Print Report

A3809 Heracleum maximum - Veratrum californicum - Rorippa spp. Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These tall robust forb-dominated meadows are dominated by Heracleum maximum, Rorippa alpina, Saussurea americana, or Veratrum californicum. They are usually found on seasonally saturated soils that dry by summer''s end in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Cow-parsnip - California False Hellebore - Yellowcress species Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Cow-parsnip - California False Hellebore - Yellowcress Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of tall robust forb-dominated meadows dominated by Heracleum maximum, Rorippa alpina, Saussurea americana, or Veratrum californicum. It occurs in subalpine meadows and some reach into the alpine of the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 1350-3510 m. Sites are moist, often concave, lower slopes and benches that temporarily flood or are saturated from snowmelt and remain moist most of the growing season. Slopes are generally low but can be moderately steep, up to 40%.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Wet to saturated meadows dominated by tall robust forb species, including Heracleum maximum, Rorippa alpina, Saussurea americana, or Veratrum californicum.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This combines three tall robust wet forb alliances into a single alliance as they all occur at similar altitudes and wet to saturated meadow environments. Description to be edited to be combined with more information added.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a dense herbaceous layer 0.8 to 1.2 m tall that is dominated by perennial forbs.

Floristics: This alliance is dominated by Heracleum maximum, Rorippa alpina, Saussurea americana, or Veratrum californicum. Stands often are rich in species composition where other forbs can be codominant to present and include Agastache urticifolia, Artemisia douglasiana, Delphinium glaucum, Delphinium x occidentale, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Epilobium halleanum, Epilobium lactiflorum (= Epilobium alpinum var. lactiflorum), Erigeron peregrinus, Gentiana newberryi, Geranium viscosissimum, Hydrophyllum occidentale, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus (= Lupinus latifolius var. subalpinus), Lupinus argenteus, Mimulus primuloides, Mitella breweri, Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii (= Aster alpigenus ssp. andersonii), Pedicularis bracteosa, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Senecio integerrimus, Symphyotrichum foliaceum (= Aster foliaceus), Thalictrum fendleri, Thalictrum occidentale, Vicia americana, and Viola glabella. Graminoids are also sometimes present but are generally less important than forbs in terms of cover and diversity. Graminoid species observed include Agrostis variabilis, Bromus aleutensis, Bromus carinatus, Carex abrupta, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus glaucus, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca subulata, Juncus nevadensis, Melica spectabilis, and Phleum alpinum.

Dynamics:  Some of the dominant forb species are highly palatable to livestock and decline when heavily grazed (Gregory 1983). Duration of snow cover determines when the growing season begins and may significantly limit the length of the growing season (Nachlinger 1985). Soil disturbance by mountain pocket gopher (Thomomys monticola) is common (Nachlinger 1985).
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs predominantly in subalpine and alpine elevations in the mountains, at elevations ranging from 1350-3510 m, with the highest elevations in the Rockies, the lowest in the Cascade Range. Sites are moist, often concave, shallow gullies, small streams, lower slopes and benches that are temporarily flooded with snowmelt in the spring and remain moist throughout the growing season. Stands can occur on moderately steep to steep slopes, but are more often found on flat to gentle slopes (Gregory 1983). Soils range from shallow poorly developed to deep well-drained loam and sandy clay loam to clay and silty clay (Nachlinger 1985).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, 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.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G521 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3809 Common Cow-parsnip - California False Hellebore - Yellowcress species Wet Meadow Alliance A3809 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001940 Common Cow-parsnip - Western Coneflower Wet Meadow CEGL001940 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001945 American Saw-wort - Common Cow-parsnip Wet Meadow CEGL001945 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001946 California False Hellebore Wet Meadow CEGL001946 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL002009 Alpine Yellowcress Wet Meadow CEGL002009 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL003318 American Skunk-cabbage Marsh CEGL003318 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL005857 Common Cow-parsnip Wet Meadow CEGL005857 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: A.1661, A.1663, and A.1700

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Veratro-Juncetum nevadensis association (Nachlinger 1985) [includes two subassociations.]
? Veratrum californicum (White corn lily patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.423.00]
? Veratrum californicum Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.423.00]
>< Graminoid Wet Meadow (Chappell et al. 1997)
? Wet Subalpine or Alpine Meadow (#45210) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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