Carex simulata Herbaceous Alliance
Short-beaked sedge fens
Short-beaked sedge fens
USDA Ecological Section Map
Summary Information
- Primary Life FormHerb
- Elevation1100-3300 m
- State RarityS3
- Global RarityG4
- DistributionUSA: CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY (NatureServe)
- Endemic to CaliforniaNo
- Endemic to California Floristic Province and DesertsNo
- Date Added2009/09/01
Characteristic Species
Carex simulata is dominant or co-dominant in the herbaceous layer with Bistorta bistortoides, Carex aquatilis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex scopulorum, Carex utriculata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Epilobium ciliatum, Juncus arcticus, Juncus nevadensis, Mimulus primuloides, Muhlenbergia filiformis, Scirpus microcarpus and/or Viola macloskeyi. Mosses may be abundant, including Aulacomnium palustre, Philonotis fontana or Sphagnum spp.
Vegetation Layers
Herbs < 1 m; cover is intermittent to continuous.
Membership Rules
- Carex simulata > 50% relative cover in the herbaceous layer (Potter 2005).
- Carex simulata present and conspicuous (Boul et al. 2021b).
- Carex simulata ranges from 25-65% cover (NatureServe 2019).
Habitats
Basins or riparian meadows, seeps, fens, stream banks. Soils are often dark brown to black in color. Soils are deep and mucky from high organic content and are typically saturated to the surface. The USFWS Wetland Inventory (2012 national list) recognizes Carex simulata as a OBL plant.
Other Habitat, Alliance and Community Groupings
MCV (1995) | Sedge series |
NVCS (2009) | Carex simulata saturated herbaceous alliance |
Calveg | Wet grasses and forbs, Tule-Cattail |
Holland | Wet montane meadow, Wet subalpine or alpine meadow, Fen |
Munz | Freshwater marsh |
WHR | Wet meadow |
CDFW CA Code | 45.190.00 |
National Vegetation Classification Hierarchy
Formation Class | Mesomorphic Shrub and Herb Vegetation (Shrubland and Grassland) |
Formation Subclass | Temperate and Boreal Shrubland and Grassland |
Formation | Temperate and Boreal Freshwater Marsh |
Division | Western North American Freshwater Marsh |
Macro Group | Western North America Wet Meadow and Low Shrub Carr |
Group | Western Cordilleran montane-boreal summer-saturated meadow |
Remarks
Carex simulata is a robust, rhizomatous sedge with tufted culms to 90 cm. Plants are dioecious with few flowering individuals present; this characteristic may be useful for field identification because stands often appear as all-staminate or all-pistillate plants (Potter 2005).
The National Vegetation Classification recognizes a Carex simulata Association throughout the western cordillera of North America at foothill and montane elevations in perennially saturated sites (NatureServe 2019). The ground surface is often hummocky and may 'quake' due to deep organic mats and subsurface groundwater (Hansen et al. 1995, Johnston 1987, Padgett et al. 1989, Youngblood et al. 1985, 1989).
From Oregon to Wyoming, deep-water stands of C. simulata have deep mud and organic matter accumulations and sparsely to continuously distributed plants (Christy 2004). In California, herbaceous cover is generally more continuous and stands are less hydric than other montane alliances, such as the Carex (utriculata, vesicaria) or Eleocharis quinqueflora alliances (Potter 2005).
In general, stands of this alliance are characterized by more or less continuous cover of grass-like plants: Carex simulata is dominant, but other typical species include C. aquatilis, C. utriculata, C. nebrascensis, Juncus balticus, and various forbs. (If these associated species are present, but C. simulata is absent, then the stand does not belong to this alliance) (NatureServe 2019). Stands develop from one or more rhizomatous individuals of C. simulata, which has dense root systems. Stands typically have low species richness, and there may be areas of mud, shallow water, litter, and/or high cover of Sphagnum spp. or other mosses between plants.
The high cover and constancy of Carex nebrascensis in stands of northeastern California and the Sierra Nevada (Manning and Padget 1995, S. Smith 1998, Potter 2005) suggest that the C. simulata and C. nebrascensis alliances are closely allied ecologically. Stands of C. simulata may also intergrade with stands of Eleocharis quinqueflora or C. limosa alliances (NatureServe 2019). Further review of wet meadow and fen alliances is needed to determine if broader alliance designations combining related types are warranted.
The National Vegetation Classification recognizes a Carex simulata Association throughout the western cordillera of North America at foothill and montane elevations in perennially saturated sites (NatureServe 2019). The ground surface is often hummocky and may 'quake' due to deep organic mats and subsurface groundwater (Hansen et al. 1995, Johnston 1987, Padgett et al. 1989, Youngblood et al. 1985, 1989).
