Print Report

CEGL001402 Kalmia microphylla / Carex nigricans Wet Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alpine Laurel / Black Alpine Sedge Wet Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association may be widespread throughout the western United States and western Canada. It is currently known from California, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Colorado, and British Columbia. This is a dwarf-shrubland association found in moist subalpine and alpine meadows, snowbeds, lake margins, and other low-gradient depressions of the northern Rockies and Pacific ranges from 1585 to 3965 m (5200-13,000 feet) in elevation. These habitats are cold and snowy, with snowfields lingering into June or later. Soils are frigid, derived from bedrock or aggraded alluvium, usually high in organic matter, and strongly acidic. These communities are often associated with hummocky topography, which provides a juxtaposition of saturated and somewhat drained microhabitats. Water tables are often at or near the surface for much of the growing season, and organic decomposition is slow. This association is typified by a dominant dwarf-shrub layer of Kalmia microphylla. Other ericaceous shrubs, including Phyllodoce empetriformis, Phyllodoce breweri, Ledum glandulosum (not in Colorado), Gaultheria humifusa, and Vaccinium spp., are common associates. Dwarf Salix spp. may also be present, such as Salix farriae or Salix arctica. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by graminoids, of which Carices usually predominate. Carex nigricans is the dominant species, with cover ranging from 10% to well over 50% or more. Carex scopulorum, Carex spectabilis, Carex aquatilis, Carex norvegica ssp. stevenii, Carex nova, Carex canescens, and Carex pellita are especially common. Grasses, such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Danthonia intermedia, and Phleum alpinum, may also be locally abundant. Mesic to hygric forbs are usually scattered through the graminoid matrix, including Symphyotrichum spathulatum, Oreostemma alpigenum, Pedicularis groenlandica, Caltha leptosepala, Parnassia fimbriata, Trollius laxus, Veronica spp., Gentiana spp., Dodecatheon spp., and Epilobium spp. The moss layer is often virtually continuous but can also be only a few percent.

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. If it were renamed as a dominance type, the species would include Kalmia microphylla and Salix farriae. The dwarf-shrubland recognized here (CEGL001402) keys on the dependably chionophilous nature of Carex nigricans and the recognition that Kalmia microphylla is strongly associated with hygric to hydric sites with significant peat accumulations.

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

Floristics: This association is typified by a dominant dwarf-shrub layer of Kalmia microphylla. Other ericaceous shrubs, including Phyllodoce empetriformis, Phyllodoce breweri, Ledum glandulosum, and Vaccinium spp., are common associates. Dwarf Salix spp. may also be present, such as Salix farriae or Salix arctica. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by graminoids, of which Carices usually predominate. Carex nigricans is the dominant species, with cover ranging from 10% to well over 50% or more. Carex scopulorum, Carex spectabilis, Carex aquatilis, Carex canescens, and Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa) are especially common. Grasses, such as Deschampsia cespitosa, Danthonia intermedia, and Phleum alpinum, may also be locally abundant. Mesic to hygric forbs are usually scattered through the graminoid matrix including Symphyotrichum spathulatum (= Aster occidentalis), Oreostemma alpigenum (= Aster alpigenus), Pedicularis groenlandica, Caltha leptosepala, Parnassia fimbriata, Trollius laxus, Veronica spp., Gentiana spp., Dodecatheon spp., and Epilobium spp. The moss layer is often virtually continuous but can also be only a few percent.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Vegetation within this association is found in moist subalpine and alpine meadows, snowbeds, lake margins, and other low-gradient depressions of the Northern to Southern Rockies and Pacific ranges from 5200-13,000 feet in elevation. These habitats are cold and snowy, with snowfields lingering into June or later. Soils are frigid, derived from bedrock or aggraded alluvium, usually high in organic matter, and strongly acidic. These communities are often associated with hummocky topography, which provides a juxtaposition of saturated and somewhat drained microhabitats. Water tables are often at or near the surface for much of the growing season, and organic decomposition is slow.
Geographic Range: This association may be widespread throughout the western United States and western Canada. It is currently known from California, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Colorado, and British Columbia.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB?, BC?, CA, CO, MT, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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 A3831 Alpine Laurel - Western Moss-heather - Drummond''s Mountain-avens Wet Dwarf-shrubland Alliance A3831 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001402 Alpine Laurel / Black Alpine Sedge Wet Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001402 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: >< Aulacomnio - Kalmietum microphyllae Association (Damm 2001)
= Carex nigricans - Kalmia polifolia Herbaceous Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Carex nigricans - Kalmia polifolia Herbaceous Vegetation [Provisional] (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
>< Carex nigricans (Showy sedge sod) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.164.00]
= Kalmia microphylla / Carex nigricans (Wooten and Morrison 1995) [(p.109)]
= Kalmia microphylla / Carex nigricans Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Kalmia microphylla-Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland (Crawford et al. 2009)
< Kalmia microphylla (Alpine laurel heath) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.406.00]
= Kalmia polifolia / Aster alpigenus association (Hamann 1972)
= Salix farriae / Carex nigricans Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.102)]
>< Sibbaldio procumbentis - Phyllodocetum glanduliflorae Association (Damm 2001)
= Blackish Sedge - Mountain Laurel Association (Taylor 1984)
Concept Author(s): T. Keeler-Wolf

Author of Description: T. Keeler-Wolf and M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-12-18
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