Print Report

A3433 Carex aquatilis - Carex livida - Carex cusickii Alkaline Fen Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of herbaceous wetlands dominated by Carex species such as Carex aquatilis var. dives, Carex cusickii, Carex livida, and/or Carex utriculata. These wetlands are fens with neutral to alkaline pH (wetlands with at least 30 cm organic soils with an exposure to nutrient-rich groundwater) that occur in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Sedge - Livid Sedge - Cusick''s Sedge Alkaline Fen Alliance

Colloquial Name: North Pacific Sedge Alkaline Fen

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of herbaceous wetlands dominated by Carex species such as Carex aquatilis var. dives, Carex cusickii, Carex livida, and/or Carex utriculata. Shrubs, if present, are <25% cover. These wetlands are fens with neutral to alkaline pH (wetlands with at least 30 cm organic soils with an exposure to nutrient-rich groundwater) that occur in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Herbaceous neutral to alkaline fens dominated by Carex species.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Shrubs, if present, are <25% cover.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Herbaceous perennials generally <2 m in height.

Floristics: This alliance consists of herbaceous wetlands dominated by Carex species such as Carex aquatilis var. dives, Carex cusickii, Carex livida, and/or Carex utriculata.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  These wetlands are fens with neutral to alkaline pH (wetlands with at least 30 cm organic soils with an exposure to nutrient-rich groundwater).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found along the Pacific Coast from central coastal and southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon to northern California, in and west of the coastal mountain summits but including the Puget Sound lowlands.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC, CA, NT?, NU?, OR, WA, YT?


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation F016 2.C.2
Division 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division D029 2.C.2.Na
Macrogroup 2.C.2.Na.3 Beach Pine / Bog Labrador-tea / Cusick''s Sedge North Pacific Bog & Fen Macrogroup M063 2.C.2.Na.3
Group 2.C.2.Na.3.a Cusick''s Sedge - Water Sedge - Sweetgale Alkaline Fen Group G285 2.C.2.Na.3.a
Alliance A3433 Water Sedge - Livid Sedge - Cusick''s Sedge Alkaline Fen Alliance A3433 2.C.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001826 Sitka Sedge Fen CEGL001826 2.C.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL002679 Tufted Bulrush Pacific Fen CEGL002679 2.C.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL003332 Cusick''s Sedge - (Buckbean) Fen CEGL003332 2.C.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL003423 (Livid Sedge, Northwest Territory Sedge) / Peatmoss species Fen CEGL003423 2.C.2.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Carex (aquatilis, lenticularis) (Water sedge and Lakeshore sedge meadows) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.168.00]
? Carex (utriculata, vesicaria) (Beaked sedge and blister sedge meadows) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.121.00]
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.
  • 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.