Print Report

A3946 Athyrium filix-femina - Chamerion angustifolium - Calamagrostis canadensis Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes mesic herbaceous meadows codominated by a mix of Athyrium filix-femina, Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium, and/or Calamagrostis canadensis. It occurs as balds and meadows on slopes with a mesic moisture regime, including windswept coastal headlands, coastal bluffs, old beach ridges, hillside slopes, stabilized talus, alluvial fans, rolling hills, alluvial slopes, below subalpine shrublands, and ravine sideslopes in Alaska and possibly British Columbia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Ladyfern - Fireweed - Bluejoint Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Common Ladyfern - Fireweed - Bluejoint Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes mesic herbaceous meadows codominated by a mix of Athyrium filix-femina, Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium, and Calamagrostis canadensis. This herbaceous alliance is found on the Alaska peninsula, Aleutian Islands and Kodiak Island, and extends south along the coastal maritime region to southeastern Alaska, and may also occur in British Columbia. It occurs as balds and meadows on slopes with a mesic moisture regime, including windswept coastal headlands, coastal bluffs, old beach ridges, hillside slopes, stabilized talus, alluvial fans, rolling hills, alluvial slopes, below subalpine shrublands, and ravine sideslopes. Soils are typically mesic, well-drained, and underlain by colluvium, alluvium, glacial till or residuum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Mesic meadows where Athyrium filix-femina, Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium, and/or Calamagrostis canadensis are all present.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Usually a mix of several species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This alliance contains associations that are mesic meadows dominated by Athyrium filix-femina, Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium, and/or Calamagrostis canadensis. Some stands are an even mix of the three nominal species, other associations are dominated by one of these species solely or with other species such as Angelica lucida, Heracleum maximum, Streptopus amplexifolius, and Veratrum viride. The graminoid Calamagrostis canadensis may be present to codominant with several of these forb species as well.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This herbaceous alliance occurs as balds and meadows on slopes with a mesic moisture regime, including windswept coastal headlands, coastal bluffs, old beach ridges, hillside slopes, stabilized talus, alluvial fans, rolling hills, alluvial slopes, below subalpine shrublands, and ravine sideslopes. Soils are typically mesic, well-drained, and underlain by colluvium, alluvium, glacial till or residuum.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on the Alaska peninsula, Aleutian Islands and Kodiak Island, and extends south along the coastal maritime region to southeastern Alaska. It may also occur in British Columbia.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC?


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.5 Northern Vancouverian Lowland-Montane Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M172 2.B.2.Nf.5
Group 2.B.2.Nf.5.b Bluejoint - Fireweed - Common Ladyfern Grassland & Meadow Group G355 2.B.2.Nf.5.b
Alliance A3946 Common Ladyfern - Fireweed - Bluejoint Meadow Alliance A3946 2.B.2.Nf.5.b
Concept Lineage: A3943, A3944, and A3945 merged into A3946.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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
  • 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.