Print Report

CEGL001954 Caltha leptosepala Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Marsh-marigold Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This wet meadow association occurs in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, west into Utah and Idaho. Stands occur in the subalpine and lower alpine zones on perennially saturated ground in narrow forest openings to broad mountain valley bottoms and is often associated with shallow seeps on hillslopes. This association typically occupies seeps, streamsides, springs, and wet, subirrigated meadows and on slopes up to 30%. Substrates are always saturated at the surface with moderate to high water-holding capacity and fine-loamy, fine, and clayey skeletal particle size classes. Soils are somewhat variable, ranging in texture from organic muck and peat to sandy loam to fine-textured and originating from organic deposits, glacial-fluvial deposits, or granitic igneous rock. Litter and duff are typically 10-20% cover, and moss can cover up to 50% of the ground surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense (30-100% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Caltha leptosepala and low cover of Cardamine cordifolia and Rhodiola rhodantha. Many graminoids and forbs that tolerate long-term soil saturation may also be present. Carex aquatilis is very common and is sometimes a codominant with Caltha leptosepala. Deschampsia cespitosa may be present in small amounts. Other common associates include graminoids Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis (and many other wet sedges), Eleocharis spp., Poa arctica, Juncus drummondii, and forbs Arnica mollis, Erigeron peregrinus, Equisetum arvense, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Oxypolis fendleri, Parnassia fimbriata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Senecio triangularis, Sibbaldia procumbens, Stellaria umbellata, Swertia perennis, and Trollius laxus ssp. albiflorus. Scattered shrubs may be present. Stands can be recognized by the prominence of Caltha leptosepala, a near absence of shrubs, and low cover of Cardamine cordifolia and Rhodiola rhodantha. In forest openings this association is found with Salix planifolia shrublands and Carex aquatilis and Senecio triangularis meadows. On high-elevation peatlands it occurs with stands of Eleocharis quinqueflora and Salix planifolia shrublands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association needs to be compared with ~Caltha leptosepala - Rhodiola rhodantha Wet Meadow (CEGL001957)$$, because they are very similar and may not be distinct.

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

Floristics: This wetland association is characterized by a moderate to dense (30-100% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Caltha leptosepala and low cover of Cardamine cordifolia and Rhodiola rhodantha (= Sedum rhodanthum). Many graminoids and forbs that tolerate long-term soil saturation may also be present. Carex aquatilis is very common and is sometimes a codominant with Caltha leptosepala. Deschampsia cespitosa may be present in small amounts. Other common associates include graminoids Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex illota, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex muricata, Carex nigricans, Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, Carex utriculata, Eleocharis spp., Poa arctica, Juncus drummondii, and forbs Arnica mollis, Erigeron peregrinus, Equisetum arvense, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Oxypolis fendleri, Parnassia fimbriata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Senecio triangularis, Sibbaldia procumbens, Stellaria umbellata, Swertia perennis, and Trollius laxus ssp. albiflorus (Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b). Scattered shrubs may be present, including Kalmia microphylla, Salix planifolia, Salix wolfii, Vaccinium spp., and Phyllodoce empetriformis in low amounts. In forest openings this association is found with Salix planifolia shrublands and Carex aquatilis and Senecio triangularis meadows. On high-elevation peatlands it occurs with stands of Eleocharis quinqueflora and Salix planifolia shrublands.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This wet meadow association occurs in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, west into Utah and Idaho. Elevations range from 3000 to 3500 m (9820-11,500 feet) in Colorado and 2745 to 3110 m (9000-10,200 feet) in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Stands occur in the subalpine and lower alpine zones on perennially saturated ground in narrow forest openings to broad mountain valley bottoms and is often associated with shallow seeps on hillslopes. This association typically occupies seeps, streamsides, springs, and wet, subirrigated meadows and on slopes up to 30% (Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003b). Substrates are always saturated at the surface with moderate to high water-holding capacity and fine-loamy, fine, and clayey skeletal particle size classes(Padgett et al. 1989). Soils are somewhat variable, ranging in texture from organic muck and peat to sandy loam to fine-textured and originating from organic deposits, glacial-fluvial deposits, or granitic igneous rock. Soils are classified as Histic Cryaquepts, Terric Borohemists, and Terric and Lithic Borosaprists (Padgett et al. 1989). Litter and duff are typically 10-20% cover, and moss can cover up to 50% of the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This widespread wet meadow association occurs in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, west into Utah and Idaho.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, 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.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 A1698 White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow Alliance A1698 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001954 White Marsh-marigold Wet Meadow CEGL001954 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: = Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii Association (Christy 2004)
= Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii (McCain and Christy 2005) [7 plots]
= Caltha leptosepala (Murray 2000)
= Caltha leptosepala (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Caltha leptosepala Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
< Caltha leptosepala Dominance Type (Hansen et al. 1988b) [uncommon type.]
= Caltha leptosepala Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Caltha leptosepala Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Caltha leptosepala Plant Association (Sanderson and Kettler 1996)
>< Deschampsia cespitosa - Caltha leptosepala Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [may be closely related phase of the Colorado Caltha leptosepala plant association, but it is likely more similar to this.]
= Marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Wet Meadow Communities (Ellison 1954) [Caltha leptosepala-dominated stands.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-18-05
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