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CEGL001816 Carex nigricans Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Alpine Sedge Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: Habitat is depressions and seepy alluvial fans in subalpine heath. This association is somewhat drier than ~Salix commutata / Carex scopulorum Wet Shrubland (CEGL001189)$$ but intergrades with it. It also intergrades with ~Carex scopulorum Wet Meadow (CEGL001822)$$ and upland Phyllodoce empetriformis heath. Stands on alluvial fans occur below springs and seeps and may be laced with rivulets or irrigated by sheetflow. Trees are absent and shrubs are confined to hummocks. Salix commutata is the primary shrub but averages only 10% cover and does not exceed 20% cover. Kalmia microphylla is also present with about half as much constancy and cover. The herb layer has over 35 different species present, but most occur at low constancy and cover. Carex nigricans is present in all plots with an average cover of 33%, ranging from 5-95%. Other herbs with significant patches include Carex scopulorum, Ligusticum grayi, and Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii. About half of the remaining herbs are wet lawn species and half are drier meadow species. This is not a productive habitat and considerable bare ground may be present in plots.

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. Christy (2004) describes an Eleocharis quinqueflora phase: Habitat is depressions or seepy slopes in subalpine heath. Stands occur at the wet end of the Carex nigricans association, and contain more Eleocharis quinqueflora than Carex. The herb layer is sparse and considerable bare ground may be present.

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

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This association ranges from northern California to British Columbia (Christy 2004).

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, CA?, ID, MT, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low

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.c White Marsh-marigold - Black Alpine Sedge - Alpine Laurel Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-shrubland Group G520 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Alliance A3832 Black Alpine Sedge - Creeping Sibbaldia - American Globeflower Wet Meadow Alliance A3832 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001816 Black Alpine Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL001816 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Carex nigricans Herbaceous Vegetation (Crawford et al. 2009) [merges ~Carex nigricans - Erythronium montanum Wet Meadow (CEGL001817)$$ and ~Carex nigricans - Luetkea pectinata Wet Meadow (CEGL001819)$$ into a single, coastal Pacific Northwest association.]
= Carex nigricans (McCain and Christy 2005) [14 plots]
= Carex nigricans (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.128)]
= Carex nigricans Association (Henderson and Peter 1982) [(p.80)]
= Carex nigricans Association (Christy 2004)
= Carex nigricans Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Carex nigricans Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.172)]
= Carex nigricans Wet Meadow (DiPaolo et al. 2018)
Concept Author(s): J.A. Christy (2004)

Author of Description: J.A. Christy (2004)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-11-06
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