llopklns and Sigafoos 1950;
Porter 1966; Spetzman 1959; Racine 1977, 1978)
Carex aquattlls-Erlophorum angusttfoltum/Orepanocladus
lycopodloldes (Webber and Walker 1975; Webber et al. 1978)
Carex aquat Hls-Erlophorum an9ust ito llum/Rhyt It tum
rugosum (Johnson et a 1. I 966)
Carex aqua t 111 s-Erlophorum augustt fo llum/Scorpldlum scorpio Ides
(Hetland and tlok 1975; Webber and Walker 1975)
Carex aquatllts-Ertophorum angustlfollurn/Spha9nurn spp.
(Box 1967; Johnson et al. 1966)
Carex aquatiJis-Erlophorum angustlfoltum-Carex rotundata
(llanson 1953)
Carex aqualllts-ErlophorUin an9ustlfollum-E. russeolum
(Hurray 1974; Racine 1978)
Carex aquatllls-Ertophorum angusttfoliurn-£. scheuchzerl
(Peyau 1968; Koranda 1960)
Carex aquattlls (Bergman et al. 1977; Britton 1967; ChurchiJI
1955; Clebsch 1957; Dennis 1968; George et al. 1977; J<essel
and SchaUer 1960; Komarkova and Webber 1978; Koranda 1960;
Hurray 1974> Pegau and llen•nlng 1972; Peterson and Bl111ngs
1978> Racine and Anderson 1979; Racine 1976. 1978; Spetzman
1959; Young 1971) U>
U1 . ,,.or..---.-... _..,----..... ,-·-· ....... / ·'<··-· · .. "······-.. ........... ......... ,.. ... ·····--·~..:._4.,_ .... / .. --~ ......... , ___ ... -'I ""-.... ...._..........__
,./·
/--.... / ..
----~-· ...
•
'rei ltnlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
eve) 1
'· llerba-
ceous
continued)
Level J1
A. Gramlnold
herbaceous
( contt nued)
r''\ \ / \,_, __ /
Level Ill Level IV
(l) Wet a. Wet sedge n~adow tundra
gramlnold (continued)
herbaceous
(con t1 nued)
b. Wet sedge-grass meadow,tundra-ts
largely confined to the arctic
coastal plain In very wet areas
underlain by shallow pennafrost.
Level V
Carex aquatllls/Scorpidlum scorpfoldes (Heiland and tlok 1975)
Carex aquatllts-C. rotundata (Webber et a1. 1978• tlanson 1951)
Carex aquati 11 s-Ertophorum russeolum/Drepanocladus lycopodloldes
(Webber 1978)
Carex aquatllls-Edophoru•n scheuchzerf (Britton 1967' Webber
et al. 1978)
Carex aquatllls-C.chordorrhlza-C. ltn10sa-C. mlcroglochtn-
Erlophorum scheuchzeri-E. angusttfoltum (Drew and
Shanks )965)
Carex chordorrhlza (Batten 1977)
Erlophorum scheuchzert (Racine 1976)
Carex rarlflora (Batten 1977)
Carex bfgelowH-C. rarlflora-C. saxatH Is (llettlnger and
Janz 1974)
Carex rartflora-IHppurls tetraphy11a/Sphagnum spp.
( llu lt6n 1962)
Dupontla ftsherf (Drttton 1967, Clebsch 1957i Dennis 1968;
Potter 1972• Wiggins 1951)
Dupontla flsherf-Aiopecurus al.pfnus (Bergman et al. 1977)
Dupontla ftshert-Petasttes frfgldus (Dennis 1968)
Dupontia flsheri-Eriofhorum angusttfollum (Drown et a1. 19708
llennts )968; Young 971)
Dupontta ftsheri-Ertophoruna angus t1 foltum/Bryum spp.
{Webber 1978)
Erlophorum angus tt fo llum-Carex glareosa-Deschamps fa caespt tosa-
Dullontla Usheri-Arctagrostls lattfoHa (Johnson et al. 1966)
Carex aquatllfs-Duponth fisher! (Potter 1972; Wiggins 1951)
01
Ch
0 ()
/
0 n -.. /
rr\ I,J )
reHmtnuy Classtttcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Conthmed)
evel 1
• lferba-
ceous
continued)
level II
A. Gramlnold
herbaceous
(continued)
Level Ill level IV
(J) Wet b. Wet sedge-~rass n~adow tundra
(continued) gramlnold
herbaceous
(continued)
c. Wet sedge-herb meadow tundra -is
found on very wet. poorly drained
sites wtth standing water. oxbow
lakes. and alpine bogs. Apparently
widely distributed througout
Alaska.
Level V
Carex aqua t t1 is-Oualontta fisherf/Oncophorus wah1enbergtt
(Webber 1978) .
