Print Report

A3810 Saxifraga odontoloma - Senecio triangularis - Mertensia ciliata Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of wet, forb-dominated meadows with Cardamine cordifolia, Mertensia ciliata, Saxifraga odontoloma, or Senecio triangularis singly or in any combination. Sites are adjacent to streamsides, seeps, marshes, and springs in the subalpine and lower alpine areas in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges and Rocky Mountains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Brook Saxifrage - Arrowleaf Ragwort - Mountain Bluebells Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Brook Saxifrage - Arrowleaf Ragwort - Mountain Bluebells Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This herbaceous alliance has Cardamine cordifolia, Mertensia ciliata, Saxifraga odontoloma, or Senecio triangularis singly or in any combination dominating the forb layer. Other constants include Deschampsia cespitosa, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Juncus drummondii, or Primula parryi, among many other species. The alliance occurs adjacent to streamsides, seeps, marshes, and springs, where soils are stabilized on gentle, moderate to steep slopes. Sites occur within subalpine and lower alpine elevations (1700-3540 m) in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges and the Rocky Mountains.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Wet meadows and streamsides in the mountains, including alpine altitudes, where Cardamine cordifolia, Mertensia ciliata, Saxifraga odontoloma, or Senecio triangularis singly or in any combination dominate the forb layer.

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 a perennial forb that dominates the forb stratum, generally less than 0.5 m in height.

Floristics: This herbaceous alliance is dominated by forbs and includes Cardamine cordifolia, Mertensia ciliata, Saxifraga odontoloma, or Senecio triangularis singly or in any combination. Associate species include other forbs such as Aconitum columbianum, Aquilegia spp., Epilobium anagallidifolium, Epilobium ciliatum, Ligusticum filicinum, Ligusticum grayi, Mimulus guttatus, Mimulus lewisii, Mitella pentandra, Parnassia fimbriata, Primula parryi, Thalictrum occidentale, and Trollius laxus. Associate graminoids include Agrostis exarata, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp., Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus glaucus, Juncus drummondii, and other Juncus spp.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs adjacent to low- and high-gradient streams, seeps, marshes, and springs on stabilized slopes in subalpine and lower alpine areas, ranging from 1700-3540 m in elevation. Soils are saturated near the surface for most of the growing season. Soil texture is variable and ranges from deposits of sand and silt, to silty clay loam. They are generally shallow and skeletal, although some stands occur on deeper more organic layers, but rock and gravel are still evident at the surface. Stands occur on gentle, moderate to steep slopes. They can be within large wetland mosaics on wide relatively flat areas or small patches on mid and lower slopes and toeslopes near seeps.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Cascade Range, Intermountain West ranges and Rocky Mountains.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AK?, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, 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 A3810 Brook Saxifrage - Arrowleaf Ragwort - Mountain Bluebells Wet Meadow Alliance A3810 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001985 Brook Saxifrage Wet Meadow CEGL001985 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001987 Arrowleaf Ragwort Wet Meadow CEGL001987 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001988 Arrowleaf Ragwort - Seep Monkeyflower Wet Meadow CEGL001988 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001989 Arrowleaf Ragwort - California False Hellebore Wet Meadow CEGL001989 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL002662 Heartleaf Bittercress - Tall Fringed Bluebells - Arrowleaf Ragwort Wet Meadow CEGL002662 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL003127 Showy Sedge - Arrowleaf Ragwort Wet Meadow CEGL003127 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: A.1666, A.1667, A.1680, and A.1699

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Ligustico filicinum-Senecietum triangularis Association (Komarkova 1976)
? Saxifraga spp. Series (Johnston 1987)
>< Senecio triangularis-Agrostis exarata community type (Mattson 1984)
>< Senecio triangularis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
>< Arrowleaf Groundsel Association (Kovalchik 1987)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, D. Culver, and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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