Print Report

CEGL001905 Juncus drummondii - Carex spp. Alpine Snowbed

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Drummond''s Rush - Sedge species Alpine Snowbed

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant association occurs at subalpine and alpine elevations in the Rocky Mountains. In alpine areas they occur on solifluction terraces where soil moisture is abundant and snow duration is 8.5 to 11 months. In the lower elevations associations are found in lush wet meadows, seeps on slopes, and adjacent to streams and ponds. It is also found on rocky, inclined (2-10% slope), southeast-oriented sites which are subxeric to mesic. Substrates are variable and range from skeletal soils with coarse fragments to loamy soils. Cover of small and large rocks and boulders may be low to highly significant with up to 50% soil surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by Juncus drummondii and by species of Carex. Common graminoids include Carex nigricans, Carex pyrenaica in the alpine stands; Carex spectabilis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Hordeum brachyantherum, and Muhlenbergia richardsonis in the lower elevations. The forb layer is typically sparser than the graminoid layer but may codominate. Species may include Antennaria alpina, Caltha leptosepala, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Erigeron melanocephalus, Ligusticum filicinum, and Sibbaldia procumbens. Typical forbs from lower elevations include Polygonum bistortoides, Iris missouriensis, and Machaeranthera bigelovii. In the more xeric stands a moss layer dominated by Polytrichum piliferum can be present.

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: This short alpine or subalpine herbaceous association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by Juncus drummondii and by species of Carex. Common graminoids include Carex nigricans, Carex pyrenaica in the alpine stands (Willard 1963, Komarkova 1976), or Carex spectabilis (= Carex tolmiei) (Schlatterer 1972), Deschampsia cespitosa, Hordeum brachyantherum, and Muhlenbergia richardsonis in the lower elevations (Shepherd 1975). The forb layer is typically sparser than the graminoid layer but may codominate. Species may include Antennaria alpina, Caltha leptosepala, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Erigeron melanocephalus, Ligusticum filicinum, and Sibbaldia procumbens (Willard 1963, Komarkova 1976). Typical forbs from lower elevations include Polygonum bistortoides, Iris missouriensis, and Machaeranthera bigelovii (= Aster rubrotinctus) (Schlatterer 1972, Shepherd 1975). Komarkova (1976) states that Polytrichum piliferum can dominate the moss layer in the more xeric stands.

Dynamics:  This snowbed association has a slightly longer snow-free period than communities dominated or codominated by Carex pyrenaica and Sibbaldia procumbens (Willard 1963, Scott-Williams 1965, Komarkova 1979). This association also occurs on lake terraces and seeps.
Environmental Description:  This plant association occurs at subalpine and alpine elevations in the Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 2520-3420 m (8000-8800 feet). In alpine areas they occur on solifluction terraces where soil moisture is abundant and snow duration is 8.5 months (Scott-Williams 1965) to 11 months (Marr and Willard 1970). In the lower elevations associations are found in lush wet meadows, seeps on slopes, and adjacent to streams and ponds (Hartman and Rottman 1985, 1987, 1988). Komarkova (1976) found the Juncus drummondii association on rocky, inclined (2-10% slope), southeast-oriented sites which are subxeric to mesic. Substrates are variable and range from skeletal soils with coarse fragments to loamy soils. The parent material is variable and includes igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks (Willard 1963, Hartman and Rottman 1985, 1987, 1988). Cover of small and large rocks and boulders may be low to highly significant with up to 50% soil surface. Average pH is acidic, 4.9 (Komarkova 1976). Willard (1963) states that the soil becomes dry and hard by fall if no summer precipitation occurs.
Geographic Range: This plant association occurs at subalpine and alpine elevations in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Idaho.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class C04 4
Subclass 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass S12 4.B
Formation 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation F037 4.B.1
Division 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division D043 4.B.1.Nb
Macrogroup 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup M099 4.B.1.Nb.2
Group 4.B.1.Nb.2.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group G314 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Alliance A3172 Drummond''s Rush - Parry''s Rush - Creeping Sibbaldia Rocky Mountain Alpine Snowbed Alliance A3172 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001905 Drummond''s Rush - Sedge species Alpine Snowbed CEGL001905 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juncus drummondii - Carex spp. - Iris missouriensis Habitat Type (Shepherd 1975) [Habitat Type 26 from Intermediate Range in east of North Pass in Saguache County, Colorado.]
= Juncus drummondii - Carex spp. Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Juncus drummondii Community (Scott-Williams 1965) [solifluction terraces with abundant soil moisture. Snow duration is 8.5-9.5 months.]
= Juncus drummondii Plant Association (Schlatterer 1972) [one of two Alpine Dryland Types from Idaho. Codominated by Carex tolmiei which does not occur in Colorado.]
= Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963)
= Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1976)
= Association Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Willard 1979)
= Association: Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova and Webber 1978)
= Association: Juncetum drummondii (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1979)
= Drummond''s Rush Type (Marr and Willard 1970) [solifluction terraces with abundant soil moisture. Snow duration is 8.5-11 months.]
= Moist Meadow Community (Hartman and Rottman 1987) [flats areas in alpine moist meadow of West Elk Mountains, Colorado, dominated by Juncus drummondii and Carex nigricans.]
= Stand Type IV (Osburn 1963)
< Wet Meadow Community (Hartman and Rottman 1985) [reported from timberline seep in Mosquito Range, Colorado; stand dominated by Juncus drummondii and Carex nelsonii.]
< Wet Meadow Community (Hartman and Rottman 1988) [reported from around alpine ponds in Sawatch Range, Colorado; Juncus drummondii among list of dominants that include Carex spp. and Caltha leptosepala.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-01-04
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