Carex aquatt1ts-Oupontia ftsheri/Bryum spp. (Webber and
Walker 1975)
Carex aquaUlis-Oupontta ftshert-Carex membranacea (Koranda
Eriophorum scheuchzert-Alopecurus alptnus (Koranda 1960)
A1opecurus a1pinus (Britton 1967)
Carex aquattlts-Menyanthes trtfo1tata (Webber et a1. 1978i
Racine 1976)
1960)
Carex aqua lt 1t s-C. membranacea-Petas ites frigtdus (Scott 1974)
Carex aquatilts-Potentilla palustris (Bliss and Cantlon 1957i
Webber et al. 1978).
lfippurt s vulgaris-Potent 111a pa lustri s (Spetzman 1959)
Carex nigrtcans-Ertophorum angus t ltolturn-Faurta crhta-ga 1111-
trlchophorum caespt toston (Jacques 1973)
Trlchophorum caespttosum-Trfg1ochln pa lustris (Webber
et al. 1978)
~
eltinlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
:vel 1
llerba-
ceous
ontlnued)
Level II
A. Graminold
herbaceous
(continued)
n
\ )
level Ill level IV
(l) Wet d. fresh sedge marsh -coastal loca-
gramlnold ttons In south-central and south-
herbaceous eastern Alaska. Sites are prt-
(cont1nued) madly fresh water but may be
Inundated by extren~ high tides.
e. fresh grass marsh -con1110n In
ponds, slow flowing streams, lake
margins, and thennokarst pHs tn
northern and western Alaska. Depth
of water ranges from seasona11y ·
flooded to up to 2 n~ters.
f. ltalophytlc sedge marsh -described
on upper Cook Inlet tide flats,
south-central Alaska.
Level V
Sclrpus valldus (Batten et al. 1978; Del Moral and Watson
1978; Netland 197h llanson 1951)
Eleocharis palustrts-lltppurh vulgaris (lleusser 1966)
Eleocharts patustrts-Hyrlophyllum spicatum (Crow 1968)
Arctophtla fulva (Batten 1977; Bergman et a1. 1977;
Britton 1967i Chtlds 1969; Clebsch 1957; llult~n 1966;
Krnnarkova and Webb~r 1978; Hurray 1974i Potter 1972i
Racfne and Anderson 1979; Rausch and Rausch 1968;
Streveler et at. 1973i Webber et al. 1978; Wiggins and
Thomas 1962)
Arctophlla fulva-Carex aquattlh (Webber and Walker 1975;
Wiggins 1951)
Arctophtla fu1va-Ranunculus pa11aslt (Johnson et al. l966r
. Spetzman 1959i Webber 1978; Young 1974)
Arctophila fulva-Menyanthes trifollata (Spetzman 1959)
I
Scirpus paludosus (HcConnlck and Pichon 1978; Netland 1971 i
Quimby 1972) .
n
'· ,./
Ol
CD
,'~
n \, ./ 0 (f)
're11mlnary Class lflcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
.evel. I
1. llerba-
ceous
con tl nued)
l.evel II Level Ill Level IV
A. Gramlnold (3) Wet g. Subarctic lowland sedge wet meadow
-is con1non In very wet areas on
floodplains. margins of ponds.
lakes, and sloughs and In depres-
sions In upland areasi reported In
western, Interior, Aleutians
herbaceous gramlnold
(continued) herbaceous
(contfnued)
Is lands. south-centra 1 , and south-
eastern Alaska.
Level V
Carex aquatllls-Equisetum arvense (Johnson and Vogel 1966;
Hurray 1974; Scott 1972)
Carex aquatl Jls-C. saxattlts (Hanson 1951; Pegau and
llemlng 1975)
Carex saxatllts-Calamagrostis canadensh/Ca111ergon
glganteum (Drury 1956)
Carex rostrata (Racine 1976. 1978)
Carex rostrata-C. aquatllls (Calmes 1976; Drury 1956;
Oachnowskt -Stokes 194 J; llultt\n 1966)
Carex rostrata-Ertophorum angustt follum-Ca lamagrost Is
canadensis (Racine 1978)
Carex rostrata-Erlophorum angustHoltum-Equlsetum fluviatile
(Porstld 1939)
Carex rostrata-Ertophorwn angusttfoltwn-ArctophHa fulva
(Porsild 1939)
Carex rostrata-C. saxatllts-Equlsetlun fluviatile (Porstld 1939)
Carex 1yngbyael (Byrd and WooHngton 1977; Griggs 1936;
llult~n 1960i Scheler) and Heyer 1977)
Carex lyngbyaet-C. aquattlts (Oachnowski-Stokes 194h Streveler
et al. 1973)
Carex lyngbyaei-C. sHchensls (Hetland 1971 i Quimby 1972)
Carex lyngbyaet-C. saxattlh (Streveler et al. 1973)
Carex lyngbyaei-Lathyrus palustrts (Batten et al. 1978;
Crow 1968)
Carex lyngbyaet-Cicuta mackenzlana (Crow 1968)
O>
<0
reltmlnary Classtftcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
evel 1
• l~rba
ceous
continued)
Level II
A. Gramlnotd
herbaceous
(con t1 nued)
Level Ill Level IV
(l) Wet g. Subarctic lowland sedge wet
gramtnotd meadow (conttnued)
herbaceous
(continued)
h. Subarctic lowland sedge-shrub wet
meadow -occupies upper parts of
of coastal marshes to southcentral
Alaska.
