Name:
Deschampsia caespitosa - Caltha leptosepala Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This alpine to upper subalpine mesic to wet meadow association occurs in the southern and central Rocky Mountains. Stands are found in broad alpine and subalpine valley bottoms, on concave benches and in small openings in spruce-fir forest generally where moisture accumulates. Sites have moderate to heavy snow accumulation or occur in areas of moisture accumulation, such as areas near late-melting snowpatches located on lee sides of saddles, ridges and knolls. Sites are generally flat or concave to gently sloping (<15%) but occur on steeper slopes where they receive moisture from late-melting snowbanks. Aspects are often northerly, but this association may occur on any aspect where subirrigated. Substrates are saturated during spring snowmelt and have a high water table throughout the growing season. Surface layers may dry out in late summer. Soils are moderately deep to deep, poorly drained mineral soils with high organic content derived from alluvium, basalt, gneiss, granite, or sandstone. Soil texture ranges from silt loam to sandy clay to clay. Cover of gravel and rock is low, cover of bare ground is low to moderate, and cover of litter and duff is generally high. The vegetation is characterized by a dense herbaceous layer and may be dominated by <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i> and <i>Caltha leptosepala</i>. Either graminoids or forbs may dominate the herbaceous layer. Other important herbaceous species include graminoids <i>Agrostis humilis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex heteroneura var. chalciolepis (= Carex atrata), Carex microptera (= Carex festivella), Carex haydenii, Carex illota, Carex nigricans, Carex paysonis, Carex phaeocephala, Carex scopulorum, Carex utriculata, Juncus balticus, Juncus drummondii, Poa reflexa, Phleum alpinum, Trisetum wolfii</i>, and forbs <i>Achillea millefolium, Symphyotrichum foliaceum (= Aster foliaceus), Claytonia lanceolata, Erigeron eximius, Erigeron peregrinus, Epilobium halleanum (= Epilobium brevistylum), Galium trifidum, Packera crocata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Polygonum viviparum, Ranunculus alismifolius, Rhodiola rhodantha, Senecio crassulus, Packera streptanthifolia (= Senecio cymbalarioides), Stellaria umbellata, Rhodiola rhodantha (= Sedum rhodanthum)</i>, and <i>Veronica wormskjoldii</i>. If <i>Geum rossii</i> is present, it does not codominate. Widely scattered <i>Salix planifolia</i> shrubs may be present.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33673.CEGL001882
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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