Print Report
CEGL001907 Kobresia myosuroides - Carex rupestris var. drummondiana Alpine Turf
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bellardi Bog Sedge - Drummond''s Sedge Alpine Turf
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a major upland alpine turf community of the southern Rocky Mountains. Sites are typically dry-mesic meadows and turf in the middle to lower alpine, which may extend into transition areas with fell-fields. Stands often occur on gentle to moderate, convex slopes (1-30%) and saddles, typically with NE-NW aspects that are exposed to prevailing winds which keep sites snow-free during most of the winter. Soils are relatively deep (0.5-1 m) and well-developed for alpine environments. Soils are fine to coarse loams typically with distinct soil horizons present that indicate long periods without significant disturbance. There is often low to moderate (to 50 %) cover of large and small surface rocks. Bare ground cover is generally low but can be moderately high in transition areas with fell-fields, which have more xeric with less developed, coarser textured soils than typical Kobresia myosuroides-dominated alpine turf. Vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (50-90% cover) herbaceous layer codominated by the cespitose perennial graminoids Kobresia myosuroides and Carex rupestris var. drummondiana that form a dense turf. If present, Geum rossii, Thalictrum alpinum, and Trifolium dasyphyllum do not codominate. Minuartia obtusiloba and/or Selaginella densa are often present and may codominate some stands. Other important species with lower cover include graminoids Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex elynoides, Carex scopulorum, Festuca brachyphylla, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola, and forbs Arenaria fendleri, Campanula uniflora, Castilleja occidentalis, Lloydia serotina, Mertensia lanceolata, Tetraneuris grandiflora, Oreoxis alpina, Polygonum bistortoides, Polygonum viviparum, Sedum lanceolatum, and Silene acaulis. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of Kobresia myosuroides and Carex rupestris var. drummondiana in a dense alpine turf.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Kobresia myosuroides-dominated alpine turf communities form matrix communities in the southern Rocky Mountains. More survey and classification work are needed to clarify composition and ecological differences among associations.
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 to dense (50-90% cover) herbaceous layer codominated by the cespitose perennial graminoids Kobresia myosuroides and Carex rupestris var. drummondiana that form a dense turf. If present, Geum rossii, Thalictrum alpinum, and Trifolium dasyphyllum do not codominate. Minuartia obtusiloba (= Arenaria obtusiloba) and/or Selaginella densa are often present and may codominate some stands. Other important species with lower cover include graminoids Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex elynoides, Carex scopulorum, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola (= Poa rupicola), and forbs Arenaria fendleri, Campanula uniflora, Castilleja occidentalis, Lloydia serotina, Mertensia lanceolata, Tetraneuris grandiflora, Oreoxis alpina, Polygonum bistortoides, Polygonum viviparum, Sedum lanceolatum, and Silene acaulis (Willard 1963, Kiener 1967, Braun 1969, Komarkova 1976).
Dynamics: Kobresia myosuroides turf is a major climax community in the alpine (Cox 1933, Willard 1963, Hess 1981, Komarkova 1986). Willard (1963) states that the Kobresia myosuroides stands on Trail Ridge, Colorado, are very old. Osburn (1958b) estimates that a minimum of 100 years are necessary for the formation of 1 inch of humus soil under present alpine conditions in the Front Range. This estimate would make some stands on Trail Ridge 800 to 1300 years old. Willard (1960) and others state that Kobresia myosuroides is intolerant of snow cover. She observed that Kobresia myosuroides died after roadbanks created snow drifts where none were previously. Kiener (1939) states that Kobresia myosuroides is efficient in obtaining water due to the dense, turf-forming root system. Kobresia myosuroides initiates growth after snowmelt saturates the ground in late spring. It then grows, flowers and produces fruit with very little or no rain (Osburn 1958b). Zwinger and Willard (1996) report that Kobresia myosuroides is a specialized plant that exists mainly on moisture from snow trapped by its dry tussocks in the winter. When culms are grazed down to the ground, no snow is trapped and the plant dies.
Environmental Description: This association is a major upland alpine turf community of the southern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 3450-3810 m (11,300-12,500 feet) along the Continental Divide and on the western slope of Colorado. Sites are typically dry-mesic meadows and turf in the middle to lower alpine, which may extend into transition areas with fell-fields. Stands often occur on gentle to moderate, convex slopes (1-30%) and saddles, typically with NE-NW aspects that are exposed to prevailing winds which keep sites snow-free during most of the winter. Soils are relatively deep (0.5-1 m) and well-developed for alpine environments. Distinct soil horizons are typically present indicating long periods without significant disturbance. The A horizon has accumulations of organic material and fine soil particles (from loess) that take many years to occur (Marr 1967). Parent materials are often igneous or metamorphics rocks such as granite and schist. There is often low to moderate (to 50 %) cover of large and small surface rocks. Bare ground cover is generally low but can be moderately high in transition areas with fell-fields, which have more xeric with less developed, coarser textured soils than typical Kobresia myosuroides-dominated alpine turf.
Geographic Range: This association is an alpine turf community of the southern Rocky Mountains in north-central Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687438
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | CEGL001907 Bellardi Bog Sedge - Drummond''s Sedge Alpine Turf | CEGL001907 | 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: < Elynetum bellardii Meadow Association (Kiener 1939)
< Elynetum bellardii Meadow Association (Kiener 1967)
< Kobresia bellardii / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982) [Concept includes up to 6% Carex rupestris and 14% Geum rossii.]