From Oregon to Wyoming, deep-water stands of C. simulata have deep mud and organic matter accumulations and sparsely to continuously distributed plants (Christy 2004). In California, herbaceous cover is generally more continuous and stands are less hydric than other montane alliances, such as the Carex (utriculata, vesicaria) or Eleocharis quinqueflora alliances (Potter 2005).
In general, stands of this alliance are characterized by more or less continuous cover of grass-like plants: Carex simulata is dominant, but other typical species include C. aquatilis, C. utriculata, C. nebrascensis, Juncus balticus, and various forbs. (If these associated species are present, but C. simulata is absent, then the stand does not belong to this alliance) (NatureServe 2019). Stands develop from one or more rhizomatous individuals of C. simulata, which has dense root systems. Stands typically have low species richness, and there may be areas of mud, shallow water, litter, and/or high cover of Sphagnum spp. or other mosses between plants.
The high cover and constancy of Carex nebrascensis in stands of northeastern California and the Sierra Nevada (Manning and Padget 1995, S. Smith 1998, Potter 2005) suggest that the C. simulata and C. nebrascensis alliances are closely allied ecologically. Stands of C. simulata may also intergrade with stands of Eleocharis quinqueflora or C. limosa alliances (NatureServe 2019). Further review of wet meadow and fen alliances is needed to determine if broader alliance designations combining related types are warranted.
Life History Traits of the Principal Species
Carex simulata | |
---|---|
Life forms | Polycarpic perennial; herb; rhizomatous |
Seed storage | Transient |
Seed longevity | Short |
Mode of dispersal | Animal; gravity; water/hydrological |
Germination agents | Stratification—winter |
Mode of sprouting | Underground structures |
Survivability after fire/disturbance | Fire-hardy; high sprouter |
Disturbance-stimulated flowering | No |
Reproductive range | Long-lived |
Recruitment | Low; episodic |
Regional variation | Low |
Fire Characteristics
Fluvial processes rather than fire primarily disturb the alliance.
Fire return interval | — |
Seasonality | — |
Size/extent | — |
Complexity | — |
Intensity | — |
Severity | — |
Type | — |
Regional knowledge | — |
Regional Status
The range of Carex simulata includes the Central California Coast (261A), Klamath Mountains (M261A), Mono (341D), and Northern California Coast (263A).
- Modoc Plateau (M261Gf). Stands in the Warner Mountains, which are not herb rich, occur mostly in perennially saturated seeps and springs (S. Smith 1998b).
- Sierra Nevada (M261Ed-e, Eg-h, Ek-o, Eq-r, Et-u). Stands in the Lake Tahoe area (Beguin and Major 1975, Burke 1987, Nachlinger 1985) in the eastern Sierra Nevada, including the Carson Range (Manning and Padgett 1995, Weixelman et al. 1999), and elsewhere in the section (Potter 2005) occur in basin and transitional fens (Cooper and Wolf 2006). Potter (2005) suggested that stands typically are not found on the volcanic substrates in the high elevations north of Yosemite National Park.
- Southern Cascades (M261Da, Dc-d, Df, Di-j, Dl-m). Stands occur at montane elevations (S. Smith 1998b) in basin and transitional fens (Cooper and Wolf 2006).
Management Considerations
Carex simulata stands appear to be relatively stable. They typically occur in extremely wet sites not attractive to livestock; however, they are susceptible to grazing, especially in drier areas (S. Smith 1998b, Potter 2005). Livestock trampling or disrupted water supplies associated with continuous grazing or a lowering water table allow stands to transition to C. nebrascensis stands (S. Smith 1998b).
Associations
- Carex simulata [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]
- Carex simulata / Aulacomnium palustre [3]
- Carex simulata - Carex utriculata [1], [2], [3]
- Carex simulata - Carex vesicaria [2]
- Carex simulata / Philonotis fontana [3]
References
- [1] Beguin, C.N.;Major, J. 1975
- [2] Burke, M.T. 1987
- [3] Cooper, D.J.;Wolf, E.C. 2006
- [4] Manning, M.E.;Padgett, W.G. 1995
- [5] Nachlinger, J.L. 1985
- [6] Potter, D.A. 2005
- [7] Smith, S. 1998b
- [8] Boul, R.;Keeler-Wolf, T.;Ratchford, J.;Haynes, T.;Hickson, D.;Yacoub, R.;Harbert, B.;Evens, J. 2021b
- Christy, J.A. 2004
- NatureServe, 2014+
- Padgett, W.G.;Youngblood, A.P.;Winward, A.H. 1989
- Weixelman, D.A.;Zamudio, D.C.;Zamudio, K.A. 1999