Print Report

A1698 Caltha leptosepala - Rhodiola rhodantha Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This is a wetland herbaceous alliance with areas dominated by Caltha leptosepala or other forbs such as Rhodiola rhodantha, Cardamine cordifolia, or Polygonum bistortoides. This alliance consists of forb-dominated associations on primarily saturated soils, in subalpine and alpine seeps, streamsides, springs, and wet meadows of the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This wetland herbaceous alliance is dominated by Caltha leptosepala and/or other forbs. Carex aquatilis and Deschampsia cespitosa are very common and typically codominant with Caltha leptosepala. Other forbs include Cardamine cordifolia, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Rhodiola rhodantha, Stellaria umbellata, Swertia perennis, and many others. It occurs in wet boggy areas in the subalpine and alpine areas of the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains. Soils are poorly drained alluvium. The substrate is saturated to the surface for extended periods. Commonly there is standing water from underground seeps or subsurface flows.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Open to dense cover of Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Rhodiola rhodantha, Stellaria umbellata, and/or Swertia perennis (or other subalpine/alpine wetland forb species) in seasonally saturated areas.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The range of this alliance is being extended westward to include the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is dominated by perennial subrhizomatous forbs with fibrous roots.

Floristics: A dense, conspicuous layer of wet-tolerant forbs such as Caltha leptosepala, Cardamine cordifolia, or Rhodiola rhodantha dominates the herbaceous layer. Other forbs present to codominate may include Delphinium barbeyi, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Epilobium hornemannii, Mertensia ciliata, Mitella pentandra, Oxypolis fendleri, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Ranunculus alismifolius, Saxifraga odontoloma, Senecio crassulus, Senecio triangularis, Stellaria umbellata, and Swertia perennis. Graminoids are generally not well-represented but may include species such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex phaeocephala, Carex scopulorum, and Phleum alpinum, among others. A nonvascular stratum can include Philonotis fontana var. pumila (= Philonotis tomentella) and Bryum sp. (Komarkova 1976, Kittel et al. 1999b).

Dynamics:  This alliance is apparently considered a stable community type (Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b). It receives little livestock use, probably because of its wet substrate and because livestock avoid it due to its bitter acrid taste (Craighead et al. 1963, as cited in Sanderson and Kettler 1996). Use by deer and elk is likely when this plant association occurs within forest openings. However, with excessive grazing by sheep, it may be converted to communities dominated by various increaser species (Padgett et al. 1989).
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs in the subalpine and alpine areas in the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 2850-3800 m. Landforms that support this type typically are seeps, stream sides, springs, and wet meadows with high winter snow accumulation. Stands can occur on slopes up to 30%. Substrates are saturated to the surface for extended periods. Commonly there is standing water from underground seeps or subsurface flows. Soils are poorly drained alluvium, and range from mineral, thin and skeletal to loess with high organic matter accumulation. Soil pH ranges from 4.6-7.0 (Johnston 1987).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found at subalpine elevations of the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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.c White Marsh-marigold - Black Alpine Sedge - Alpine Laurel Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-shrubland Group G520 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Alliance A1698 White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow Alliance A1698 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001931 Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow CEGL001931 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001954 White Marsh-marigold Wet Meadow CEGL001954 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001956 White Marsh-marigold - American Bistort Wet Meadow CEGL001956 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001957 White Marsh-marigold - Red-pod Stonecrop Wet Meadow CEGL001957 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001958 Heartleaf Bittercress - White Marsh-marigold Wet Meadow CEGL001958 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Cardamine cordifolia Series (Johnston 1987)
? Deschampsia cespitosa Series (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): D. Culver, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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