Print Report
A1309 Carex vernacula - Phippsia algida - Ptilagrostis kingii Wet Meadow Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Vegetation types within this short alpine or subalpine sod grassland alliance are dominated by Carex vernacula, Phippsia algida, or Ptilagrostis kingii in the graminoid layer. It generally occurs on wet rocky areas below snowpatches and shallow marshes and wet meadows of California, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Native Sedge - Icegrass - Sierra False Needlegrass Wet Meadow Alliance
Colloquial Name: Native Sedge - Icegrass - Sierra False Needlegrass Wet Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Carex vernacula, Phippsia algida, or Ptilagrostis kingii dominates the graminoid layer. Poa fendleriana or Deschampsia cespitosa often codominates. Caltha leptosepala, Monolepis nuttalliana, Phlox spp., and Rhodiola rhodantha can be abundant. Philonotis fontana var. pumila was reported to dominate the moss layer in Colorado stands. Vegetation types within this short alpine or subalpine sod grassland alliance can occur on open, sunny, wet places in spruce-fir or alpine zones. Elevations range 1800-4200 m. Sites can range from moderately wide (25 m), gently sloping, glaciated, snowmelt alpine basins, to moist lakeshores and solifluction terraces below snowpatches and shallow marshes and wet meadows. The soils are skeletal with low organic matter accumulation, low clay content and low available moisture. This alliance has been documented in California, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Wet subalpine and alpine meadows dominated by Carex vernacula, Phippsia algida, or Ptilagrostis kingii.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: It may be a stretch to include ~Ptilagrostis kingii Wet Meadow (CEGL003160)$$ in this alliance, but it occurs in very similar environments as Carex vernacula stands in California.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by loosely aggregated, rhizomatous, or bunch perennial graminoids.
Floristics: This alliance consists of short alpine or subalpine sod grasslands. Carex vernacula, Phippsia algida, or Ptilagrostis kingii dominates the graminoid layer. Poa fendleriana or Deschampsia cespitosa often codominates. Caltha leptosepala and Rhodiola rhodantha (= Sedum rhodanthum) are the only forbs of significance in the Colorado stands. Blackburn et al. (1968b) record that Monolepis nuttalliana and Phlox sp. exhibit fair cover (18%). Philonotis fontana var. pumila (= Philonotis tomentella) dominates the moss layer in the Indian Peak Wilderness stands (Komarkova 1976). In California, the only shrub of any cover is the subshrub Vaccinium cespitosum. Ptilagrostis kingii is the dominant, followed by Carex subnigricans, Danthonia intermedia, Carex pachystachya, and Luzula orestera. Forbs include Antennaria sp., Oreostemma alpigenum, and several other species below 50% constancy.
Dynamics: In the alpine this alliance appears to be stable and long-lived. Stands are likely to recover very slowly from any disturbance due to cold soil temperatures and the short growing season at such high altitudes (Kittel et al. 1999a). However, stands of Phippsia algida are considered early-seral and can colonize disturbed areas in the arctic Canadian Archipelago (Aiken et al. 2007). This grass also is very susceptible to high temperatures. Its lethal temperature limit is lower than for most other arctic-alpine plants (Aiken et al. 2007).
Environmental Description: This alliance can occur on wet rocky soils, in open, sunny, wet places in spruce-fir or alpine zones. Elevations range 1800-4200 m. Stands can range from moderately wide (25 m), gently sloping, glaciated, snowmelt alpine basins (Kittel et al. 1999a), to moist lakeshores and solifluction terraces below snowpatches and shallow marshes in the Indian Peaks Wilderness (Komarkova 1976), to wet meadows in Nevada (Blackburn et al. 1968b). Sites are seasonally saturated meadows formed along permanent streams as stringer meadows in the Sierra Mountains of California. The soils are skeletal with low organic matter accumulation, low clay content and low available moisture (Komarkova 1976). Kittel et al. (1999a) report that Colorado soils are stratified alluvial layers overlying gravel. Soils from the Nevada stands are clay loam in the A horizon to sandy loam in the C horizon. Soil pH ranges from 6.2-7.6 (Blackburn et al. 1968b).
Geographic Range: This alliance has been documented in California, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, NM, NV, OR?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899110
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.1309
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Aiken, S. G., M. J. Dallwitz, L. L. Consaul, , C. L. McJannet, R. L. Boles, G. W. Argus, J. M. Gillett, P. J. Scott, R. Elven, M. C. LeBlanc, L. J. Gillespie, A. K. Brysting, H. Solstad, and J. G. Harris. 2007. Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. NRC Research Press, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa. [http://nature.ca/aaflora/data/www/pophal.htm] (accessed on February 4, 2014).
- Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1968b. Vegetation and soils of the Crowley Creek watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-42. Reno. 60 pp.
- Cronquist, A., A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal, and P. K. Holmgren. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume 6: The Monocotyledons. Columbia University Press, New York. 584 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Hermann, F. J. 1970. Manual of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin. Agriculture Handbook No. 374. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 397 pp.
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, and J. Sanderson. 1999a. A classification of the riparian plant associations of the Rio Grande and Closed Basin watersheds, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Komarkova, V. 1976. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks Area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 655 pp.
- Richard, C., G. Kittel, and S. Kettler. 1996. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the San Juan National Forest. Draft 1 report. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.