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CEGL001998 Valeriana sitchensis - Veratrum viride Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sitka Valerian - Green False Hellebore Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a lush subalpine meadow association of the northern Cascades (Washington) and northern Rockies (Montana and Alberta). It is a small-patch type best described as a forb meadow associated with mesic sites of the upper subalpine to lower alpine zones; the observed elevation range in the Cascades was 1738 to 2150 m (5700-7050 feet), while in the northern Rocky Mountains it has been documented from 1555 to 2270 m (5100-7445 feet). In the Cascades it occurs on southerly exposures of moderate to steep, well-drained slopes. In the northern Rockies it occupies a wider variety of environments, including steep northeast slopes and glacio-fluvial flats and swales that lose their snow cover relatively late in the season. Substrates in the Rockies range from glacial till and drift to scree slopes, almost all of which are composed of noncalcareous sedimentary rock. These are lush, tall-forb communities, often highly diverse. The Cascadian and Rocky Mountain expressions of this type are dominated by Valeriana sitchensis and usually Veratrum viride, but the Cascadian has Lupinus latifolius and Carex spectabilis as major associates, and the Rocky Mountain examples have quite a different suite of associated forbs, none of which attain more than modest cover. The most constant forbs of the northern Rockies are Angelica arguta, Heracleum maximum, Hypericum scouleri, Chamerion angustifolium, Erigeron peregrinus, Erythronium grandiflorum, and Senecio triangularis. In the Cascades, Heracleum maximum, Erythronium spp., and Chamerion angustifolium are also common, along with Mitella breweri, Polygonum bistortoides, and Pulsatilla occidentalis. A number of forbs with less demanding moisture requirements, such as Thalictrum occidentale and Potentilla diversifolia, also regularly occur. Graminoids are a minor component of these sites with Poa alpina, Phleum alpinum, Juncus drummondii, Luzula parviflora, and Carex microptera having the greatest constancy but only infrequently exceed a few percent cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These are lush, tall-forb communities, often highly diverse. The Cascadian and Rocky Mountain expressions of this type are dominated by Valeriana sitchensis and usually Veratrum viride, but the Cascadian has Lupinus latifolius and Carex spectabilis as major associates, and the Rocky Mountain examples have quite a different suite of associated forbs, none of which attain more than modest cover. The most constant forbs of the northern Rockies that testify to the relative mesophytic character of these sites are Angelica arguta, Heracleum maximum, Hypericum scouleri (= Hypericum formosum), Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Erigeron peregrinus, Erythronium grandiflorum, and Senecio triangularis. In the Cascades, Heracleum maximum, Erythronium spp., and Chamerion angustifolium are also common, along with Mitella breweri, Polygonum bistortoides, and Pulsatilla occidentalis (= Anemone occidentalis). In general the forenamed forbs seldom exceed 5% cover. A number of forbs with less demanding moisture requirements, such as Thalictrum occidentale and Potentilla diversifolia, also regularly occur. Graminoids are a minor component of these sites with Poa alpina, Phleum alpinum, Juncus drummondii, Luzula parviflora, and Carex microptera having the greatest constancy but only infrequently exceed a few percent cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association has been described from the Cascades and Mount Rainier of Washington, Garibaldi Park in British Columbia''s Cascades, and Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park of the northern or Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is a small-patch type best described as a forb meadow associated with mesic sites of the upper subalpine to lower alpine zones; the observed elevation range in the Cascades was 1738 to 2150 m (5700-7050 feet), while in the northern Rocky Mountains it has been documented from 1555 to 2270 m (5100-7445 feet). In the Cascades it occurs on southerly exposures of moderate to steep, well-drained slopes. Franklin and Dyrness (1973) report these as being fresh slopes, frequently subject to recurring avalanches. In the northern Rockies it occupies a wider variety of environments, including steep northeast slopes and glacio-fluvial flats and swales that lose their snow cover relatively late in the season (sites of Cascades may be snow-free relatively early, in late May-early June). Substrates in the Rockies range from glacial till and drift to scree slopes, almost all of which are composed of noncalcareous sedimentary rock.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from the Cascades and Mount Rainier of Washington, Garibaldi Park in British Columbia''s Cascades and Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park of the northern and Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, BC, MT, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683307
Confidence Level: High
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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup | M168 | 2.B.2.Nf.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group | G271 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Alliance | A3948 Sitka Valerian - Hitchcock''s Smooth Woodrush - Common Beargrass Subalpine Mesic Meadow Alliance | A3948 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001998 Sitka Valerian - Green False Hellebore Meadow | CEGL001998 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Aquilegio flavescentis - Senecietum megacephali Association (Damm 2001)
> Fragaria virginiana - Carex haydeniana lush subalpine meadow community (Damm 2001)
>< Leprario caesioalbae - Salicetum arcticae Association (Damm 2001)
> Lupinus latifolius Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
>< Phacelia hastata - Penstemon ellipticus basal community (Damm 2001)
= Valeriana sitchensis-Veratrum viride Herbaceous Vegetation (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Veratrum viride/Valeriana sitchensis Association (Franklin and Dyrness 1973)
= Veratrum viride/Valeriana sitchensis Association (Hamann 1972)
> Fragaria virginiana - Carex haydeniana lush subalpine meadow community (Damm 2001)
>< Leprario caesioalbae - Salicetum arcticae Association (Damm 2001)
> Lupinus latifolius Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
>< Phacelia hastata - Penstemon ellipticus basal community (Damm 2001)
= Valeriana sitchensis-Veratrum viride Herbaceous Vegetation (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Veratrum viride/Valeriana sitchensis Association (Franklin and Dyrness 1973)
= Veratrum viride/Valeriana sitchensis Association (Hamann 1972)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- Damm, C. 2001. A phytosociological study of Glacier National Park, Montana, U. S. A., with notes on the syntaxonomy of alpine vegetation in western North America. Dissertation from Georg - August University, Germany. 297 pp. plus appendices.
- Douglas, G. W., and L. C. Bliss. 1977. Alpine and high subalpine plant communities of the North Cascades Range, Washington and British Columbia. Ecological Monographs 47:113-150.
- Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. General Technical Report PNW-8. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 417 pp.
- Hamann, M. J. 1972. Vegetation of alpine and subalpine meadows of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Unpublished thesis, Washington State University, Pullman. 120 pp.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.