1. Subarctic lowland grass wet meadow
-1s situated In ecotone areas just
above coastal marshes and along
shores of rt vers, s toughs, and
lakes to Interior Alaska.
j. lla lofJhytic grass wet meadow -com-
monly occupies mud flats which are
Inundated by tides i dllparently
contnon along all Alaska coasts.
Level V
Carex lyngbyaet-C. plurHJora-C. anthoxanthea-C. macrochaeta
(Amundsen and Clebsch 1971; Shack1ette 1969)
Carex lyngbyaei-C. macrochaeta/Cladtna tmfexa (Amundsen and
C1ebsch 1971 i Everett 1971 i Shack1ette 969i Amundsen 1977)
Carex plurfflora-Deschampsta bertngensts (Crow 1977)
Deschampsta bertngensh-Carex lyngbyaet (McCartney 1976)
Carex sttchensts-Caltha palustrts (Thomas 1957)
Carex lyngbyaet-Saltx spp. (Scheterl and Meyer 1977)
Carex lyngbyaet,-Myrtca gale (Frohne 1951)
(_~:~:.:::.-_;:,o,-·
Deschampsta bertngensts (Batten et al. 1978i Seguin 1977)
Deschampsta beringensh-Juncus arcttcus (Batten et al. 1978)
Ca1amagrostts canadensis (Batten et a1. 1978i Racine 1976•
Young and Racine 1976) ·
Pucctnellta nutkaHnsts-Speryularta canadensis (Crow 1977>
Crow and Koppen 1977) .
Pucclne11ia nutkaHnsis-Suaeda depressa (Crow and Koppen 1977)
Pucctnel1ta nutka@nsts-Piantago martttma (Crow and l<oppen 1977)
Pucdnellia nutkal!nsts-Giaux martUma (Crow 1977i Crow
and Koppen 1977)
Pucctnellia nutkal!nsts-Fucus spp. (Crow 1977 0 Crow and
·Koppen 1977)
(J\
0
/'0 \ . 0 CD
n .. ~·y
PnH lmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level 1
3. llerba-
ceous
(continued)
Leve 1 II
A. Gramtnold
herbaceous
(continued)
Level Ill Level IV
(3) Wet j. tla lophytlc grass wet meadow
(continued) graminoid
herbaceous
(con tt nued)
k. llalophytic sedge wet meadow -
occurs along borders of brackish
ponds and drain~e ways, on
relatively well drained sites
which are frequently Inundated
by ttdes, and or tidal flats with
saturated soil• apparently
cou1non along all Alaska coasts.
0 n --,, /
Level V
Pucclnellla nutka@nsts-llonckenya peploldes (Crow 1977)
Pucclne111a nutkaf!nsis (Batten et al. 1978; Cooper 1931;
Streveler et al. 1973; Vince and Snow 197g)
PucctneHia grandls-Triglodtin maritimum (McCormick and Pichon
l978i Neiland 1971 i Quimby 1972)
Pucctnellla grand is-Plantago mart Uma-EI)1nus arenarius
(Nell and 1971)
Pucctnellta grandts (Batten et al. 1978; HcCorntlck and
Pichon 1978) .
Pucdnellia glabra-Plantago maritima (llanson 1951)
Pucctnellia borealts-Potentilla egedH (llanson 1953)
Puc cine Ilia phryganodes (Jefferies 1977)
Pucctne11ia phryganodes-Tri9lochln maritimum (Qu1naby
1972i Vince and Snow 1979)
Pucci nell fa phryganodes-Sa II corn Ia europaea (tlanson 1951)
Pucci nell ia phryganodes-Coch1earla offtcinalfs (Thanas 1951)
Carex subspathacea (llanson 1951, 1953)
Carex subspathacea-Puccinellia phryganodes (Bergman et al.
19771 Nodler et al. 1978i Webber. et al. 1978)
Carex ursina (Jefferies 1977)
Carex mackenzlei (Del Moral and Watson 1978)
Carex rarnenski I (Batten et a1. l978i llanson 1951; Jefferies 1977;
Net land 1971• Quimby 1972; Vince and Snow 1979)
Carex rarnenskti-Potenttlla eyedtt (George et al. 1977)
Carex lyngbyaei (Batten et al. 1978; Crow 1977, 1978; Crow and
Koppen 1977• Del Moral and Ho.~tson 1978 0 Frohne 1953•
llanson 1951 i Klein l965i McConnick and Pichon 1978•
Netland 1971i Racine and Anderson l979i Stephens and
Billings 1967; Streveler et al. l973i VInce and Snow 1979)
Ol _.
