Name:
Pascopyrum smithii Herbaceous Alliance
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This alliance is common and widespread in the Great Plains, especially the northern portions, and parts of the intermountain western U.S. and possibly Canada. The communities in it range from dry or dry-mesic to wet-mesic. Mid grasses are the dominant vegetation in most communities, although short grasses and sedges can be codominant. The vegetation tends to be denser where the mid grasses are predominant and more open where shorter graminoids are abundant. The mid grasses grow to 0.5-1.0 m on favorable sites, while the short grasses and sedges are less than 0.5 m tall. The most abundant midgrass is Pascopyrum smithii. Common associates include Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Nassella viridula, Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea), and Poa spp. In the drier communities of this alliance Bouteloua gracilis is the most common shortgrass. Other short graminoids typically found in the drier communities include Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex duriuscula (= Carex eleocharis), Carex filifolia, and Bouteloua curtipendula (in the northern portion of this alliance's range), Aristida purpurea, and Buchloe dactyloides (in the southern half of this alliance's range). In the wetter communities within this alliance, Distichlis spicata, Hordeum jubatum, Elymus trachycaulus, and Iva annua are common. Forbs and shrubs are generally minor components of communities within this alliance. If shrubs are present they are rarely taller than 1 m. Some forbs that are usually scattered about are Gaura coccinea, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Amorpha canescens, Astragalus spp., and Tragopogon dubius. Shrubs include Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Artemisia cana, Artemisia frigida, and Opuntia spp. Communities within this alliance occur on several different soil types. The soil is most often clay or clay loam, however. it can be loam or sandy loam. In the east and central part of this alliance's range, these communities can be found on flat or rolling uplands, hillslopes, or along streams or depressions. In the western part of this alliance's range, its communities are found where local conditions are wetter than the average. This includes such areas as the base of slopes or along rivers or streams.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.19063.PASCOPYRUMSMITH
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
7
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