Print Report

G521 Carex spp. - Calamagrostis spp. Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group consists of wet meadows dominated by graminoids such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex utriculata, and Eleocharis palustris or forbs such as Camassia quamash, Cardamine cordifolia, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Phippsia algida, Rorippa alpina, Senecio triangularis, and Veratrum californicum found throughout low and high montane altitudes of the western U.S. and Canada.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group

Colloquial Name: Vancouverian-Rocky Mountain Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group contains the wet meadows found in low and high montane and subalpine elevations, occasionally reaching into the lower edges of the alpine elevations (about 1000-3600 m), from California''s Transverse and Peninsular ranges north to British Columbia''s Coastal Mountains and from throughout the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the U.S. (including the Black Hills of South Dakota) and mountain ranges of the intermountain Interior West. Varying dominant herbaceous species include graminoids Calamagrostis canadensis, Calamagrostis stricta, Carex bolanderi, Carex exsiccata, Carex illota, Carex microptera, Carex scopulorum, Carex utriculata, Carex vernacula, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Glyceria striata, Juncus drummondii, Juncus nevadensis, and Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus spp. Forb species include Camassia quamash, Cardamine cordifolia, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Phippsia algida, Rorippa alpina, Senecio triangularis, Trifolium parryi, and Veratrum californicum. Common but sparse shrubs may include Betula glandulosa, Salix spp., Vaccinium macrocarpon, and Vaccinium uliginosum. Wet meadows occur in open wet depressions, basins and flats with low-velocity surface and subsurface flows. They can be large meadows in montane or subalpine valleys, or occur as narrow strips bordering ponds, lakes and streams, and along toeslope seeps. They are typically found on flat areas or gentle slopes, but may also occur on subirrigated sites with slopes up to 10%. In alpine regions, sites typically are small depressions located below late-melting snow patches. Sites are usually seasonally wet, often drying by late summer, and many occur in a tension zone between perennial wetlands and uplands, where water tables fluctuate in response to long-term climatic cycles. They may have surface water for part of the year, but depths rarely exceed a few centimeters. Wet meadows can be tightly associated with snowmelt and typically are not subjected to high velocity disturbance, but can be flooded by slow-moving waters. Soils are mostly mineral and show typical hydric soil characteristics such as low chroma and redoximorphic features; some areas may have high organic content as inclusions or pockets. Vegetation of this group can manifest as a mosaic of several plant associations, or be a monotypic stand of a single association which is dominated by graminoids or forbs.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Perennial herbaceous wet meadows found in the montane, subalpine and lower alpine elevations (about 1000-3600 m) of western mountain ranges. Sites are usually seasonally wet, often drying by late summer, and many occur in a tension zone between perennial wetlands and uplands, where water tables fluctuate in response to long-term climatic cycles.

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: Open wet meadows dominated by perennial cold-dormant graminoids or forbs, usually less than 1 m in height, often a pocket surrounded by forests. Wet meadows may be large and carpet an entire valley floor, or they can be very small patches or narrow linear strips. They can also occur in complex mosaics of meadows intermixed with patches of dwarf- or tall shrublands.

Floristics: Vegetation of this group can manifest as a mosaic of several plant associations, or be a monotypic stand of a single association which is dominated by graminoids or forbs. Varying dominant herbaceous species include graminoids Calamagrostis canadensis, Calamagrostis stricta, Carex bolanderi, Carex utriculata, Carex illota, Carex exsiccata, Carex nigricans, Carex microptera, Carex scopulorum, Carex vernacula, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Glyceria striata (= Glyceria elata), Juncus drummondii, Juncus nevadensis, and Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus spp. Forb species may include Camassia quamash, Cardamine cordifolia, Caltha leptosepala, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Phippsia algida, Rorippa alpina, Senecio triangularis, Trifolium parryi, Trollius laxus, and Veratrum californicum. Common but sparse shrubs may include Salix spp., Vaccinium uliginosum, Betula glandulosa, and Vaccinium macrocarpon. Floristic information compiled from Komarkova (1976, 1986), Nachlinger (1985), Kovalchik (1987, 1993), Barbour and Major (1988), Meidinger et al. (1988), Padgett et al. (1988a), Lloyd et al. (1990), Banner et al. (1993), DeLong et al. (1993), Manning and Padgett (1995), Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf (1995), Sanderson and Kettler (1996), Crowe and Clausnitzer (1997), Steen and Coupe (1997), Kittel et al. (1999b), and MacKenzie and Moran (2004).

