Name:
Senecio triangularis Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association has large gaps in its documented range, occurring in the alpine/subalpine of Colorado and reported again in the mountains of Montana, eastern Oregon and northward into Alberta. This broadly distributed wetland type occurs in small and often linear patches. In Montana and Oregon this type has been well-documented as a riparian stringer of high-gradient, ephemeral, first- or second-order streams; water tables are at the surface throughout the summer. This type also occurs as a species-rich herb meadow on fluvial, residual and colluvial landforms, many of which are subject to snow avalanches. Its documented elevation range in Montana-Alberta is from 1225 to 2181 m (4020-7150 feet). All substrates are apparently relatively medium to coarse-textured and well-drained. However, all these seemingly disparate environments are subirrigated, with oxygenated water through most of the growing season. Shrubs are virtually absent, only Ribes spp. associated with wetlands are present in trace amounts. The graminoid component is also a minor presence with Poa alpina, Phleum alpinum, Juncus drummondii, Trisetum spicatum, Elymus glaucus, Glyceria striata (= Glyceria elata), and Carex disperma the reported species. The diagnostic forb Senecio triangularis is 100% constant and almost always the dominant, the only recorded exceptions being Chamerion spp. (= Epilobium spp.) which may increase markedly following disturbance. Other moderate to high-constancy forbs indicative of wet-site conditions include Trollius laxus, Parnassia fimbriata, Mimulus lewisii, Veratrum viride, Equisetum arvense, Thalictrum occidentale, Geum macrophyllum, Arnica cordifolia, and Ranunculus spp. Species more associated with the diverse forb meadow condition include Allium schoenoprasum, Arnica mollis, Angelica arguta, Castilleja rhexiifolia, Castilleja miniata, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Erigeron peregrinus, Epilobium spp. (including Epilobium ciliatum, Epilobium anagallidifolium (= Epilobium alpinum)), and Valeriana sitchensis.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.21634.SENECIOTRIANGUL
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
