Print Report

CEGL001806 Carex buxbaumii Fen

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Buxbaum''s Sedge Fen

Colloquial Name: Buxbaum''s Sedge Fen

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This vegetation has been found in fens and wet meadows in the mountains of Utah, Idaho, Montana, and western Wyoming at elevations 1700-3200 m. Sites are flat and range from moderately broad valley bottoms to forest openings. Size of wetland is dependent on the presence of permanently saturated soils and it often occurs along streams and in the wettest portion of the wetland complex. Soils are mineral from alluvium with accumulations of well-decomposed organic matter throughout the upper soil horizon (20-50 cm deep). Stands have a dense perennial graminoid layer characterized by 25% or more cover of Carex buxbaumii. Carex aquatilis, Carex saxatilis and Carex utriculata are usually present and occasionally codominant. Other common species include Deschampsia cespitosa, Caltha leptosepala, Pedicularis groenlandica, and Ligusticum tenuifolium. Occasional shrubs such as Salix planifolia, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda may be scattered in the stand. Adjacent stands are often dominated by sedges such as Carex utriculata and Carex aquatilis. This vegetation is separated from adjacent wetlands by the dominance or codominance of Carex buxbaumii.

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: Stands have a dense perennial graminoid layer characterized by 25% or more cover of Carex buxbaumii. Carex aquatilis, Carex saxatilis, and Carex utriculata are usually present and occasionally codominant. Other common species include Deschampsia cespitosa, Caltha leptosepala, Pedicularis groenlandica, and Ligusticum tenuifolium. Occasional shrubs, such as Salix planifolia (= Salix phylicifolia), Salix drummondiana, Vaccinium uliginosum (= Vaccinium occidentale), and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), may be scattered in the stand. Adjacent areas are often dominated by sedges such as Carex utriculata and Carex aquatilis. This vegetation is separated from adjacent wetlands by the dominance or codominance of Carex buxbaumii.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This vegetation has been found in fens and wet meadows in the mountains of Utah, Idaho, Montana, and western Wyoming at elevations of 1046-3200 m (3430-10,500 feet). Sites are flat and range from moderately broad valley bottoms to forest openings. Size of wetland is dependent on the presence of permanently saturated soils, and it often occurs along streams and in the wettest portion of the wetland complex. Soils are mineral from alluvium with accumulations of well-decomposed organic matter throughout the upper soil horizon (20-50 cm deep).
Geographic Range: This wetland is found in mountains of Utah, Idaho, Montana, western Wyoming, and possibly western Alberta. Occurrences have a relatively broad range, but are uncommon. Carex buxbaumii is a circumboreal species, and this association possibly occurs in other western states and further north in Canada.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  AB?, CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation F016 2.C.2
Division 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division D029 2.C.2.Na
Macrogroup 2.C.2.Na.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup M877 2.C.2.Na.2
Group 2.C.2.Na.2.c Bellardi Bog Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge Alkaline Fen Group G516 2.C.2.Na.2.c
Alliance A3435 Mud Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge - Seaside Arrow-grass Alkaline Graminoid Fen Alliance A3435 2.C.2.Na.2.c
Association CEGL001806 Buxbaum''s Sedge Fen CEGL001806 2.C.2.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex buxbaumii (McCain and Christy 2005) [5 plots]
= Carex buxbaumii Association (Christy 2004)
= Carex buxbaumii Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Carex buxbaumii Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-03-04
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