Print Report
CEGL001852 Carex elynoides Alpine Turf
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackroot Sedge Alpine Turf
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This high-elevation herbaceous association is found in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and possibly Wyoming. This description is based on information from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This is a common association of alpine fell-fields found on mid to high colluvial slopes, benches, and ridges at 3530 to 3905 m elevation. Slopes are moderately steep to very steep (12-45°) and aspect is variable. Nonvegetative cover includes bare soil, litter and duff, gravel, and rock. There is extensive elk use within the majority of sampled areas. Herbaceous cover for this association is typically 50% or more, but occasionally lower. Graminoid cover is usually slightly higher than forb cover. Carex elynoides is the characteristic dominant graminoid. Other common graminoid species include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola, and Trisetum spicatum. Common forb species include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Arenaria fendleri, Castilleja spp., Geum rossii var. turbinatum, Heuchera parvifolia, Minuartia obtusiloba, and Trifolium dasyphyllum. In some stands, a dwarf-shrub layer is present that may include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Picea engelmannii, Salix planifolia, or Pinus aristata with up to 10% cover.
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: Herbaceous cover for this association is typically 50% or more, but occasionally lower. Graminoid cover (10-70%) is usually slightly higher than forb cover (<30%). Carex elynoides is the characteristic dominant graminoid (10-30%). Other common graminoid species include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca brachyphylla, Luzula spicata, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola, and Trisetum spicatum. Common forb species include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Arenaria fendleri, Castilleja spp., Geum rossii var. turbinatum, Heuchera parvifolia, Minuartia obtusiloba, and Trifolium dasyphyllum. In some stands, a dwarf-shrub layer is present that may include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Dasiphora floribunda), Picea engelmannii, Salix planifolia, or Pinus aristata with up to 10% cover.
Dynamics: There is extensive elk use within the majority of sampled areas.
Environmental Description: This is a common association of alpine fell-fields found on mid to high colluvial slopes, benches, and ridges at 3530 to 3905 m elevation. Slopes are moderately steep to very steep (12-45°) and aspect is variable. Nonvegetative cover includes bare soil (3-54%), litter and duff (5-60%), gravel (0-80%), and rock (0-30%).
Geographic Range: This herbaceous association is found in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and possibly Wyoming
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, NM, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688919
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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 | CEGL001852 Blackroot Sedge Alpine Turf | CEGL001852 | 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 elynoides Herbaceous Vegetation (Salas et al. 2010b)
= Carex elynoides Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
= Carex elynoides Turf (Baker 1983a)
= Carex elynoides Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
= Carex elynoides Turf (Baker 1983a)
- Baker, W. L. 1980a. Alpine vegetation of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico: Gradient analysis and classification. Unpublished thesis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 55 pp.
- Baker, W. L. 1983a. Alpine vegetation of Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, USA: Gradient analysis, classification, and biogeography. Arctic and Alpine Research 15(2):223-240.
- 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.
- Cooper, S. V., C. Jean, and B. L. Heidel. 1999. Plant associations and related botanical inventory of the Beaverhead Mountains Section, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 235 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., and P. Lesica. 1992. Plant community classification for alpine vegetation on Beaverhead National Forest, Montana. Conservation Biology Research, Helena, MT. 80 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Moir, W. H., and H. M. Smith. 1970. Occurrence of an American salamander, Aneides hardyi (Taylor), in tundra habitat. Arctic and Alpine Research 2(2):155-156.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.