Name:
Festuca idahoensis Herbaceous Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These grasslands are characteristic of the Palouse Prairie on the Columbia Plateau but extend east into the Rocky Mountains and south into the Great Basin. Stands are found on undulating prairie, valley bottoms, canyon benches, and expansive park meadow openings in montane and subalpine forests, on ridges above subalpine forests in the Rocky Mountains, on coastal terraces and inland bald hills, and glacial outwash plains. Stands also occur in coastal and inland prairies on the western side of the Cascade Range. Soils are moderately to well-drained, loams or silt loams or silty clays, that are generally deep, and derived from alluvium, colluvium, or loess. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by the dominance or codominance of Festuca idahoensis. Other important species may include Sericocarpus rigidus (= Aster curtus), Carex filifolia, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex obtusata, Danthonia intermedia, Elymus caninus, Elymus trachycaulus, Eriogonum caespitosum, Eriogonum heracleoides, Festuca thurberi, Geranium caespitosum, Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, or Achnatherum richardsonii (= Stipa richardsonii). Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs, such as species of Symphoricarpos and Rosa, are present in some stands. Diagnostic of this widespread grassland alliance is the dominance or codominance of Festuca idahoensis.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18431.FESTUCAIDAHOENS
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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