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CEGL005872 Kobresia myosuroides - Euphrasia disjuncta Alpine Turf
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bellardi Bog Sedge - Polar Eyebright Alpine Turf
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a relatively rare, small-patch, turf type found at the upper range of alpine environments in northwestern Montana, above 2200 m (7200 feet). The few examples were found on southerly exposures with low- to moderate-gradient slopes. It forms relatively thick mats of dense bog sedge vegetation that carpet terraced slopes, fell-fields, and colluvial slopes. Despite having a relatively early snow meltoff, this type receives an ample moisture supply, being subirrigated by waters percolating from surrounding snowfields. Soils are sufficiently moist to wet to promote slow soil creep or solifluction. Parent materials include argillites and limestone. The usually dense turf encourages the development of a humus-rich upper profile that has a dense root mat, which in turn promotes a coherent vegetation layer that persists under unstable slope conditions (solifluction). This uncommon type is one of the floristically richest alpine plant communities. The usually dense turf is composed of a variety of Carex and Kobresia species, but by far the dominant species is bunch-forming Kobresia myosuroides, the interlaced roots of which create a stable turf surface. Dwarf-shrubs, including Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Dryas octopetala, and Salix arctica, are consistently present in trace amounts. The presence of the diminutive annual Euphrasia disjuncta, though not unique to this community, does set it apart from a host of other alpine communities. Other high-constancy forbs include Gentiana prostrata, Polygonum viviparum, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola rosea, Dodecatheon pulchellum, Solidago multiradiata, Hedysarum sulphurescens, and Zigadenus elegans; only the last three named forbs were consistently represented with more than 5% cover. Graminoids consistently part of the mixed turf include Festuca idahoensis, Festuca brachyphylla, Trisetum spicatum, Poa alpina, Poa nemoralis ssp. interior, Luzula spicata, and Carex albonigra; none of these with high cover. The bryophyte Aulacomnium palustre contributes appreciably to the impression of continuous vegetative 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: This uncommon type is one of the floristically richest alpine plant communities. The usually dense turf is composed of a variety of Carex and Kobresia species, but by far the dominant species is bunch-forming Kobresia myosuroides, the interlaced roots of which create a stable turf surface. Dwarf-shrubs, including Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Dryas octopetala, and Salix arctica, are consistently present in trace amounts. The presence of the diminutive annual Euphrasia disjuncta (= Euphrasia arctica), though not unique to this community, does set it apart from a host of other alpine communities. Other high-constancy forbs include Gentiana prostrata, Polygonum viviparum, Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Rhodiola rosea (= Sedum roseum), Dodecatheon pulchellum, Solidago multiradiata, Hedysarum sulphurescens, and Zigadenus elegans; only the last three named forbs were consistently represented with more than 5% cover. Graminoids consistently part of the mixed turf include Festuca idahoensis, Festuca brachyphylla, Trisetum spicatum, Poa alpina, Poa nemoralis ssp. interior (= Poa interior), Luzula spicata, and Carex albonigra; none of these with high cover. The bryophyte Aulacomnium palustre contributes appreciably to the impression of continuous vegetative cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is a relatively rare, small-patch, turf type found at the upper range of alpine environments in northwestern Montana, above 2200 m (7200 feet). The few examples were found on southerly exposures with low- to moderate-gradient slopes. It forms relatively thick mats of dense bog sedge vegetation that carpet terraced slopes, fell-fields, and colluvial slopes. Despite having a relatively early snow meltoff, this type receives an ample moisture supply, being subirrigated by waters percolating from surrounding snowfields. Soils are sufficiently moist to wet to promote slow soil creep or solifluction. Parent materials include argillites and limestone. The usually dense turf encourages the development of a humus-rich upper profile that has a dense root mat, which in turn promotes a coherent vegetation layer that persists under unstable slope conditions (solifluction).
Geographic Range: This turf type occurs in northwestern Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730765
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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 | CEGL005872 Bellardi Bog Sedge - Polar Eyebright Alpine Turf | CEGL005872 | 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: < Euphrasio arcticae - Kobresietum myosuroides Association (Damm 2001)
= Kobresia myosuroides - Euphrasia disjuncta Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
= Kobresia myosuroides - Euphrasia disjuncta Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
- Damm, C. 2001. A phytosociological study of Glacier National Park, Montana, U. S. A., with notes on the syntaxonomy of alpine vegetation in western North America. Dissertation from Georg - August University, Germany. 297 pp. plus appendices.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.