Print Report
A3365 Carex helleri Alpine Meadow Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This is an herbaceous alliance dominated by Carex helleri. Stands consist of scattered tufts of individuals in well-drained talus of cobble or gravel size. This alliance occupies snowbeds in high-elevation hollows of mountains in California and possibly Nevada.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Heller''s Sedge Alpine Meadow Alliance
Colloquial Name: Heller''s Sedge Alpine Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This is an herbaceous alliance dominated by Carex helleri, which often includes other species such as Achnatherum nevadense, Achnatherum occidentale, Agoseris glauca, Antennaria media, Antennaria rosea, Arabis platysperma, Carex breweri, Carex filifolia, Carex subnigricans, Castilleja nana, Cistanthe monosperma, Draba densifolia, Elymus elymoides, Eriogonum incanum, Lupinus confertus, Luzula divaricata, Monardella odoratissima, Penstemon heterodoxus, Phyllodoce breweri, Poa suksdorfii, Raillardella argentea, Saxifraga tolmiei, Silene sargentii, and Trisetum spicatum. Herbs and subshrubs are <80 cm in height, and the canopy cover is open to intermittent. Stands of this alliance occur primarily in California, in the alpine zones of the Sierra Nevada, east to the White and Inyo ranges, and into the southern Cascades and Klamath Mountains of California. Habitats are exposed upper slopes, ridges, and snowbeds at elevations of 2400-4100 m. Stands consist of scattered tufts of individuals in well-drained talus of cobble or gravel size. Deep snowpacks accumulate in these sites in winter, and may not melt until July or even August. Soils are well-drained gravely or sandy loams.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominance or conspicuous presence of Carex helleri with other snowbed-associated species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance follows the Sawyer et al. (2009) Vancouverian snowbank turf group, and much of this information is derived from that report. They also include the Saxifraga nidifica Provisional Alliance in their snowbank turf group, but that may better fit into ~Rocky Mountain & Sierran Alpine Bedrock & Scree Group (G571)$$. Carex helleri has its center of distribution in the high mountains of California (including Mount Shasta and the High Sierra). It ranges north to Oregon and east to Nevada. Juncus parryi occurs across the western U.S. and into Alberta, Canada, and associations including this species have been identified in many mountain areas. In the California alpine, it is associated with a number of other taxa with their core range in the Sierras.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Herbs and subshrubs are <80 cm in height, and the canopy cover is open to intermittent with perennial graminoids (35% cover) and forbs (25% cover). Mean moss and lichen cover is 2%.
Floristics: Characteristic taxa include Carex helleri in the herbaceous layer with Achnatherum nevadense, Achnatherum occidentale, Agoseris glauca, Antennaria media, Antennaria rosea, Arabis platysperma, Carex breweri, Carex filifolia, Carex subnigricans, Castilleja nana, Cistanthe monosperma, Draba densifolia, Elymus elymoides, Eriogonum incanum, Lupinus confertus, Luzula divaricata, Monardella odoratissima, Penstemon heterodoxus, Phyllodoce breweri, Poa suksdorfii, Raillardella argentea, Saxifraga tolmiei, Silene sargentii, and Trisetum spicatum. Herbs and subshrubs are <80 cm in height, and the canopy cover is open to intermittent.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Habitats are exposed upper slopes, ridges, and snowbeds at elevations of 2400-4100 m. Stands consist of scattered tufts of individuals in well-drained talus of cobble or gravel size. Deep snowpacks accumulate in these sites in winter, and may not melt until July or even August. Soils are well-drained gravely or sandy loams.
Geographic Range: Stands of this alliance occur primarily in California, in the alpine zones of the Sierra Nevada, east to the White and Inyo ranges, and into the southern Cascades and Klamath Mountains of California. Juncus parryi communities are found in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, NV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899489
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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 | A3365 Heller''s Sedge Alpine Meadow Alliance | A3365 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL003138 Heller''s Sedge - Frosted Buckwheat - Silky Raillardella Alpine Meadow | CEGL003138 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL003139 Heller''s Sedge - Tolmie''s Saxifrage - Spiked Woodrush Alpine Meadow | CEGL003139 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: includes A.2603 in entirety; 2 associations from A.1325
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex helleri (Heller’s sedge fell-fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.145.00]
= Carex helleri Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.145.00]
>< Alpine Talus and Scree Slope (#91200) (Holland 1986b)
< Alpine habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Klamath-Cascade Fell-Field (#91110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sierra Nevada Fell-Field (#91120) (Holland 1986b)
= Carex helleri Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.145.00]
>< Alpine Talus and Scree Slope (#91200) (Holland 1986b)
< Alpine habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Klamath-Cascade Fell-Field (#91110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sierra Nevada Fell-Field (#91120) (Holland 1986b)
- CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
- Cheng, S. 2004. Forest Service research natural areas in California. General Technical Paper PSW-GTR-188. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, CA.
- 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.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- Rundel, P. W., A. C. Gibson, and M. R. Sharifi. 2005. Plant functional groups in alpine fellfield habitats of the White Mountains, California. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 37:358-365.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. Alpine vegetation. Pages 539-573 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California. Third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Taylor, D. W. 1984. Vegetation of the Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Inyo National Forest, California. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.