Preliminary Classlflcatfon for Alaska Vegetation (ConUnued)
level 1
l. Herba-
ceous
(continued)
Leva 1 II
A. Gramlnold
herbaceous
(continued)
n \ ;
Level Ill Level IV
(3) Wet k. lla lophytlc sedge wet meadow
(con tt nued) gramtnoid
herbaceous
(con t1 nued)
,I. Subarctic lowland sedge bog meadow
-develops on peat deposits. son•e-
ttmes forming quaking sedge mats.
tn filled Jakes and ponds and
depressions• Aleutian Islands,
Interior, western. south-central.
and southeastern Alaska.
Level V
Carex )yngbyaet-Trtglochtn maritimum (Crow 1968i Crow
and j(oppen 1977)
Carex lyngbyaet-Potentt11a egedit (Crow 1977)
Carex )yngbyael-£1eocharls palustrls (Crow 1968 1 1977)
Carex lyngbyaet-lltppuris tetrophylJa (Crow 19681
Carex lyngbyaet-Polygonum amphtbtum (Thomas 1957)
Carex plurif1ora (Vince and Snow 1979)
Carex plurtflora-C. lyngbyael (llanson 1951)
Carex plurlflora-Trtglochtn palustrls (Crow 1977)
Carex rartflora-Saltx ovalffolla-Empetrum ntgrum (llanson 1951)
Eleocharls palustrls (Del Moral and Watson 1978)
Ertophorum russeolum-E. scheuchzerl (WIJson and Underwood 1979)
Ertophorum spp. -Menyanthes trifoltata (Oachnowsld -Stokes 1941)
Erfophorum russ eo I um-Carex kellogg It -Ca lamagros tt s Cjlnadens ts
(Heusser 1960)
Erlophorum russeolum-Carex Jtmosa-Calamagrostts canadensis
(Cooper 1939 0 Streveler et al. 1973)
Carex ltmosa-C. chordorrhtza (Calmes 1976; Drury 1956)
Carex 1inosa-C. captlJarts (Viereck 1970)
Carex plurtflora (llult~n 1960)
Carex plurHJora-Erlophorum russeolum (Bank 1951)
Carex kel1oggii-C. canescens (Shacklette 1961)
0\
N
0 n
0 0
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level
3. llerba-
ceous
(con tt nued)
Level II
A. Graminotd
herbaceous
(continued)
Level Ill t.evel IV
(3) Wet m.
graminotd
herbaceous
(continued)
Subarctic lowland sedge-n~ss bog
n~adow -occurs on peat soils
occupying seepage slopes on the
Aleutian Is lands. on raIsed bogs.
slope bogs and early stages of
flat bogs in southeastern Alaska.
and on a variety peat-ftlled
depressIons and fl oa t1 ng bogs
in south-central and Interior
Alaska.
tTl J /
Level V
Carex aqua ttl ts-Henyanthes trtfolia ta/Sphagnum spp. (Scheterl
and Heyer 1977)
Carex nigrtcans-C. ltmosa/Sphagnum recurvum (Cooper 1942)
Carex Hmosa-C. chordorrhtza/Sphagnum spp. (Calmes 1976 0
Drury 1956 0 llanson 1953. 1950)
Carex lln~sa-Ertophorum russeolwn/Sphagnum fuscum-S.
paptllosum ( Dachnowsk i -Stokes 1 941)
Carex plurtflora-Cahmagrostts spp./Sphagnum spp. (Netland
unpub I. data • Thomas 195 7)
Carex chordorrhlza-Henyanthes trtfoltata/Sphagmun spp.
(Scheler) and Heyer 1977)
Carex canescens-C. mage Han lea/Sphagnum teres (Calmes 1976;
Drury 1956)
Eriophorum russeolum-Equisetum fluviatile/Sphagnum spp. (Racine
1978)
Erlophorun1 scheuchzert -Henyanthes trt fol lata/Sphagnum
spp. (lleusser 1960)
Trtchophorum caespttosum-Erlophorum spp.-Rhynchospora alba/
Sphagnum spp. (Dachnowskt-Stokes 194lt Streveler et al. 1973)
Rhynchospora alba-Drosera anglJca/Sphagnum ltndbergti-S.
tenellum (Netland 1971)
St1hagnum teres-S. magellantcum-Carex plurtflora-Ertophorum
russeolum (Shacklette 1969)
Sphagnum gi rgensohnit -Rhyttdladelphus trtquetrus-Vto1a
langsdorffii {Bank 1951)
Scapanla paludosa-Nardla scalarts-Marsupella emargtnata
(Shacklette 1969)
0\ w
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I
l. l~rba
ceous
(continued) .
