Name:
Elymus caninus - Festuca roemeri - (Koeleria macrantha) Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This is an upland prairie grassland that formerly dominated habitats in western Oregon and Washington. High-quality remnants are very rare, restricted to a few small reserves and remnants. Soils are well to moderately well-drained silts or silty clays, usually deep and occasionally stony. Elevations are between 30 and 610 m (100-2000 feet), aspects and slopes are variable. <i>Festuca roemeri (= Festuca idahoensis var. roemeri)</i> dominates most sites, with <i>Koeleria macrantha</i> as a constant associate at low cover. <i>Elymus caninus</i> is important at one site, and a minor associate at another, but is included as a codominant because it is has been reported to be dominant in presettlement accounts and by local experts. <i>Bromus carinatus, Elymus glaucus</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i> are often present. <i>Danthonia californica</i> is important at some sites, although this is probably a result of grazing pressure. Most areas are forb rich, with the most common forbs including <i>Sidalcea malviflora ssp. virgata (= Sidalcea virgata), Balsamorhiza deltoidea, Delphinium menziesii</i> or <i>Delphinium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii (= Delphinium oreganum)</i> on the eastern side of the Willamette Valley, <i>Delphinium menziesii</i> on the west), <i>Symphyotrichum hallii (= Aster hallii), Fragaria vesca, Lupinus</i> sp., <i>Ranunculus occidentalis, Achillea millefolium, Eriophyllum lanatum</i>, and <i>Lomatium utriculatum</i>. Non-native species (<i>Arrhenatherum elatius, Poa pratensis, Lolium arundinaceum (= Festuca arundinacea), Cynosurus echinatus, Dactylis glomerata</i> and many others) often invade this association with grazing pressure. Remnant sites usually occur in a matrix with Oregon oak woodlands and agriculture. This plant community depends on fire for maintenance. In the absence of fire, <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus garryana, Toxicodendron diversilobum, Symphoricarpos albus</i> or non-native trees and shrubs invade and dominate these grasslands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33788.CEGL001744
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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