Print Report

CEGL001861 Carex rupestris - Geum rossii Alpine Turf

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Curly Sedge - Ross'' Avens Alpine Turf

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This southern Rocky Mountain association is found in upland subalpine and alpine environments along the Continental Divide and on the western slope of Colorado. Sites are typically dry meadows and turf in the middle to lower alpine and around treeline, often in transition areas with fell-fields. Stands often occur near the tops of ridges and convex slopes that are moderate to moderately steep (10-50%) and are moderately exposed to prevailing winds that keep sites snow free most of the winter. Aspects are variable, but sites tend to be non-northerly. Soils are moderately shallow, well-drained gravelly loams. Soils are relatively well-developed for the alpine, with several centimeters of organic material usually present. There is often low to moderate cover of large and small surface rocks and bare ground, especially in transition areas with fell-fields. Vegetation of this alpine turf association is characterized by a moderately dense (>50% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Carex rupestris and Geum rossii. Trifolium dasyphyllum is typically present with low cover (half the cover of Geum rossii) or absent. Other important species with lower cover include graminoids Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex scopulorum, Danthonia intermedia, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola, Trisetum spicatum, and forbs Artemisia scopulorum, Campanula rotundifolia, Erigeron pinnatisectus, Tonestus pygmaeus, Tetraneuris grandiflora, Minuartia obtusiloba, Oreoxis alpina, Paronychia pulvinata, Saxifraga rhomboidea, Sedum stenopetalum, Silene acaulis, and Trifolium nanum. Cushion plants are more evident in this turf.

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: Vegetation of this alpine turf association is characterized by a moderately dense (>50% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Carex rupestris and Geum rossii. Trifolium dasyphyllum is typically present with low cover (half cover of Geum rossii) or absent. Other important species with lower cover include graminoids Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex scopulorum, Danthonia intermedia, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola (= Poa rupicola), Trisetum spicatum, and forbs, Artemisia scopulorum, Campanula rotundifolia, Erigeron pinnatisectus, Tonestus pygmaeus (= Haplopappus pygmaeus), Tetraneuris grandiflora (= Hymenoxys grandiflora), Minuartia obtusiloba (= Arenaria obtusiloba), Oreoxis alpina, Paronychia pulvinata, Saxifraga rhomboidea, Sedum stenopetalum, Silene acaulis, and Trifolium nanum. Cushion plants are more evident in this turf.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This southern Rocky Mountain association is found in upland subalpine and alpine environments between the elevations of 3450 and 4000 m (11,300-13,130 feet) along the Continental Divide and on the western slope of Colorado. Sites are typically dry meadows and turf in the middle to lower alpine and around treeline, often in transition areas with fell-fields. Stands often occur near the tops of ridges and convex slopes that are moderate to moderately steep (10-50%) and are moderately exposed to prevailing winds that keep sites snow free most of the winter. Aspects are variable, but sites tend to be non-northerly. Soils are moderately shallow, well-drained gravelly loams. Soils are relatively well-developed for the alpine, with several centimeters of organic material usually present. These are Typic Cryoborolls with pH 5.2-6.1. Parent materials are often granite and schist. There is often low to moderate cover of large and small surface rocks and bare ground, especially in transition areas with fell-fields. Sites are less mesic and soils coarser and less developed than Kobresia myosuroides-dominated alpine turf.
Geographic Range: This dry alpine turf association is found in upland subalpine and alpine environments along the Continental Divide and on the western slope in southern Rocky Mountains and in the Uinta Mountains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, UT, WY


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 A3155 Blackroot Sedge - Curly Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf Alliance A3155 4.B.1.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001861 Curly Sedge - Ross'' Avens Alpine Turf CEGL001861 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: = Carex rupestris - Geum rossii (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Carex rupestris - Geum rossii Community (Lewis 1970)
= Carex rupestris - Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Carex rupestris - Geum rossii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
< Carex rupestris ssp. drummondiana series (Komarkova 1986) [Geum rossii not as important in this study area.]
< Carex rupestris Alpine Turf Ecosystems (Marr and Willard 1970) [one of 3 ecosystems (others types are Kobresia myosuroides- or Carex elynoides-dominated).]
< Carex rupestris Turf Ecosystem (Willard and Marr 1970)
= Carex rupestris plant community (Scott-Williams 1965) [community of intermediate soils between fellfield and Kobresia myosuroides turf.]
< Carex-Campanula-Coryphium alpine meadow formation (Clements 1904)
< Drosacetum carinatae: The South-slope Association (Kiener 1967) [codominated by Carex rupestris. This type is primarily a fellfield but may include this association.]
>< Potentillo - Caricetum rupestris (Willard 1979)
>< Potentillo - Caricetum rupestris (Willard 1963) (Komarkova 1976)
>< Trifolium dasyphyllum - Silene acaulis; dry fellfield (May 1973) [2 plots (#21, 22) are codominated by Carex rupestris.]
< Alpine Meadow (Clements and Goldsmith 1924)
< Alpine Tundra (Whitfield 1933) [reports Carex rupestris as an important subdominant in disturbed areas.]
< Alpine Turf Sites (Paulsen 1960) [Paulsen lists a Festuca thurberi-dominated grassland.]
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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