Print Report

CEGL001229 Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Diamondleaf Willow / Mountain Sedge Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant community is found at high elevations in the southern Rocky Mountains and the Beartooth Plateau in northwestern Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and the North Cascades in Washington. Elevations range from 3230-3810 m (10,600-12,500 feet) in Colorado, near 2900 m (9500 feet) in Wyoming, and 1585-2260 m (5200-7400 feet) in Washington. Stands primarily occur at low to middle alpine elevations, although they occur in the subalpine in western Colorado. This community occupies diverse topographic positions, being found within and around seepage areas and drainages fed by persistent but melting snowfields and in headwaters of streams. The dependence of this community on snowmelt runoff allows its occurrence on steep cirque walls, as well as gently sloping hillsides or flats near lakes. Substrates are shallow to moderately deep, with high organic content, and range from loamy mineral to organic soils. The vegetation is characterized by the low willow layer dominated by Salix planifolia with an average of 60% cover. Salix glauca and Betula glandulosa are present in some stands. Carex scopulorum usually dominates the herbaceous understory with 25-50% cover. However, in some stands, Caltha leptosepala may codominate, the two species together averaging 30% cover. Associated understory species may include Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Juncus spp., Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, and Poa reflexa, among the graminoids, and Castilleja occidentalis, Gentiana algida, Geum rossii, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Polygonum viviparum, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola rhodantha, Swertia perennis, Trifolium parryi, and Trollius laxus, among the forbs.

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 Vaccinium cespitosum, Salix farriae, and Salix planifolia.

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

Floristics: The low willow Salix planifolia is the dominant shrub species with an average of 60% cover. Komarkova (1986) reported Salix glauca in the Gunnison National Forest stands. Carex scopulorum usually dominates the herbaceous understory with 25-50% cover. However, in some stands, Caltha leptosepala may codominate (Hess and Wasser 1982), the two species together averaging 30% cover. Associated understory species may include Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Juncus spp., Luzula spicata, and Poa reflexa, among the graminoids, and Castilleja occidentalis, Gentiana algida, Geum rossii, Poa alpina, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Polygonum viviparum, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola rhodantha (= Sedum rhodanthum), Swertia perennis, Trifolium parryi, and Trollius laxus, among the forbs (Hess 1981, Hess and Wasser 1982, Komarkova 1986). Little is known of successional trends in Salix planifolia-dominated communities (Youngblood et al. 1985a), particularly the high-elevation examples.

Dynamics:  Summer grazing of livestock, particularly sheep, may have adverse impacts on the wet soils of this type. However, these is nothing in the literature to support this.
Environmental Description:  This plant community is found in the southern Rocky Mountains and the Beartooth Plateau in northwestern Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and the northern Cascade Range in Washington. Elevations range from 3230-3810 m (10,600-12,500 feet) in Colorado, near 2900 m (9500 feet) in Wyoming, and 1585-2260 m (5200-7400 feet) in Washington. Stands primarily occur at low to middle alpine elevations (Hess 1981, Hess and Wasser 1982), although Komarkova (1986) reports it occurring in the subalpine in Gunnison National Forest. It occupies diverse topographic positions, being found within and around seepage areas and drainages fed by persistent but melting snowfields and in headwaters of streams (Hess 1981, Hess and Wasser 1982, Kovalchik 1993). The dependence of this community on snowmelt runoff allows its occurrence on steep cirque walls, as well as gently sloping hillsides or flats near lakes. In the relatively dry Front Range, these communities form small stands in poorly drained sites in the alpine; in the more mesic mountains surrounding the Gunnison Basin, the stands are considerably more extensive and not limited to poorly drained sites (Komarkova 1986). Slopes range from 4-17%. The soils on which this community is found are primarily organic (dark brown peats), but some stands occur on soils of mineral origin (Hess 1981). The organic soils are represented by Pergelic Cryosaprists, and the mineral soils derived from alluvial and colluvial parent materials are represented by Pergelic Cryaquepts. Both soil types are only moderately deep (23-40 cm) and are underlain by coarse-textured C horizons. The pH of the surface horizon varies from 4.8-5.4. Vegetation and litter cover the entire surface, and bare soil or exposed gravel and rock generally account for <10% of the ground area. High levels of soil-frost activity are indicated by extensive irregularities in the soil surface.

Precipitation is well-distributed throughout the year, with a peak in July and August. Total precipitation is over 76 cm at 3050 m elevation, and mean annual snowfall is over 508 cm. Mean temperature during January is -7.8°C at 3050 m and -12.2°C at 3660 m elevation and mean July temperatures are 13.5°C and 8.9°C, respectively. The growing season is less than 75 days at the highest elevations (alpine).
Geographic Range: This wetland association occurs in the alpine and upper subalpine zones in the southern and central Rocky Mountains from Colorado to northwestern Wyoming and eastern Washington.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group G527 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Alliance A3770 Wolf''s Willow - Short-fruit Willow - Resin Birch Wet Shrubland Alliance A3770 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL001229 Diamondleaf Willow / Mountain Sedge Wet Shrubland CEGL001229 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Salix farriae / Carex scopulorum var. prionophylla Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.104)]
= Salix farriae / Danthonia intermedia Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.102)]
= Salix phylicifolia ssp. planifolia - Carex scopulorum Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Salix phylicifolia ssp. planifolia / Carex aquatilis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Community Type (Walford et al. 2001)
= Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
>< Salix planifolia Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a)
>< Salix wolfii - Salix planifolia var. monica / Carex scopulorum Community Type (Girard et al. 1997) [This similar alpine community is codominated by Salix wolfii and Salix planifolia with Carex scopulorum dominating the understory.]
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid

Author of Description: M.S. Reid and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-02-05
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