Carex-Poa meadow (Type III) is the most extensive vegetation type, covering 41% of the research area. Bryophytes, primarily mosses, and lichens cover relatively larger areas than do the graminoids. The mosses Pogonatum alpinum and Dicranum elongatum and the lichens Cetraria richardsonii and Dactylina arctica are characteristic species. The Carex-Oncophorus meadow, Dupontia meadow, and Carex-Eriophorum meadow all have the same superficial meadow physiognomy. The Carex-Poa meadow is separated from the other meadow vegetation types by the abundance of Poa arctica, which is prominent when in flower, and by the presence of a high lichen diversity. Carex-Poa meadow is best developed in the drier parts of the polygonized sedge meadow complex where large, flat, and sometimes slightly raised low-centered polygons with barely discernible troughs occur. The Carex-Poa meadow is also common on hummocky rims of low-centered polygons in wetter areas and in areas with pronounced polygon development.Carex-Oncophorus meadow (Type IV), the second most extensive vegetation type, occupying 2\% of the map area, develops on moister sites than the Carex-Poa meadow. It occurs on flat polygon centers and in drained, shallow polygon troughs. It is distinguished from Carex-Poa meadow on the basis of reduced lichen cover and the presence of mosses such as Calliergon sarmentosum, Oncophorus wahlenbergii, and Aulacomnium turgidum, and of Dupontia fisheri and Peltigera aphthosa. The Carex-Oncophorus meadow has the greatest number of graminoid species and was the vegetation type most intensively studied during the Tundra Biome program.Dupontia meadow (Type V) occupies l^o of the mapped area. It is characteristic of flat, slowly draining sites and wet polygon troughs. Eriophorum russeolum is also common in this type, but the low cover of Carex and the greater abundance of Dupontia and Eriophorum angustifolium distinguish it from the other meadow types. Woody dicotyledons are essentially absent but several forbs occur. Cerastium Jenisejense, Stellaria edwardsii and S. laeta may form distinctive mats, and Saxifraga cernua is a common erect forb.
The vegetation that composes the Carex-Eriophorum meadowThe Coastal Tundra at Barrow 29 (Type VI) is variable. This type includes the sparse vegetation of the basins of low-centered polygons as well as the more abundant vegetation of some pond margins. It has no woody species, and only a few lichens.Saxifraga foliolosa is characteristic of the basins and CalUergon sarmentosum is characteristic of the pond margins. Drepanocladus brevifolius is common throughout this type. Low species diversity, thick organic mat, and highly organic soils distinguish Type VI from the other meadow types. Spring snow cover on this type is moderately deep and late to recede.The vegetation type termed Arctophila pond margin (Type VII) is also found in slow-flowing streams and is the most distinct of the principal types, although it occupies only Z^/o of the area. Woody plants and hchens are totally absent. Single-shooted graminoi...