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CEGL001957 Caltha leptosepala - Rhodiola rhodantha Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This alpine wetland association is known from the southern Rocky Mountains. Elevation ranges from 3050 to 3630 m (10,000-11,900 feet). Stands occur in marshes, along streams in lower alpine where moderate to deep snow accumulates during winter. It is often associated with late-melting snowbanks that feed snowmelt throughout the growing season. Sites are often flat to gently sloping or depressional on any aspect but include moderate slopes (to 30%). Soils are hygric to hydric and may be highly organic. Surface cover of litter and duff is often up to 30%. Moss cover is a more consistent ground cover, with up to 20% cover. Rock cover can be significant along streams. Vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous layer dominated by Caltha leptosepala typically with Rhodiola rhodantha present to codominant. Other important species include graminoids Carex aquatilis, Carex illota, Carex nigricans, Carex pachystachya, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa cusickii ssp. epilis, Juncus drummondii, and forbs Stellaria umbellata, Oreoxis spp., Pedicularis groenlandica, and Rhodiola integrifolia.
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 moderate to dense herbaceous layer dominated by Caltha leptosepala typically with Rhodiola rhodantha present to codominant. Other important species include graminoids Carex aquatilis, Carex illota, Carex nigricans, Carex pachystachya, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa cusickii ssp. epilis (= Poa epilis), Juncus drummondii, and forbs Stellaria umbellata, Oreoxis spp., Pedicularis groenlandica, and Rhodiola integrifolia (Komarkova 1979, Johnston 1987). Moss species Bryum turbinatum, Drepanocladus aduncus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, and Calliergon stramineum may have high cover in this association.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alpine wetland association is known from the southern Rocky Mountains. Elevation ranges from 3060 to 3665 m (10,000-11,900 feet). Stands occur in marshes, along streams in lower alpine where moderate to deep snow accumulates during winter. It is often associated with late-melting snowbanks that feed snowmelt throughout the growing season. Sites are often flat to gently sloping or depressional on any aspect but include moderate slopes (to 30%). Soils are hygric to hydric and may be highly organic with average pH of 5.1 (Komarkova 1979). Surface cover of litter and duff is often up to 30%. Moss cover is a more consistent ground cover, with up to 20% cover. Rock cover can be significant along streams.
Geographic Range: This alpine wetland association is known from the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688961
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNRQ
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 | CEGL001957 White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow | CEGL001957 | 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 - Sedum rhodanthum Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
>< Rhodiola integrifolia - Clementsia rhodantha Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [one plot strongly dominated by Rhodiola rhodantha (25% cover) with no Caltha leptosepala.]
= Association Clementsio rhodanthae - Calthetum leptosepalae (Komarkova 1976)
>< Rhodiola integrifolia - Clementsia rhodantha Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [one plot strongly dominated by Rhodiola rhodantha (25% cover) with no Caltha leptosepala.]
= Association Clementsio rhodanthae - Calthetum leptosepalae (Komarkova 1976)
- 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.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1976. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks Area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 655 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1979. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Flora et vegetatio mundi 7, R. Tuxen, editor, 2 volumes, Vaduz: J. Cramer. 591 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.