Dynamics:  This group has soils that may be flooded or saturated throughout the growing season. It may also occur on areas with soils that are only saturated early in the growing season, or intermittently. Typically these associations are tolerant of moderate-intensity surface fires and late-season livestock grazing (Kovalchik 1987). Most appear to be relatively stable types, although in some areas these may be impacted by intensive livestock grazing.
Environmental Description:  Soil/substrate/hydrology: Wet meadows are typically found on flat areas or gentle slopes, but may also occur on subirrigated sites with slopes up to 10%. In alpine regions, sites typically are small depressions located below late-melting snow patches. Sites are usually seasonally wet, often drying by late summer, and many occur in a tension zone between perennial wetlands and uplands, where water tables fluctuate in response to long-term climatic cycles. They may have surface water for part of the year, but depths rarely exceed a few centimeters. Wet meadows can be tightly associated with snowmelt and typically are not subjected to high velocity disturbance, but can be flooded by slow-moving waters. Moisture for these wet meadow community types is acquired from groundwater, stream discharge, overland flow, overbank flow, and on-site precipitation. Salinity and alkalinity are generally low due to the frequent flushing of moisture through the meadow. Depending on the slope, topography, hydrology, soils and substrate, intermittent, ephemeral, or permanent pools may be present.

These areas may support species more representative of purely aquatic environments. Standing water may be present during some or all of the growing season, with water tables typically remaining at or near the soil surface. Fluctuations of the water table throughout the growing season are not uncommon, however. On drier sites supporting the less mesic types, the late-season water table may be 1 m or more below the surface.

Soils are mostly mineral and show typical hydric soil characteristics such as low chroma and redoximorphic features; some areas may have high organic content as inclusions or pockets. Soils may have organic soils inclusions. The presence and amount of organic matter may vary considerably depending on the frequency and magnitude of alluvial deposition (Kittel et. al. 1999b). Organic composition of the soil may include a thin layer near the soil surface or accumulations of highly sapric material of up to 120 cm thick. Soils may exhibit gleying and/or mottling throughout the profile. Wet meadows provide important water filtration, flow attenuation, and wildlife habitat functions. Environmental information compiled from Komarkova (1976, 1986), Nachlinger (1985), Kovalchik (1987, 1993), Barbour and Major (1988), Meidinger et al. (1988), Padgett et al. (1988a), Lloyd et al. (1990), Banner et al. (1993), DeLong et al. (1993), Manning and Padgett (1995), Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf (1995), Sanderson and Kettler (1996), Crowe and Clausnitzer (1997), Steen and Coupe (1997), Kittel et al. (1999b), and MacKenzie and Moran (2004).
Geographic Range: This group occurs in the mountains in California''s Transverse and Peninsular ranges north to British Columbia''s coastal ranges and is found throughout the Rocky Mountains (including the Black Hills of South Dakota) of the U.S. and Canada as well as the intermountain ranges of the interior west, ranging in elevation from montane to alpine (1000-3600 m).

Nations: CA,MX?,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AK, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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 A1361 Glaucous Bluegrass Wet Meadow Alliance A1361 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A1374 Baltic Rush - Mexican Rush Wet Meadow Alliance A1374 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A2564 Blue Wildrye - Woolly Sedge - Green-sheath Sedge Wet Meadow Alliance A2564 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A2584 Bigleaf Sedge - Inland Sedge - Sheldon''s Sedge Wet Meadow Alliance A2584 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A2642 Silverweed Cinquefoil Wet Meadow Alliance A2642 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3539 Field Horsetail - Scouringrush Horsetail - Variegated Scouring-rush Wet Meadow Alliance A3539 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
Alliance A3805 Nebraska Sedge - Blister Sedge - Woolly Sedge Wet Meadow Alliance A3805 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3806 Clustered Field Sedge - Mountain Sedge - Few-flower Spikerush Wet Meadow Alliance A3806 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3807 Common Spikerush - Needle Spikerush Marsh Alliance A3807 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3808 American Mannagrass - Fowl Mannagrass - Small Floating Mannagrass Wet Meadow Alliance A3808 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3809 Common Cow-parsnip - California False Hellebore - Yellowcress species Wet Meadow Alliance A3809 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3810 Brook Saxifrage - Arrowleaf Ragwort - Mountain Bluebells Wet Meadow Alliance A3810 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3812 Monkeyflower species - Parry''s Primrose - Scented Shootingstar Wet Meadow Alliance A3812 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3813 Dense Sedge Wet Meadow Alliance A3813 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3814 Oatgrass species - Camas species Wet Meadow Alliance A3814 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3815 Bluejoint - Slimstem Reedgrass- Fowl Bluegrass Wet Meadow Alliance A3815 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: < Alpine Grassland (213) (Shiflet 1994) [SRM type 213 includes all alpine communities in Sierra, Klamath and California Cascades, both herbaceous and shrub-dominated, and wet meadows.]
>< Alpine Rangeland (410) (Shiflet 1994) [Alpine wet meadows are included in this SRM type.]
< Montane Meadows (216) (Shiflet 1994)
>< Tall Forb (409) (Shiflet 1994) [Forb-dominated wet meadows are included in this group.]
>< Tufted Hairgrass - Sedge (313) (Shiflet 1994) [Wetter portions of this SRM type overlap with this group.]
Concept Author(s): P. Comer and G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: P. Comer, G. Kittel and C. Chappell

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-02-15
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