Print Report

A3832 Carex nigricans - Sibbaldia procumbens - Trollius laxus Wet Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of Carex nigricans, Sibbaldia procumbens, or Trollius laxus that form low mats with an abundance of other forbs such as Parnassia fimbriata, Phippsia algida, Polygonum bistortoides, and Potentilla flabellifolia in moist to wet meadows, streambanks and depressions at subalpine and alpine elevations of the Cascade Range and Rocky Mountains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Alpine Sedge - Creeping Sibbaldia - American Globeflower Wet Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Black Alpine Sedge - Sibbaldia - Globeflower Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: In this alliance, Carex nigricans, Sibbaldia procumbens, or Trollius laxus form a low dominant mat with high average cover and frequency, and occasionally with codominance and even dominance of other forbs such as Parnassia fimbriata, Phippsia algida, Polygonum bistortoides, and Potentilla flabellifolia. Other prominent species are Luetkea pectinata, Polytrichum lyallii, Pseudoleskea radicosa, Vahlodea atropurpurea, and the lichen Lepraria neglecta. Phleum alpinum, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Juncus drummondii may also be abundant. Stands occur from 1750 m to 3540 m in elevation in snowbed habitats, where snow accumulates in the winter and melts late in summer and are found adjacent to melting snowbanks, in wet meadows, streambanks, and depressions in subalpine and alpine areas of the Cascade Range and Rocky Mountains.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Wet meadows dominated by Carex nigricans or a mix of the sedge with forbs such as Parnassia fimbriata, Phippsia algida, Sibbaldia procumbens, and Trollius laxus. Carex nigricans may not be present in all locations.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance has been extended geographically to include a diversity of companion forb species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by a mat-forming, rhizomatous, perennial graminoid with and without abundant forbs.

Floristics: Carex nigricans and/or Sibbaldia procumbens form a low spreading mat with high average cover. Other prominent species in Washington stands are Luetkea pectinata, Polytrichum lyallii (= Polytrichadelphus lyallii), Pseudoleskea radicosa (= Lescuraea radicosa), and Vahlodea atropurpurea (= Deschampsia atropurpurea) and the lichen Lepraria neglecta (Douglas and Bliss 1977). In Colorado, Komarkova (1976) reports that Phleum alpinum, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Juncus drummondii can be abundant. The moss layer in the Colorado stands is poorly developed. In Wyoming, Juncus drummondii, Lewisia pygmaea, Polygonum bistortoides, and Potentilla diversifolia are common associates. The moss Polytrichum juniperinum may occur in the cryptogam layer.

Dynamics:  None known at this time.
Environmental Description:  Moisture of stands varies from meadows where soils dry fairly early in the growing season, to stands located in areas with late-lying snowpatches that remain moist throughout the growing season. Stands occur in meadows, on streambanks, and in depressions in subalpine and alpine areas. Elevations range from 1750 to 2150 m in the Cascade Range, and from 3210 to 3540 m in Colorado and Wyoming. Sites typically are small depressions located below late-melting snowpatches, gently inclined (0-22%), and snow-free for 3-4 months. Soils are poorly drained and may have some peat development. Soil pH levels range from 4.2-5.1. In Wyoming, parent material is granite or quartzite and the soils are poorly developed Inceptisols (Cryochrepts).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Alberta, Canada, and the Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, BC, CA?, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, 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.c White Marsh-marigold - Black Alpine Sedge - Alpine Laurel Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-shrubland Group G520 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Alliance A3832 Black Alpine Sedge - Creeping Sibbaldia - American Globeflower Wet Meadow Alliance A3832 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001816 Black Alpine Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL001816 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001817 Black Alpine Sedge - White Avalanche-lily Wet Meadow CEGL001817 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001818 Black Alpine Sedge - Drummond''s Rush Wet Meadow CEGL001818 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001819 Black Alpine Sedge - Partridgefoot Wet Meadow CEGL001819 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001933 Creeping Sibbaldia - American Bistort Wet Meadow CEGL001933 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL001981 High Mountain Cinquefoil - American Bistort Wet Meadow CEGL001981 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL005824 Black Alpine Sedge - Creeping Sibbaldia Wet Meadow CEGL005824 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL005858 American Globeflower - Fringed Grass-of-Parnassus Wet Meadow CEGL005858 2.C.4.Nb.5.c
Concept Lineage: A. 1418, A.2631, A.1635

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Carex spp. Series (Johnston 1987)
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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