Level II
A. Gramlnold
herbaceous
(continued)
en/
I,_
level Ill level IV
(J) Wet n. Sedge tussock-mixed shrub-Sphagnum
gramlnold bog -Is present In basins and
herbaceous valley bottoms In Interior Alaska
(continued) and low broad ridges In the lower
alpine zone of the Alaska Range&
peat depth is usually shallow
(up to 50 em). ·
Level V
Erlor1horum vagtnatum-Betula nana-Ledum palustre/Sphagnum
spp. (Dyrness and Grlgal 1979• llanson 1950i Hetland and
VIereck l977i Pegau and Hen1nlng 1972; VIereck 1966)
"•·~~.,...''1'1 ''•'··~···~ '"··•·.-,· ~" '••> '•II••<>< ''·'•••'•~.l•l'"f'~ ... >l.~•l'''·"•""'""'""''-~ .. •''·''-'•l""'M·•~-'Io· ..... ...,, ... ll~l'l>"l\\,~~IJI.'\~
0 (D
~
("\. \ /' 0 r1
' /
Preliminary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I
3. llerba-
ceous
(con tlnued)
Level II
B. forb
herbaceous
level Ill Level IV
(1) Dry forb a. Seral herbs -are especially C0111110n
herbaceous north of the Brooks Range but are
(herbaceous encountered In sma 11 areas through-
tundra) out most of the State.
b. Alpine herb-sedge (snowbed) -In-
cludes a wide variety of types In
mountainous areas throughout the
State.
Level V
EpOoblum lattfollum (Scott 1974i Webber et a1. 1978)
EpHoblum lattfoltum-Artemlsfa tflestf (Batten 1977i Bliss and
Cantlon 1957i Johnson et a1. 1966i Spetzman 1959)
Epiloblum lattfolium-Crepfs nana (Young 1974)
lledysarum a1plnum-Artemlsla arctlca (Webber et a1. 1978)
Cochlearla offtctnalls-Oxyrla dfgyna-Saxtfraga rivu1arfs
(Potter 1972)
Cochlearla offfclnalls-Phlppsta alglda-Stel1arfa humtfusa
(Webber 1978)
Wtl helms Ia physodes-Artemts Ia arcttca-Chrysanthemum
arctfcum (Thomas 1951)
Equisetum varlegalw11 {Young 1974)
Cetraria deltset-Oxyrta dtgyna-l<oentgla fs1andtca-Saxtfraga
rtvularts (Johnson et al. 1966)
Carex lachenall i-Oxyrta dlgyna-C1aytonta sarmentosa (Scott 1974)
Rhacomltrlum canescens-Oicranowelsfa cfrrata-Oxyrla dlgyna
(Scott 1974)
Anthella Julacea-Scapanta paludosa-Saxtfraga htrculus-
leptarrhena pyro1 tfolfa (Shacklette et a1. 1969)
Rubus arctlcus-Sedum rosea-Polygonum blstorta-Saxifraga
hlrcu1us (Racine and Young 1978)
0\
Ul
Preliminary C1asstflcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (ConUnued)
level
3. llerba-
ceous
(con tt nued)
level II
B. Forb
herbaceous
....
level Ill level IV
(1) Dry forb c. Alpine herbs -occur as srarse
herbaceous vegetation on talus and b ockflelds,
(herbaceous and In some we11-veyehted herba-
tundra) ceous meadows in alpine valleys.
(continued)
Level V
SaxHraga tdcusptdata-Draba caesla (Batten l977i Johnson
et al. 1969) · ·
Saxlfraya oppositifolta (Griggs 1936)
Saxlfraga opposttlfo11a-£piloblum latlfollum (VIereck 1963)
Saxtfraga tricuspidata-Artemlsla arcttca (Webber et al. 1978)
Potenttlla hyparctica-Cerastfum a1euttcum-Draba aleutica
(Shacklette et al. 1969)
ArtemisIa arc tlca-Potent Ilia hyparcttca-lllerochloe a lplna
(lleusser 1954, 1960) ·
Dtapens ta lappontca-Sax tfraga bronchia Hs-Sibba ldla
pr.ocumbens-Tr1 setUin spicatum (Griggs 1936)
Saxtfraga spp.-Festuca brachyphylla-Poa glauca-Luzuta
confusa-Htnuartla spp. (Spetzman 1959)
Oxyrta dlgyna-Saxtfraya punctata-Sedunt rosea-Prlmula
tschuktschorum (fries 1977)
luetkea pecttnata-Casstope stellerlana-Ciadonta spp.-
lycopodlum alplnum (llanson 1951)
Fauria crtsta-galii-Caltha bHiora (Klein 1965)
Achillea borealis-Arnica unalaschcensis-Claytonla stbtrtca-
Geum calthtfolium (Shacklette et al. I969J
Polygonum vtvtparum-Campanula laslocarpa-Prtmula cunetfo11a-
Cardamlne umbellata (Bank 1951)
\ _ .. : .. :·,· ~r~ .......... ~~..,~
a. a.
r () n ,.
