Print Report

CEGL001876 Carex illota Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sheep Sedge Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is found in small patches on lakeshores, near springs, and below snowpatches in the lower alpine and on mountain valley floors in the subalpine Rocky Mountains of Colorado and northwestern Wyoming. Sites are flat to gently sloping, stable and snow-covered in winter. Aspect is variable. Surface water is present for extended periods during the growing season but is absent by the end of the growing season in most years. Substrates vary from loess, with accumulations of organic matter, to moderately well-drained silty clay soils predominantly covered by litter and duff and rocks greater than 10 cm. Soil surface may have significant cover of bare soil, gravel, mosses, and lichens. The vegetation is characterized by a dense to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by Carex illota (alpine stands are often nearly a monoculture) with 20-70% cover (typically >50%). Antennaria umbrinella, Caltha leptosepala, Castilleja rhexiifolia, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Packera dimorphophylla, Primula parryi, Pedicularis groenlandica, Phleum alpinum, or Saxifraga odontoloma may have significant cover (1-30%), but often the cover of other graminoids and forbs is low ( usually less than 1%). The shrub Salix planifolia may also be present with less than 1% cover. The nonvascular layer is highly developed and almost equally as abundant as the vascular cover. Picea engelmannii seedlings (subalpine stands) and Vaccinium scoparium may be present within the dwarf-shrub stratum in trace quantities (<1% cover). Adjacent wetter sites may be dominated by Carex aquatilis, Carex scopulorum, Caltha leptosepala, or Eleocharis palustris. Adjacent upland vegetation is dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa, Salix planifolia, or Abies lasiocarpa - Pinus albicaulis forest (subalpine stands).

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although Carex illota occurs widely in the western U.S., there are few reports of Carex illota-dominated communities. More survey work is needed to fully document its extent and relationship with other sedge communities.

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

Floristics: This association is characterized by a dense to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by Carex illota (alpine stands are often nearly a monoculture) with 20-70% cover (typically >50%). Antennaria umbrinella, Caltha leptosepala, Castilleja rhexiifolia, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Packera dimorphophylla, Primula parryi, Pedicularis groenlandica, Phleum alpinum, or Saxifraga odontoloma may have significant cover (1-30%), but often the cover of other graminoids and forbs is low ( usually with less than 1%). Other associated species cover include Bromus sp., Carex aquatilis, Carex nigricans, Carex paysonis, Carex scopulorum, Carex utriculata, Carex vernacula, Juncus drummondii, Rhodiola rhodantha, and Sibbaldia procumbens. The shrub Salix planifolia may also be present with less than 1% cover. The nonvascular layer is highly developed and almost equally as abundant as the vascular cover. The moss Philonotis fontana var. pumila (= Philonotis tomentella) predominates in some stands, with Warnstorfia exannulata (= Drepanocladus exannulatus) constant and Sphagnum warnstorfii abundant (Komarkova 1979). Picea engelmannii seedlings (subalpine stands) and Vaccinium scoparium may be present within the dwarf-shrub stratum in trace quantities (<1% cover). Adjacent wetter sites may be dominated by Carex aquatilis, Carex scopulorum, Caltha leptosepala, or Eleocharis palustris. Adjacent upland vegetation is dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa, Salix planifolia, or Abies lasiocarpa - Pinus albicaulis forest (subalpine stands).

Dynamics:  This association usually occurs in pristine, undisturbed, stable hydric sites (Komarkova 1979). Carex illota is considered of moderate palatability to cattle and sheep (Hermann 1970, as cited by Carsey et al. 2003b). Grazing value of this type, however, is limited by short summer seasons and wet soil conditions. In the alpine, growing under saturated conditions makes this community very susceptible to trampling and damage by livestock and heavy equipment (Hansen et al. 1988b). However, because of the very wet conditions, livestock usually avoid these sites and graze drier sites (Manning and Padgett 1995, as cited in Carsey et al. 2003b).
Environmental Description:  This association is found in small patches on lakeshores, near springs, and below snowpatches in the lower alpine and on mountain valley floors in the subalpine Rocky Mountains of Colorado and northwestern Wyoming. Elevation ranges from 2919 to 3750 m (9578-12,300 feet). Sites are flat to gently sloping, stable and snow-covered in winter (Komarkova 1979). Aspect is variable. Surface water is present for extended periods during the growing season but is absent by the end of the growing season in most years. Substrates vary from loess, with accumulations of organic matter, to moderately well-drained silty clay soils predominantly covered by litter and duff and rocks greater than 10 cm. In some Colorado stands, average pH of the surface horizon is 5.2. The pH increases with depth, and percent clay and organic matter, moisture-retention capacity and available water decrease sharply with depth (Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). Soils are often Cryaquents and may have significant cover of bare soil, gravel, mosses, and lichens.
Geographic Range: This plant association has been described from the southern and central Rocky Mountains but is likely to be more widespread since Carex illota is fairly common in the western U.S. and Canada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, OR, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GUQ

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 A1424 Two-tipped Sedge - Hairlike Sedge - Sheep Sedge Wet Meadow Alliance A1424 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001876 Sheep Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL001876 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 illota (Campbell 1973) [described a similar hydric community in Oregon.]
< Carex illota Dominance Type (Hansen et al. 1988b) [described from Montana and may also include the species Salix farriae, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Eleocharis palustris.]
= Carex illota Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Carex illota Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Association Philonotido tomentellae - Caricetum illotae (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1979)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-05-05
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