< Kobresia bellardii / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
< Kobresia bellardii / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
< Kobresia myosuroides - Acomastylis rossii ssp. turbinata Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [Plots 67 and 71. Both have Carex rupestris (2 and 6% cover, respectively); only #71 has Geum rossii (2% cover), but stands were classified to this habitat type anyway.]
= Kobresia myosuroides - Carex rupestris var. drummondiana Alpine Turf Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
< Kobresia myosuroides - Selaginella densa; Dry Meadow Nodum I (May 1973) [Moderately dry sedge meadow with 150- to 200-day annual snow-free period. Dominated by Kobresia myosuroides, Selaginella densa, Carex rupestris, and Geum rossii.]
< Kobresia myosuroides / Acomastylis rossii - Carex rupestris Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Kobresia myosuroides Association (Willard 1963) [Kobresia myosuroides-dominated rhizomatous turf that cannot tolerate winter-long snow cover.]
< Kobresia myosuroides Association (Willard 1979)
= Kobresia-Carex-Geum Alpine Meadow (Braun 1969) [Unit R-11. Kobresia myosuroides (25-50%), Carex elynoides and Carex rupestris (5-25% each). Slopes are moderate (20-22 %). Rock cover is common (5-25%).]
< Kobresia - Turf Community (Eddleman 1967) [Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Geum rossii, Trifolium dasyphyllum, and Festuca brachyphylla all have high importance values (>10), only Geum rossii has both high frequency and relatively high cover, whereas Carex rupestris var. drummondiana has high frequency and low cover (<2%) only. May be better classified as ~Kobresia myosuroides - Geum rossii Alpine Turf (CEGL001908)$$.]
< Kobresia Meadow Stand-Type (Marr 1967)
< Selaginello - Kobresietum myosuroidis (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1979) [Geum rossii and Carex rupestris var. drummondiana are listed as constant species.]
< Association: Selaginello - Kobresietum myosuroidis (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1976)
< Dry Kobresia myosuroides Meadow Nodum I (May and Webber 1982)
< Habitat Type 10: Kobresia bellardii, Oreoxis alpina - Fellfields and Fellfield Turf (Shepherd 1975) [Buffalo Peaks Winter Range.]
>< Habitat Type 15: Kobresia bellardii, Dodecatheon pulchellum, Potentilla fruticosa - Steep Fellfield Turf (Shepherd 1975)
>< Habitat Type 7: Kobresia bellardii, Antennaria parvifolia, Geum turbinatum - Steep Boulder Slopes (Shepherd 1975) [Buffalo Peaks Summer Range.]
< Elynetum bellardii Meadow Association (Kiener 1967)
< Kobresia bellardii / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982) [Concept includes up to 6% Carex rupestris and 14% Geum rossii.]
< Kobresia bellardii / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
< Kobresia bellardii / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
< Kobresia myosuroides - Acomastylis rossii ssp. turbinata Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [Plots 67 and 71. Both have Carex rupestris (2 and 6% cover, respectively); only #71 has Geum rossii (2% cover), but stands were classified to this habitat type anyway.]
= Kobresia myosuroides - Carex rupestris var. drummondiana Alpine Turf Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
< Kobresia myosuroides - Selaginella densa; Dry Meadow Nodum I (May 1973) [Moderately dry sedge meadow with 150- to 200-day annual snow-free period. Dominated by Kobresia myosuroides, Selaginella densa, Carex rupestris, and Geum rossii.]
< Kobresia myosuroides / Acomastylis rossii - Carex rupestris Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Kobresia myosuroides Association (Willard 1963) [Kobresia myosuroides-dominated rhizomatous turf that cannot tolerate winter-long snow cover.]
< Kobresia myosuroides Association (Willard 1979)
= Kobresia-Carex-Geum Alpine Meadow (Braun 1969) [Unit R-11. Kobresia myosuroides (25-50%), Carex elynoides and Carex rupestris (5-25% each). Slopes are moderate (20-22 %). Rock cover is common (5-25%).]
< Kobresia - Turf Community (Eddleman 1967) [Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Geum rossii, Trifolium dasyphyllum, and Festuca brachyphylla all have high importance values (>10), only Geum rossii has both high frequency and relatively high cover, whereas Carex rupestris var. drummondiana has high frequency and low cover (<2%) only. May be better classified as ~Kobresia myosuroides - Geum rossii Alpine Turf (CEGL001908)$$.]
< Kobresia Meadow Stand-Type (Marr 1967)
< Selaginello - Kobresietum myosuroidis (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1979) [Geum rossii and Carex rupestris var. drummondiana are listed as constant species.]
< Association: Selaginello - Kobresietum myosuroidis (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1976)
< Dry Kobresia myosuroides Meadow Nodum I (May and Webber 1982)
< Habitat Type 10: Kobresia bellardii, Oreoxis alpina - Fellfields and Fellfield Turf (Shepherd 1975) [Buffalo Peaks Winter Range.]
>< Habitat Type 15: Kobresia bellardii, Dodecatheon pulchellum, Potentilla fruticosa - Steep Fellfield Turf (Shepherd 1975)
>< Habitat Type 7: Kobresia bellardii, Antennaria parvifolia, Geum turbinatum - Steep Boulder Slopes (Shepherd 1975) [Buffalo Peaks Summer Range.]
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