. ' ~ ,/
r) \1. ~ n
"'···-"'
Jlre1tmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level I
3. llerba-
~eous
(continued)
Level II
D. forb
herbaceous
(continued)
Level Ill
(2) Hestc
forb
herbaceous
(subarctic
herbs)
. " :-.~::::~~~ .. -.,. ''·''-'t'
Level IV
a. Mixed herbs -occur on mesic slopes
and streambanks from south-central
Alaska to the Aleutian Islands.
b. ftreweed -occurs on disturbed
areas In south-central and south-
eastern Alaska.
c. Cow parsnip -occurs on moist to
wet areas, often along drainages,
In southeastern and south-central
Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.
d. ferns -are restricted to localized
areas In southeastern and south-
central Alaska and in the Aleutian
Is lands.
·. 1: .·~ •·.~ •• ., •. ,. '7""-'"" •·•·.•:··:< ,,.. • -· ., ~-:·: ••: ._,,r ·
level V
Acon1tum delphlnttollum-Aqullegta fonnosa-Sangutsorba
sttpulata-Geranltun erlanthum (Cooper 1942) ,
Streptopus amp lex tfoltus-Ltnnaea borea It s-Juncus arcttcus
(Dank 1951)
Platanthera spp.-frlttllarta camschatcensts-Polygonwn
vtvlparum-Erlgeron peregrlnus (Dank 1951)
r\ • I
}
Athyrltun ftltx-femlna-Carex lyngbyaet-tleracleum lanatum-
Geum macrophyllum (Shacklette et al. 1969)
Potenttlla egedtl-festuca rubra (del Moral and Watson 1978)
Epllobfum angusttto1tum
llerac1 eum lana tum-Veratrum vt rlde-Senecto trtangu I arts
(Cooper 1942)
llerac1eum Janatum-Athyrtum ttl tx-femtna-Angeltca luctda/
Claytonla stbtrtca/Cardamtne umbelJata-Coptfs trtfolta/
JUosses (Byrd and Wooltngton 1977)
Athyrtum ftlfx-femfna-Cystopterts fragHis-Botrychtum spp.-
Gymnocarptum dryopterh (Dank 1951)
1·~· '10'• -~ ~no.ec-•. ·:·:t•r"' ···.i<:'r''' "";u.:.l": .• , ...
··~·-,·~·,.,, ..... ,-." ........... _..,. ..... ....-
0\ . .....
~reltmlnary ClassH1catlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Leve I I
I. llerba-
ceous
[continued)
Level II
D. Forb
herbaceous
(continued)
Level Ill Level IV
(l) Wet forb a. Fresh herb marsh -ponds, sloughs.
herbaceous oxbow lakes In Interior, western,
(Wetland and south-central Alaska.
herbs)
b. Subarctic lowland herb wet n~adow
-ts found In seepage areas,
ephemera 1 poo 1s, pond margIns and
upper edges of coastal marshes on
the Aleutian Islands and 'In western
south-central, and southeastern
Alaska.
c. Subarctic lowland herb bog meadow
-co•••nonly forms floattng mats or
occurs along the margins of bog
ponds 111 Interior, south-central,
and southeastern Alaska; also
occurs In wet areas above streams
in the Aleutian Islands.
Level V
Equtsetum fluviatile (Racine 1976)
Equisetum fluvtatfle-Henyanthes trHoltata (Racine 1978,
tlu ltlm 1966)
Equisetum f1uvtatile-Po1yyonum amphtbtum (Young and
Racine 1976)
Equtsetum arvense (lfuiUn 1960)
Equtsetum arvense-Caltha palustrts (Frohne 1951)
Equtsetum arvense-E. varlegatum (Batten et al. 1978)
Equhetum arvense-E. variegatum/Phtlonotls fontana (Cooper 1939)
Caltha palustrts (Hurray 1974)
Caltha palustrls-Claytonta slbtrtca (Shacklette 1969)
Caltha palustrts-Spar9anlum hyperboreum (~•wndsen and Clebsch
1971 i Amundsen 1977)
Senecio congestus (Racine and Anderson 1979)
Parnass ta kotzebuei/Phtlonotis fontana (Shack Jette 1969)
Henyanthes trifoliata (Dachnowski-Stokes 1941i Griggs 1936i
Palmer 1942; Young and Racine 1976)
Henyanthes trlfoltata/Sphagnum spp. (Racine 1978; Scheler) and
Meyer 1977; Seguin 1917)
tl!ppurls vulgarts-Menyanthes trtfoltata (Cooper 1942)
Fritlllarla camschatcensls-Ertgeron peregrlnus (Bank 1951)
0\
DJ
0 0 ~.n~ ', I
'', ".I
0 n ' -':-......r..:J/-
()
\ -
c, '
Preliminary Classtflcation foa· Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level
3. llerba-
ceous
(continued)
·~
Level II
8. Forb
herbaceous
(con tt nued)
C. Bryold
Level Ill level IV
(3) Wet forb d. llalophyttc herb wet meadow -occurs
herbaceous on a variety of wet substrates
(Wetland (from clays to ga·ave1s) on beaches
herbs) and seaward parts of coastal
(continued) marshes along the entire Alaska
coastline.
