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CEGL001812 Carex nardina Scree Alpine Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Spike Sedge Scree Alpine Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occupies windy, rocky, high-alpine slopes that are free of snow by early May. Slopes range from moderate to steep, and elevations vary depending on the location. In Washington, stands occur at around 2100 m (6900 feet); in Wyoming, the documented stand is at 3254 m (10,676 feet), and the stands in Colorado are located around 3800 m (12,467 feet). Soils are well-drained and gravelly with high rock cover. Total vegetation cover is around 40%. The community is strongly dominated by the tufted sedge Carex nardina. Other graminoids present include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Festuca brachyphylla, and Carex albonigra. The forb element is variable depending on location; in the northwestern part of the range (Washington), Minuartia obtusiloba and Smelowskia ovalis are the most common associated species. In the middle part of the range (Wyoming), Silene acaulis, Astragalus kentrophyta, and Phlox pulvinata are common. In Colorado, Silene acaulis, Erigeron grandiflorus, and Besseya alpina are the most constant species. The moss layer is often high in cover and diversity.
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 sedge turf association is characteristic of dry, rocky alpine slopes. Total vegetation cover is around 40%, because most of the ground surface is covered by rock. The community is strongly dominated by the tufted sedge Carex nardina. Other graminoids present include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Festuca brachyphylla, and Carex albonigra. The forb element is variable depending on location; in the northwestern part of the range (Washington), Minuartia obtusiloba and Smelowskia ovalis are the most common associated species. In the middle part of the range (Wyoming), Silene acaulis, Astragalus kentrophyta, and Phlox pulvinata are common. In Colorado, Silene acaulis, Erigeron grandiflorus, and Besseya alpina are the most constant species. The moss layer is often high in cover and diversity.
Dynamics: This association may be restricted to sites with calcareous soils (Komarkova 1979).
Environmental Description: This association occupies dry, rocky alpine slopes. Stands tend to occur on upper slopes where little snow accumulates and what snow does collect melts by early May (Douglas and Bliss 1977). Slopes range from moderate to steep, and elevations vary depending on the location. In Washington, stands occur at around 2100 m (6900 feet); in Wyoming, the documented stand is at 3254 m (10,676 feet), and the stands in Colorado are located around 3800 m (12,467 feet). Soils are well-drained and gravelly with high rock cover.
Geographic Range: This association has been reported from the north Cascade Range in Washington, the Grand Teton Mountains of northwestern Wyoming, and several mountain ranges in Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686979
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A3154 Twin-flower Sandwort - Rocky Mountain Nailwort - Moss Campion Alpine Fell-field Alliance | A3154 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001812 Spike Sedge Scree Alpine Meadow | CEGL001812 | 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 nardina Community (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
= Carex nardina ssp. hepburnii - Besseya alpina Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Carex nardina ssp. hepburnii - Besseya alpina Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1979)
= Carex nardina ssp. hepburnii - Besseya alpina Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Carex nardina ssp. hepburnii - Besseya alpina Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1979)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Douglas, G. W., and L. C. Bliss. 1977. Alpine and high subalpine plant communities of the North Cascades Range, Washington and British Columbia. Ecological Monographs 47:113-150.
- Komarkova, V. 1976. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks Area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 655 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1979. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Flora et vegetatio mundi 7, R. Tuxen, editor, 2 volumes, Vaduz: J. Cramer. 591 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- del Moral, R. 1979. High elevation vegetation of the Enchantment Lakes Basin, Washington. Canadian Journal of Botany 57(10):1111-1130.