Print Report

G355 Calamagrostis canadensis - Chamerion angustifolium - Athyrium filix-femina Grassland & Meadow Group

Type Concept Sentence: This is an herbaceous meadow group that occurs on a variety of habitats with a mesic moisture regime, including balds, windswept exposed ridgetops, coastal headlands, and ravine sideslopes, where the vegetation may be dominated by forbs, graminoids, or ferns; the most common dominant species are Athyrium filix-femina, Calamagrostis canadensis, Chamerion angustifolium, Heracleum maximum, and/or Veratrum viride.


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bluejoint - Fireweed - Common Ladyfern Grassland & Meadow Group

Colloquial Name: Northern Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This is an herbaceous group that includes a wide variety of balds, meadows and grasslands. Vegetation may be dominated by forbs, graminoids, or ferns. The most common dominant species are Calamagrostis canadensis and Chamerion angustifolium. One or more of the following species can also be dominant: Veratrum viride, Athyrium filix-femina, or Heracleum maximum, or a combination of any of these. Other common forb species may include Achillea millefolium var. borealis, Aconitum delphiniifolium, Angelica lucida, Antennaria dioica, Arnica unalaschcensis, Cardamine oligosperma var. kamtschatica, Castilleja unalaschcensis, Claytonia sibirica, Chrysanthemum arcticum ssp. arcticum, Dryopteris expansa, Geum calthifolium, Lupinus nootkatensis, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Polemonium acutiflorum, Ranunculus occidentalis, Sanguisorba canadensis, Senecio triangularis, Solidago canadensis var. lepida, and Valeriana capitata. Graminoids include Agrostis exarata, Agrostis scabra, Carex macrochaeta, Deschampsia beringensis, and Festuca rubra. The low subshrub Empetrum nigrum may also be common. Stands occur on all slopes and aspects with a mesic moisture regime, including windswept coastal headlands, coastal bluffs, old beach ridges, hillside slopes, stabilized talus, alluvial fans, rolling hills, alluvial slopes, below subalpine shrublands, and ravine sideslopes. The group includes areas that form a mosaic of meadows with alder patches. Soils are typically mesic, well-drained, and underlain by colluvium, alluvium, glacial till or residuum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Herbaceous cover is >25%; stands dominated by Veratrum viride, Athyrium filix-femina, or Heracleum maximum or a variety of other herbaceous species. Leymus mollis cover is <25%.

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: The most common dominant species are various combinations of Athyrium filix-femina, Calamagrostis canadensis, Chamerion angustifolium, Heracleum maximum, and/or Veratrum viride. Other common forb species may include Achillea millefolium var. borealis, Aconitum delphiniifolium, Angelica lucida, Antennaria dioica, Arnica unalaschcensis, Cardamine oligosperma var. kamtschatica, Castilleja unalaschcensis, Claytonia sibirica, Chrysanthemum arcticum ssp. arcticum (= Dendranthema arcticum ssp. arcticum), Dryopteris expansa, Geum calthifolium, Lupinus nootkatensis, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Polemonium acutiflorum, Ranunculus occidentalis, Sanguisorba canadensis, Senecio triangularis, Solidago canadensis var. lepida, and Valeriana capitata. Graminoids include Agrostis exarata, Agrostis scabra, Carex macrochaeta, Deschampsia beringensis, and Festuca rubra. The low subshrub Empetrum nigrum may also be common.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  Stands occur on moisture-receiving sites on all slopes and aspects, such as windswept coastal headlands, coastal bluffs, old beach ridges, hillside slopes, stabilized talus, alluvial fans, rolling hills, alluvial slopes, below subalpine shrublands, and ravine sideslopes.

Geographic Range: This group occurs on the Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands and Kodiak Island, and extends south along the coastal maritime region through southeastern Alaska. The exact southern boundary has yet to be determined. This group may occur in British Columbia and grade into ~Southern Vancouverian Shrub & Herbaceous Bald, Bluff & Prairie Group (G488)$$.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC?




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: No Data Available

Concept Author(s): Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-20-15

  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]