(1) Mosses a. Wet moss -occurs on a wide
variety of wet sites mostly
undescribed.
b. Dry 1ooss -occurs In a wide
variety of rocky sites.
(2) Lichens a. Crustose lichen -occurs on
rocky sites.
b. foliose and frullcose lichen -
occurs on extremely harsh,
windblown rocky sites with little
or no soU develoJiment.
Level V
Trtglochln maritimum (frohne l953i Quimby 1972)
Trtglochln marlttmum-Potentt11a egedtt (llanson 1951i
VInce and Snow 1979) ·
Trlglochln marfttmum-Planta9o maritima (Batten et al.
1978; VInce and Snow 1979)
Trlglochln marltlmum-Puccine11ia spp. (Racine 1978)
Trtglochin palustrls-Atrlp1ex gmeHnft (Net.land 1971)
llonckenya peploldes (Batten et al. 1978; Crow 1977)
Mertensia marltlma-llonckenya peploldes (Amundsen and
Clebsch 1971 i Batten et a1. 1978; Britton 1967; Grlg9s 1936;
llanson 1953; Potter 1972; Spetzman 1959; Thomas 1951)
Cochlearla offlclnalls-Lathyrus marttlmus (Dank 1951)
Cochlearia offlclnalts-Pucclnellia phryganodes (Webber
et al. 1978)
llonckenya peplotdes-Seneclo pseudoarnlca (Shacklette
1969; Young 1971)
Coch1earta offlclnalls-fucus dlstichus (Batten et al. 1978)
Juncus arcticus (Del Moral and Watson 1978)
Potentllla egedli-festuca rubra (Del Moral and Watson 1978)
................... ,,, ·-· ..-1 .... ·•• ,-.,.,.,..-........... > ,.,. , •• , • ....... -.. ..... ~-,. ... ~· •• ,~ • • ........... ~.,. .... -~,<·~·~ ....... ,,. '······-· .,.,, ..... ..,., ............. -··· ·'
Gymnoco1ea acutlloba (Shacklette 1961)
Calypogeia-Cepha1ozia-Nardla (Shacklette 1961)
Pleuroclada albescens (Shacklette 1961)
Rhacomttrlum lanuglnosum-Dicranum spp. (Shaclette 1969)
Ol1gotrtchum hercynlcuut (Shacklette 1961)
Umblllcarla Sllp.-RhhocaqJOn spp. (Anderson 1974 0 llanson 1953 0.
Kessel and Schaller 1960 0 klein 1958 0 Pegau 1968; Rausch and
Rausch 1968; Webber et al. 1978)
C1adlna spp.-Cetrarla spp.-Stereocaulon sp. (Johnson et al. 1966)
..
....
lO
)reltmlnary Classification for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
.eve I
t. llerba-
ceous
[con tl nued)
Level II
D. Aquattc
herbaceous
( floa ling
and sub-
merged)
0
Level Ill Level IV
(1) Freshwater a.
aquatic
herbaceous
Pondllly -tn fairly large ponds
with mineral substrates. Widely
distributed throughout southeast
south-centra 1. Interior and west-
ern Alaska.
b. Con1110n mares ta II -In oxbows •
tundra ponds. s lugglsh sloughs
In southeastern, south-central,
western and nortiJern Alaska.
c. Aquatic buttercup -In shallow
ponds and flooded gravel pits In
south-central. western. and
northern Alaska.
d. ~urreed -In shaJlow ponds and
lakes In southeastern. south-
central. westem. and northern
Alaska.
