Name:
Caltha leptosepala - Carex nigricans - Kalmia microphylla Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-shrubland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These are high-elevation communities found throughout the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West regions, dominated by herbaceous species found on wetter sites with very low-velocity surface and subsurface flows. They range in elevation from upper subalpine to alpine (1500-3600 m) depending on latitude. These types occur as large meadows in subalpine valleys, as narrow strips bordering ponds, lakes and streams, and along toeslope seeps. They are typically found on flat areas or gentle slopes, but may also occur on subirrigated sites with slopes up to 10%. In alpine regions, sites typically are small depressions located below late-melting snow patches or on snowbeds. Soils of this group are mineral or with a thin (<40 cm) organic layer over mineral layers (aka not peatland). Soils show hydric soil characteristics, including high organic content and/or low chroma and redoximorphic features. This group often occurs as a mosaic of several plant associations, often dominated by graminoids such as <i>Carex illota, Carex lachenalii, Carex nigricans, Carex vernacula, Deschampsia cespitosa, Juncus drummondii</i>, and forbs <i>Caltha leptosepala, Trollius laxus, Phippsia algida, Rorippa alpina, Sibbaldia procumbens</i>, and <i>Trifolium parryi</i>. Often scattered to moderately dense dwarf-shrubs are present, especially <i>Dasiphora, Kalmia, Salix</i> or <i>Vaccinium</i>, which when present form alpine dwarf-shrublands. Wet meadows are tightly associated with snowmelt and typically not subjected to high disturbance events such as flooding.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40203-{339E3A49-D138-4B79-A410-65D07C25A548}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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