Synonymy

Sphagneto-Caricetum alpinum McVean & Ratcliffe 1962, Eddy et al. 1969; Alpine Carex-Sphagnum mire Ratcliffe 1964; Carex aquatilis-rariflora nodum McVean & Ratcliffe 1962, Ratcliffe 1964; Violo-Epilobietum sphagnetosum recurvae Jones 1973 p.p.; Caricetum nigrae Dierssen 1982 p.p.; Caricetum rariflorae Dierssen 1982; Drepanoclado exannulati-Caricetum aquatilis Dierssen 1982 p.p.

Constant species

Carex curta, C. echinata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Viola palustris, Sphagnum papillosum, S. russowii.

Rare species

Carex aquatilis, C. rariflora, Sphagnum lindbergii, S. riparium.

Physiognomy

The Carex curta-Sphagnum russowii mire is a community whose prominent cyperaceous and Sphagnum components both have a distinct northern and montane character. Among the former element, Eriophorum angustifolium and Carex echinata are both very frequent and provide a floristic link with the lower-altitude Carex echinata-Sphagnum mire; the latter species can be abundant here and is sometimes co-dominant in the sedge canopy. But, in contrast to that community, the Continental Northern Carex curta is a constant in this kind of mire and is quite frequently of high cover; and it is often accompanied by either the Arctic-Alpine C. bigelowii or the Arctic-Subarctic C. aquatilis and C. rariflora. C. nigra can also occur, sometimes in abundance, but C. rostrata, which can accompany it in some wetter Caricion nigrae mires, is typically scarce and of low cover. Scirpus cespitosus is occasionally found and, particularly in transitions to blanket mire, there may be a little Eriophorum vaginatum. Juncus bulbosuslkochii and J. squarrosus occur at low frequencies but, in contrast to the Carex echinata-Sphagnum mire, bulkier Junci, like J. effusus and J. acutiflorus, are very scarce here and do not function as alternative dominants over the Sphagnum carpet.

As in other Scheuchzerietalia mires, this carpet is typically very extensive and some of the prominent species are of wide distribution. Thus, Sphagnum papillosum is common throughout and it can be very abundant, especially where the community grades to surrounding blanket mire. Then, in the different subcommunities, there can be frequent records for S. subnitens, S. auriculatum, S. capillifolium or S. recurvum. Much more distinctive here is the constancy of the northern, high-altitude species S. russowii and, in one of the sub-communities, S. lindbergii. S. girgensohnii may also be found and S. riparium occurs in this community at some of its few Scottish stations. In contrast to more base-rich mires at high altitudes, S. warnstorfii and S. contortum are typically absent.