Print Report

CEGL001599 Deschampsia cespitosa Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tufted Hairgrass Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Tufted Hairgrass Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This herbaceous vegetation is dominated by a circumboreal species which is common in alpine wet meadows and wetland margin habitats. Stands are found in moist, low-gradient valley bottoms and along streams throughout the mountainous areas of the western U.S. at elevations ranging from 800 to 3550 m (2625-11,650 feet). Typically, these communities occur in areas of abundant snowfall where snowmelt saturates soils from late spring through early summer. In the alpine tundra, this association is commonly found in snowmelt basins and around the edges of alpine wetlands. At lower elevations, the communities are typically wetlands, requiring wet or moist soils throughout most of the growing season. Soils are variable. Fine-textured soils retain soil moisture longer in areas of seasonal drought, and coarse substrates allow aeration in areas with perennial high water tables. This vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Deschampsia cespitosa. Commonly associated graminoid species include Agrostis scabra, Carex aquatilis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex microptera, Carex utriculata, Carex vesicaria, Danthonia intermedia, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Juncus alpinoarticulatus, Phleum alpinum, Poa spp., Trisetum spicatum, and Trisetum wolfii. Common forbs include Geum rossii, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Polygonum bistortoides, Ranunculus flammula, and low cover of Caltha leptosepala. Diagnostic of this herbaceous association is the dominance or codominance of Deschampsia cespitosa and the presence of surface water for extended periods during the growing season.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The temporarily flooded, seasonally flooded, and saturated Deschampsia cespitosa alliances are weakly separated hydrologically. Descriptions in the literature for the associations in these three alliances are poorly differentiated with respect to soils, hydrology, and vegetation. Further review of the classification of Deschampsia cespitosa communities is required to clarify their differences. Stands with over 10% Phleum alpinum are similar to ~Deschampsia cespitosa - Phleum alpinum Wet Meadow (CEGL001888)$$ described from Wyoming and may need further review.

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

Floristics: This association is typified by a lush growth of Deschampsia cespitosa, a perennial bunchgrass which forms an open canopy of culms and nodding panicles. Typically Deschampsia cespitosa strongly dominates the herbaceous layer without significant codominants. Commonly associated graminoid species include Agrostis scabra, Carex aquatilis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex microptera, Carex utriculata, Carex vesicaria, Danthonia intermedia, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Juncus alpinoarticulatus, Luzula campestris, Phleum alpinum, Poa spp., Trisetum spicatum, and Trisetum wolfii. Common forbs include Castilleja cusickii, Geum rossii, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Polygonum bistortoides, Ranunculus flammula, and low cover of Caltha leptosepala. The vegetation often occurs adjacent to perennially saturated sedge wetlands dominated by Carex aquatilis, Carex simulata, Carex utriculata, and others. Stands also generally grade into drier meadows of forbs (Senecio integerrimus, Achillea millefolium, and others) and grasses (Festuca, Muhlenbergia, Poa spp.). Poa pratensis may be codominant in disturbed stands.

Dynamics:  This association is adapted to moist and wet soils which are seasonally flooded by snowmelt and retain moisture throughout the growing season. However, stands usually occur on sites without permanent surface water. Stands appear to be tolerant of moderate-intensity surface fires and late-season livestock grazing.
Environmental Description:  This plant association occurs in moist, low-gradient valley bottoms throughout the mountainous areas of the western United States at elevations ranging from 800 to 3550 m (2625-11,650 feet).Deschampsia cespitosa requires relatively cool, moist conditions. Typically, stands occur in areas of abundant snowfall where snowmelt saturates soils from late spring through early summer. The vegetation occurs at higher elevations in the southern part of its range and in dry interior locations. Communities occur in the alpine tundra where stands grow in snowmelt basins and around the edges of alpine wetlands. At lower elevations, it occurs as wetlands, requiring wet or moist soils throughout most of the growing season. Soils are diverse. In perennially wet soils, stands of this association occur on sand or gravel lenses which allow adequate aeration of roots. In sites with seasonal drought, the vegetation generally occurs on finer-textured soils which drain slowly and retain moisture. Ground cover is variable, with litter and duff ranging from 1-90% cover. Stands in rocky alpine areas can contain up to 50% exposed large and small rock, and many stands have between 1-50% bare soil. Moss is also variable and can have up to 40% cover in wet meadow stands.
Geographic Range: This association is known from throughout the western U.S. and Alberta, Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: High

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.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 CEGL001599 Tufted Hairgrass Wet Meadow CEGL001599 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: = Carex - Isoetes Plant Community (Hall 1971)
? Deschampsia caespitosa (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.220.08]
= Deschampsia caespitosa Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Deschampsia caespitosa Herbaceous Vegetation (Smith 1998b)
= Deschampsia caespitosa Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Deschampsia caespitosa Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Deschampsia cespitosa (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.95)]
= Deschampsia cespitosa (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997)
= Deschampsia cespitosa (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Tuhy and Jensen 1982)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Habitat Type (Hall and Hansen 1997)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
< Deschampsia cespitosa Moist Sedge (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Deschampsia cespitosa Wet Meadow (DiPaolo et al. 2018)
= Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

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

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-13-05
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