ALPINE GRASS LANDS AND SHRUBLANDS (105)

Geographic Distribution. This cover type comprises depicts the vegetated areas above upper treeline in the highest mountains throughout Oregon.

Structure and Appearance. Dwarf shrubs dominate this cover type., and t Thickly compacted Carex species that form a grass-like cover called sedge turf. Widely scattered, low stature conifers are also common in this type.

Composition. Shrub layer is dominated by several prostrate shrubs; red mountain heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis), green mountain heather (P. glanduliflora), white mountain heather (Cassiope mertensiana), or crowberry (Empetrum nigrum). Other dwarf shrubs found in this cover type include cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa), juniper (Juniperus communis), bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and willows (Salix spp.).

Alpine sedge turf usually contains one or more of the following: alpine black sedge (Carex nigricans), capitate sedge (C. capitata), dunhead sedge (C. phaeocephala), or showy sedge (C. spectabilis).

Landscape Setting. This cover type always occurs above timberline. Typically this type occurs as a mosaic with alpine parkland and alpine fell and snowfields. These types usually are not very extensive and therefore not mapped.