Component Projects-Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map

Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map

Philip Smith Mountains, Brooks Range, Alaska

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Nonacidic mountain complex, Philip Smith Mountains, Brooks Range, Alaska. (Photo: D.A. Walker.)

Vegetation Units

B4e.1 Nonacidic mountain complexes (Brooks Range)

Prostrate dwarf-shrub, sedge communities (comm. 72) in complex with snowbeds (comm. 79, 80), talus slopes and meadow communities, on dry limestone slopes. Brooks Range, Subzone E.

Plant Communities:

Community 72:

Caricetum scirpoideo-rupestris, Assoc.30, limestone slopes (Cooper 1986) (Arrigetch Mtns.).


Prostrate dwarf shrub: Dryas octopetala, Saxifraga oppositifolia;
Sedge: Carex scirpoidea, Carex rupestris;
Lichen: Thamnolia subuliformis, Dactylina beringica, Vulpicida tilesii, Flavocetraria nivalis, Flavocetraria cucullata, Cetraria islandica;
Moss: Ditrichum flexicaule

Community 79:

Dryas integrifolia-Cassiope tetragona comm., early-melting nonacidic snow beds (Walker et al. 1994) (Toolik Lake).


Hemiprostrate dwarf shrub: Cassiope tetragona; Prostrate dwarf shrub: Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, S. arctica;
Sedge: Carex scirpoidea;
Forb: Geum glaciale, Pedicularis lanata, Pedicularis oederi, Parrya nudicaulis, Papaver macounii spp. discolor, Silene acaulis, Bistorta plumosa;
Moss: Rhytidium rugosum, Aulacomnium turgidum, Tomentypnum nitens, Ptilidium ciliare;
Lichen: Flavocetraria cucullata, Flavocetraria nivalis, Cladonia amaurocraea, Dactylina arctica

Community 80:

Salix rotundifolia-Saxifraga nivalis comm., late-melting snow beds (Walker et al. 1989) (Toolik Lake).


Prostrate dwarf shrub: Salix rotundifolia;
Sedge: Carex aquatilis, Eriophorum angustifolium ssp. triste;
Horsetail: Equisetum scirpoides, Equisetum variegatum;
Moss: Distichium capillaceum, Ditrichum flexicaule