Print Report

CEGL001825 Carex simulata Fen

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Analogue Sedge Fen

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: In Oregon, habitat is montane fens. This association is better known from east of the Cascade Range and is not common in northwestern Oregon. The hydroperiod for the plots reported here is much wetter than the norm for this association, and they must be considered at the wet end of the spectrum. No trees or shrubs are present, and only ten species are reported from the herb layer. Stands may have considerable expanses of water 1-3 inches deep, mud, or Sphagnum between sparsely distributed plants. Carex simulata is the most abundant herb, ranging from 25-65% cover and averaging 47%. Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis and Deschampsia cespitosa occur in about half the plots but with very low cover. Carex utriculata may have patches with up to 30% cover, indicating some conditions similar to reed swamp. Other species occur mostly in trace amounts. Stands may intergrade with the Eleocharis quinqueflora and Carex limosa associations that often have similar sparse vegetation and sloppy substrate. Because it is so wet, this expression probably should be separated from other concepts of this Carex simulata association, but more study is needed.

In Colorado, Carex simulata is found only on quaking fens. It is commonly found with many other sedge species, but its presence is associated with deep organic soils and a perennially high water table.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. Stands dominated by Carex aquatilis, Carex nebrascensis, or Carex utriculata with no Carex simulata present would not belong to this association.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Grasses and grass-like plants cover the ground entirely (90-100%), with Carex simulata (10-30%), Carex aquatilis (up to 50%), Carex utriculata (up to 45%), Carex nebrascensis (up to 1%), Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus) (up to 28%), and others. A variety of forbs may be inconspicuously present (total cover >10%). Shrub cover is usually absent, but if present, then stunted in height. Shrub species that can be present include Salix geyeriana, Salix monticola, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (Kittel et al. 1999a).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  In Colorado, this community is located on saturated organic soils in moderate to wide valleys. The surface of the ground is hummocky, and "quakes" when walked or jumped on. Streams are low gradient and highly sinuous (Rosgen''s Channel Type: E4) to broader, slightly more steep streams (Rosgen''s Channel Type: B3) (Rosgen 1996). Soils are deep, dark brown to black, 100% organic peat, and saturated to the surface. Water tables in two sampled pits rose to 45 and 9 cm of the surface, respectively (Kittel et al. 1999a).
Geographic Range: This association is known from Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, and may possibly occur in California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G521 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3806 Clustered Field Sedge - Mountain Sedge - Few-flower Spikerush Wet Meadow Alliance A3806 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001825 Analogue Sedge Fen CEGL001825 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex simulata - Carex interior Community Type (Evans 1989a) [(p.35)]
= Carex simulata Association (Nachlinger 1985)
= Carex simulata Community Type (Tuhy and Jensen 1982)
= Carex simulata Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Carex simulata Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a)
= Carex simulata Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1989)
= Carex simulata (Kittel et al. 1999b)
? Carex simulata (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.190.01]
= Carex simulata (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [(p.200)]
= Carex simulata (McCain and Christy 2005) [5 plots]
= Carex simulata (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.106)]
= Carex simulata Association (Christy 2004)
= Carex simulata Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Carex simulata Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Carex simulata Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Carex simulata Plant Association (Potter 2005)
= Analogue sedge (Carex simulata) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
< Mesic Graminoid - Oxyaquic Haplocryoll - Drainageway Ecological Type (Weixelman et al. 1999) [dominated by CANE, POSC, CAPR, CAAT, or CASI]
? Water Sedge-Analogue Sedge CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
Concept Author(s): Kittel et al. (1999a)

Author of Description: Kittel et al. (1999a) and J.A. Christy (2004)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-30-06
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