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Carex bigelowii Herbaceous Vegetation | Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Carex bigelowii Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference: Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description: These alpine meadows are restricted to the highest elevations of the Northern Appalachians. Low temperatures, heavy fog and high winds result in an unusually severe climate. These meadows are typically found at the highest elevations, generally over 4800 feet, on north and west slopes, where there is both high moisture intercept (from precipitation or fog) and lower snow cover than in some other alpine habitats. The soils are typically thin, acidic and have a low moisture-holding capacity, consisting of organic turf over stone, gravel or coarse sediment. The ground cover is graminoid litter. Graminoids, almost entirely Carex bigelowii, dominate the vegetation. Associated species include Minuartia groenlandica, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata), and minor amounts of Vaccinium vitis-idaea or other heaths. This association may grade into the more widespread alpine sedge-rush-heath association, Vaccinium uliginosum - Rhododendron lapponicum / Juncus trifidus Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL006298), but is distinguished by the greater abundance of Carex bigelowii than of all other species combined. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.25072.CAREXBIGELOWIIH
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Bigelow's Sedge Herbaceous Vegetation
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687539 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL006081
  Scientific: Carex bigelowii Herbaceous Vegetation
  Common: Bigelow's Sedge Alpine Meadow
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Carex bigelowii Herbaceous Vegetation