Name:
Caltha leptosepala Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This wet meadow association occurs in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, west into Utah and Idaho. Stands occur in the subalpine and lower alpine zones on perennially saturated ground in narrow forest openings to broad mountain valley bottoms and is often associated with shallow seeps on hillslopes. This association typically occupies seeps, streamsides, springs, and wet, subirrigated meadows and on slopes up to 30%. Substrates are always saturated at the surface with moderate to high water-holding capacity and fine-loamy, fine, and clayey skeletal particle size classes. Soils are somewhat variable, ranging in texture from organic muck and peat to sandy loam to fine-textured and originating from organic deposits, glacial-fluvial deposits, or granitic igneous rock. Litter and duff are typically 10-20% cover, and moss can cover up to 50% of the ground surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense (30-100% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by <i>Caltha leptosepala</i> and low cover of <i>Cardamine cordifolia</i> and <i>Rhodiola rhodantha (= Sedum rhodanthum)</i>. Many graminoids and forbs that tolerate long-term soil saturation may also be present. <i>Carex aquatilis</i> is very common and is sometimes a codominant with <i>Caltha leptosepala</i>. <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i> may be present in small amounts. Other common associates include graminoids <i>Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis</i> (and many other wet sedges), <i>Eleocharis</i> spp., <i>Poa arctica, Juncus drummondii</i>, and forbs <i>Arnica mollis, Erigeron peregrinus, Equisetum arvense, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Oxypolis fendleri, Parnassia fimbriata, Pedicularis groenlandica, Polygonum bistortoides, Senecio triangularis, Sibbaldia procumbens, Stellaria umbellata, Swertia perennis</i>, and <i>Trollius laxus ssp. albiflorus</i>. Scattered shrubs may be present. Stands can be recognized by the prominence of <i>Caltha leptosepala</i>, a near absence of shrubs, and low cover of <i>Cardamine cordifolia</i> and <i>Rhodiola rhodantha</i>. In forest openings this association is found with <i>Salix planifolia</i> shrublands and <i>Carex aquatilis</i> and <i>Senecio triangularis</i> meadows. On high-elevation peatlands it occurs with stands of <i>Eleocharis quinqueflora</i> and <i>Salix planifolia</i> shrublands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.34094.CEGL001954
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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