level V
Nuphar polysepalw11 (Griggs 1936; Johnson and Vogel 1966;
Palmer 1942i Porstld 1939; Racine 1976; Ractne 1978)
Nuphar polysepalum-Ca11Hrtche verna (Streveler et a1. 1973)
Nuphar polysepalum-Sparganlum angusttfo1tum (Cooper 1942)
Nuphar polysepalum-lsol!tes murtcata (Shack Jette 1961)
Nuphar polysepalum-lllppurts vulgaris (lslelb and Kessel
1973; Drury 1956)
lltppurts vulgaris (Radne 1976)
lllppurls vu1garls-Potan10geton gramlneus (Webber et al. 1978)
Ill ppurls vu I garls-Sparyantum hyperboreum (Pors tid 1939i
llult~n 1966; Streveler et a1. 1973)
Ranunculus trtchophyllus-lltppurts vulgaris (Shacklette 1969)
Ranunculus trtchophyllus-Potamogeton natans (Seguin 1977)
Ranunculus hyperboreus-R. gmeltntt-R. trtchophyllus
(Johnson et al. 1966)
Spargantum hyperboreum (Johnson et a1. 1966; Hurray 1974;
Spetzman 1959> lleusser 1960)
Spargant unt hyperboreunt-Potamogeton perfo Ita tus (llu lt~n 1966)
Sparganlum hyperboreurn-Potantogeton pecttnatus (Young 1974;
Ract ne 1978)
Sparganlum hyperboreum-Ranunculus pallas11 (Thomas 1962;
Racine and Anderson 1979i Racine l976i Young 1974)
(J
.....,
0
(~
'\ j
() ()
\,':-. ,~ ........ -.)
Preliminary Class Htcatlon for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
level 1
3. llerba-
ceous
(con Unued)
U;vel II
D. Aquatic
herbaceous
(floating
and sub-
merged
•
level Ill Level IV
(l) freshwater e. WatennH foH -tn shallow. freslt-
afauat1c water ponds tn south-central and
herbaceous western Alaska.
(continued)
f. fresh pondweed -t n small ponds
and pools In Interior. western.
and southeastern Alaska.
level V
Myriophyllum sptcatum-Potamogeton perfol latus (Batten
et al. 1978i Dachnowskt-Stokes 1941 i Racine 1976•
. Young 1974)
Hyrtophy11um sptcatum-Utrlcularia vulgaris (Porstld l939i
Racine and Anderson 1979)
Potamogeton gramtneus-P. alplnus (PorsHd 1939)
Potamogeton berchtoldlt-P. alpfnus (Porslld 1939)
Potamogeton pecttnatus (Spetzman 1959)
Potan~geton filtformls-Rupp~a splra1is (Cooper 1939)
g. Water-starwort -shallow seasonal Subularla aquat1ca-Callttrlche anceps (Shacklette 1969)
pools wtth rock bottoms on Amchttka
Island.
h. Aquatic buttercup -In rivers and
streams In southeastern. south-
central and Aleutian Islands.
t. Cryptogam-little described. but
probably widely distributed In
shallow lakes and ponds through-
out Alaska .
Ranunculus hyperboreus-R. trlchophyllus (Griggs 1936)
fonttnalh neomextcana-Ranunculus trtchophyllus
(Shacklette 1969)
Ranunculus trtchophyllus (Streveler et a1. 1973)
Fontlnallls antlpyretlca (Worley 1972)
Sta1hula ceratttes-Scapanla paludosa (Shacklette 1969)
lsol!tes muricata-nanunculus reptans-Umosella aquatlca
(Schacklette 1969)
r0 . . }
'• -
'4 ....
Preliminary Classlflcatton for Alaska Vegetation (Continued)
Level I
3. llerba-
ceous
(continued)
level II
0. Aquattc
herbaceous
(floating
and sub-
merged)
()
level Ill
(2) Brackish
water
aquat1c
herbaceous
(3) Marine
aquatic
herbaceous
level IV
a. Four-leaf n~restall -river deltas,
ttdal flats. and coastal bays on
Arctic Coastal Plain and 1n south-
central and southeastet·n A1aska.
b. Brackish t)ondweed -occurs In
pennanent brackish ponds In south-
eastern and south-centn,l Alaska.
a. Eelgrass -on subtidal and low
Intertidal sites In bays, Inlets,
and lagoons from southeast Ahska
to the Seward Peninsula.
a. Marine algae -on subtidal and
Intertidal sites, often In exposed
rocky areas on western, south-
central, and southeastern coasts of
Alaska.
Level V
111ppurts tetra,,hy11a (Potter 1972)
tltppurts tetraphylla-Potamogeton pecttnatus (Batten et al.
tltppurls tetroj,hy11a-Potamogeton ft H fonnts-Hyrlophyllum
spicatum (Crow 1968i lsletb and Kessel 1973)
Utppurts tetrophy11a-Potamogeton fHifonnts (Oel Moral and
Watson HJ78; Thomas 1957)
Myriophyllum splcatum-Potamogeton ftlttonnls (Crow 1968)
Potamogeton fillfonnts (Crow 1968)
Potarnogeton spp. (Net land 1971 i PaInter 1942)
1978)
......
Zostera martna (Batten et al. 1978• Palmer l942i McRoy 1966)
Species of fucus. Glgart Ina, Porphyra. and Ulva are Important
(Batten et al. 1978i Oruchl 1970i Palmer 1942i Stevens 1965)
()
·,"'-· )·""
.rf\ i )
·I!. /
-..a
N