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A.1382 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1382
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This semi-natural grassland is widespread in the western U.S. and northern Great Plains where it has invaded natural meadows and riparian areas. Elevation ranges from 1100-2625 m (3600-8600 feet). Sites are generally flat to moderately sloping and occur on all aspects. Stands typically occur on pastures found in the plains, montane meadows, stream benches and terraces. In the semi-arid region it is restricted to relatively mesic sites. Soils are highly variable, but ~Poa pratensis$ grows best on moist, fertile sandy to clayey alluvium with high organic content. It does not tolerate prolonged flooding, high water tables or poor drainage well. However, it can tolerate mildly alkaline and saline soils, and some drought. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous canopy that is strongly dominated by the introduced perennial, sod-forming graminoid ~Poa pratensis$. ~Poa pratensis$ has invaded many other natural plant associations, but the diagnostic character in this association is that there is typically not enough of the native grassland left to classify it as a poor-condition natural type. Associates are often those early-seral and weedy species that tolerate historic heavy livestock grazing or other disturbance well, such as ~Achillea millefolium, Cirsium arvense, Elymus repens, Equisetum$ spp., ~Fragaria virginiana, Hordeum$ spp., ~Juncus balticus, Linaria vulgaris, Potentilla gracilis, Taraxacum officinale$, and introduced forage species such as ~Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis$, and ~Phleum pratense$. Remnant natives ~Pascopyrum smithii, Deschampsia caespitosa$, and ~Carex$ spp. are often present in low cover. Occasional trees and shrubs may also be present. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1155.A1382
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.k
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: POA PRATENSIS SEMI-NATURAL SEASONALLY FLOODED HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1382
  Common: Kentucky Bluegrass Semi-natural Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Poa pratensis Semi-natural Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Alliance