Print Report

CEGL001884 Deschampsia cespitosa - Geum rossii Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tufted Hairgrass - Ross'' Avens Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This wet to mesic meadow association occurs in the southern and central Rocky Mountains. It is found near areas of late-melting snowpatches that are located on lee sides of saddles, hills, knolls and rock outcrops in alpine zones, cirque bottoms, and northern aspects in the subalpine. Stands occur on sites where moderate to heavy snow accumulates during the winter and/or receive moisture from nearby late-melting snowbanks. Sites are generally flat or concave to moderately sloping (0-30%) and occasionally steep (to 50%). Substrates are saturated during spring snowmelt but generally dry out in late summer. Soils are moderate to deep, well-drained clay or silt loam to sandy loam. Gravel, rock and bare ground cover is low to moderate (to 30% cover). The vegetation is characterized by a dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa with Geum rossii codominant. If Geum rossii does not codominate the herbaceous layer, then it is the dominant forb species, usually with 10-20% cover or more. Other important herbaceous species include graminoids Carex scopulorum, Carex spp., Festuca brachyphylla, Juncus drummondii, Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, Poa glauca, Trisetum spicatum, and forbs Arenaria fendleri, Artemisia scopulorum, Castilleja occidentalis, Erigeron simplex, Minuartia obtusiloba, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Stellaria longipes, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Trifolium parryi. If Caltha leptosepala is present, it does not codominate.

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 association is characterized by a dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa with Geum rossii codominant. If Geum rossii does not codominate the herbaceous layer, then it is the dominant forb species, usually with 10-20% cover or more. Other important herbaceous species include graminoids Carex scopulorum, Carex spp., Festuca brachyphylla, Juncus drummondii, Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, Poa glauca, Trisetum spicatum, and forbs Arenaria fendleri, Artemisia scopulorum, Castilleja occidentalis, Erigeron simplex, Minuartia obtusiloba, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Stellaria longipes (= Stellaria lateta), Sibbaldia procumbens, and Trifolium spp. If Caltha leptosepala is present, it does not codominate.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alpine to upper subalpine mesic meadow association occurs in the southern and central Rocky Mountains. It is found near areas of late-melting snowpatches that are located on lee sides of saddles, hills, knolls and rock outcrops in alpine zones, cirque bottoms, and northern aspects in the subalpine. Elevations range from 3230-3940 m (10,600-12,900 feet). Stands occur on sites where moderate to heavy snow accumulates during the winter and/or receive moisture from nearby late-melting snowbanks. Sites are generally flat or concave to moderately sloping (0-30%) and occasionally steep (to 50%). Aspects are often northerly but may occur on any aspect. The snow-free period is usually 100-150 days (May 1973). Substrates are saturated during spring snowmelt but generally dry out in late summer. Soils area moderate to deep, well-drained clay or silt loam to sandy loam derived from loess, granite, gneiss, and other igneous and metamorphic rocks. Average pH is 5.6 for surface horizons in stands in Colorado (Komarkova 1979). Soils have been classified as loamy-skeletal mixed Typic Cryochrept, Cryorthent, Pergelic Cryumbrept, or coarse loamy mixed Pergelic Cryumbrept (Wasser and Hess 1982). Gravel, rock and bare ground cover is low to moderate (to 30% cover) (Welden 1981).
Geographic Range: This mesic meadow association occurs in alpine and subalpine in the southern and central Rocky Mountains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G521 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3804 Water Sedge - Northwest Territory Sedge - Tufted Hairgrass Wet Meadow Alliance A3804 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001884 Tufted Hairgrass - Ross'' Avens Wet Meadow CEGL001884 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Deschampsia caespitosa - Acomastylis rossii ssp. turbinata Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Deschampsia caespitosa - Geum rossii Wet Alpine Meadow (Baker 1984a)
= Deschampsia caespitosa / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Deschampsia caespitosa / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Deschampsia caespitosa / Geum rossii Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Deschampsia caespitosa meadow (Holway and Ward 1963) [describes a meltwater drainage meadow dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa mixed with Geum rossii, Anemone narcissiflora var. zephyra, and Polygonum bistortoides.]
= Deschampsia cespitosa / Acomastylis rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Deschampsia - Meadow Community II (Eddleman 1967)
= Deschampsia Meadow (Baker 1984a) [codominated by Geum rossii with some Carex rupestris.]
= Deschampsia Stand (Welden 1981) [Alpine tundra: Deschampsia cespitosa, Trifolium parryi, and Geum rossii are dominant species.]
= Deschampsia Stand (Wellner 1985) [Alpine tundra: Deschampsia cespitosa, Trifolium parryi, and Geum rossii are dominant species.]
= Deschampsia meadow site (Fareed and Caldwell 1975) [Geum rossii and Artemisia scoparia are mentioned as associated species.]
= Deschampsietum caespitosae Association nova (Willard 1963) [Geum rossii is a companion species.]
= Association Stellario laetae - Deschampsietum caespitosae (Willard 1963 corr. Komarkova 1976 Deschampsietum caespitosae) (Komarkova 1979)
< Moist Meadow Habitat Type (Rottman 1984)
= Nodum IIIb - Deschampsia caespitosa - Geum rossii; moist meadow (May 1973)
= Station #11 and 12 (Holway 1962a) [Dominant species are Deschampsia cespitosa, Geum rossii, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Artemisia arctica.]
= Station #11 and 12 (Holway 1960) [Dominant species are Deschampsia cespitosa, Geum rossii, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Artemisia arctica.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-05-05
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