Print Report

A3806 Carex praegracilis - Carex scopulorum - Eleocharis quinqueflora Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of wet meadows of montane and subalpine altitudes in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains. Vegetation is dominated by Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, and/or Carex praegracilis. Saturated soils support the communities throughout the growing season, and vegetation is dense.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Clustered Field Sedge - Mountain Sedge - Few-flower Spikerush Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Clustered Field Sedge - Mountain Sedge - Few-flower Spikerush Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance covers vegetation dominated by Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, and/or Carex praegracilis. Other graminoid species that may be present include Agrostis humilis, Alopecurus magellanicus, Calamagrostis stricta, Carex aquatilis, Carex illota, Carex jonesii, Carex nigricans, Carex phaeocephala, Carex utriculata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis quinqueflora, and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis. The forb stratum may be present and species include Caltha leptosepala, Cicuta douglasii, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Equisetum arvense, Ligusticum filicinum, Mimulus primuloides, Oreostemma alpigenum, Parnassia fimbriata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Saxifraga odontoloma, and Senecio hydrophilus. These wet meadows occur at montane and subalpine altitudes in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains. Saturated soils support the communities throughout the growing season, and vegetation is dense. These seasonally flooded grasslands occur in wet meadows and moist swales and adjacent to seeps, springs, and stream channels in the subalpine and alpine elevations. The majority of the sites are relatively flat (1-4% slope). Soils are variable. The water table is usually near the soil surface and soils are generally poorly drained.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Montane and subalpine vegetation is dominated by Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, and/or Carex praegracilis.

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: This alliance is characterized by rhizomatous, perennial graminoids, less than 2 m in height.

Floristics: Vegetation is dominated by Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, and/or Carex praegracilis. Other graminoid species that may be present include Agrostis humilis (= Agrostis thurberiana), Alopecurus magellanicus (= Alopecurus alpinus), Calamagrostis stricta, Carex aquatilis, Carex illota, Carex jonesii, Carex nigricans, Carex phaeocephala, Carex simulata, Carex utriculata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis quinqueflora (= Eleocharis pauciflora), and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus). Forb cover is generally low and species include Caltha leptosepala, Cicuta douglasii, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Equisetum arvense, Ligusticum filicinum, Mimulus primuloides, Oreostemma alpigenum (= Aster alpigenus), Parnassia fimbriata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Saxifraga odontoloma, and Senecio hydrophilus, and Triglochin maritima.

Dynamics:  Vegetation types within this alliance usually represent undisturbed sites that are stable (Manning and Padgett 1995). Moderate disturbance can convert this community to a mesic forb type while continued disturbance can result in bare ground. Minor fluctuations in water levels do not change species composition (Youngblood et al. 1985a).
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs in wet meadows, moist swales, adjacent to seeps, springs, stream channels, marshy areas or melting snowfields, including the headwaters of creeks. Elevations range from approximately 1300-3900 m. The majority of the sites are relatively flat (1-10% slope). Soils are variable. Some sites have fairly deep soils that range from heavy clays to sandy clay loams. Surface water is typically present for extended periods or the water table is near the soil surface for much of the growing season. Redox depletions or reduced matrices are common throughout the profile. Soils are mineral often with a high organic matter content.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains.

Nations: CA,MX,US

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


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.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.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G521 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3806 Clustered Field Sedge - Mountain Sedge - Few-flower Spikerush Wet Meadow Alliance A3806 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001822 Mountain Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL001822 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001823 Mountain Sedge - White Marsh-marigold Wet Meadow CEGL001823 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001825 Analogue Sedge Fen CEGL001825 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001836 Few-flower Spikerush Fen CEGL001836 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001837 Few-flower Spikerush - Mountain Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL001837 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL002660 Clustered Field Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL002660 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL008664 Mountain Sedge - Bull Elephant''s-head Wet Meadow CEGL008664 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: A.1420, A.1419, and A.1469

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Carex scopulorum (Sierra alpine sedge turf) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.120.00]
? Carex scopulorum Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.120.00]
? Carex spp. Series (Johnston 1987)
>< Eleocharis quinqueflora (Few-flowered spike rush marshes) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.231.01]
>< Eleocharis quinqueflora Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.220.00]
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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