Name:
Phleum pratense - Poa pratensis - Bromus inermis Ruderal Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association is a very common type of disturbed grassland and forest opening on the east side of Glacier National Park, within Waterton Lakes National Park, in the major valleys of Grand Teton National Park and on the Blackfeet Reservation. It is a mesic to dry association located mostly on flat to gentle toeslopes, lowslopes and valley bottoms at variable aspects, and can occur on moderately steep midslopes and on flat basin floors. Elevations range from 945 to 2250 m (3100-7300 feet). Soil texture is typically moderately well- to well-drained sandy loams, silt loams, poorly drained clay loams or sandy clay loams. These soils are also characterized as Orthic and Rego Black Chernozems and Orthic Humic Regosols within Waterton Lakes National Park. These are weakly to well-developed, medium- to coarse-textured soils that have developed on glacio-fluvial and morainal landforms that contain quartzite and argillite. Litter comprises 40-95% of the ground cover. The vegetation, dominated by both non-native grasses and native forbs, is a result of historic and current disturbance. Disturbance includes seeding of pasture grasses, light to intense grazing, and development of out buildings, corrals and housing. Typical herbaceous cover is 40-60%; however, cover can be as low as 20% or as high as 100%. <i>Phleum pratense</i> and <i>Poa pratensis</i>, both non-native grasses, dominate the vegetation, and <i>Bromus inermis</i> is occasionally abundant. Other common species include native forbs <i>Achillea millefolium, Potentilla gracilis, Galium boreale, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, Perideridia gairdneri, Potentilla gracilis, Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis)</i>, and the exotic forb <i>Taraxacum officinale</i>. <i>Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium arvense, Penstemon confertus, Lomatium triternatum</i>, and <i>Vicia americana</i> are often present. <i>Koeleria macrantha, Festuca campestris</i>, and <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> may be abundant within this association as well and may indicate this type's original composition in upland sites. Other herbaceous species that may have high cover include <i>Lupinus sericeus, Bromus carinatus, Lithospermum ruderale, Erigeron speciosus, Solidago missouriensis, Elymus repens, Monarda fistulosa, Cirsium arvense, Eurybia conspicua (= Aster conspicuus), Pseudoroegneria spicata, Hedysarum sulphurescens</i>, and <i>Hedysarum alpinum</i>. Shrub cover is low within this association, typically averaging <5%, but it can be as high as 15%. The most common shrubs, when they are present, include <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Rosa woodsii</i>, and <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32228.CEGL005874
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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