Name:
Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca idahoensis Shrub Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association is widespread in mountainous areas across the western U.S. The shrubland can form large, continuous stands on mid-elevation mountain slopes and foothills, and can extend above lower treeline as patches within montane or subalpine coniferous forests. Sites are variable and range from flats to steep slopes to ridgetops with deep to shallow rocky soil. The vegetation is characterized by an open (<25% cover on average) shrub layer of <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana</i>, but generally high cover of perennial graminoids (>20% total cover). Associated shrubs include <i>Artemisia arbuscula, Artemisia rigida, Ribes cereum, Purshia tridentata, Prunus virginiana</i>, and <i>Tetradymia canescens</i>. The herbaceous layer is typically abundant and dominated by perennial graminoids. The most common species is the bunchgrass <i>Festuca idahoensis</i>. Other locally important species include <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata, Festuca thurberi, Bromus carinatus, Elymus elymoides, Elymus trachycaulus, Koeleria macrantha, Achnatherum occidentale</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. Forb canopy cover and species composition are variable. Characteristic forb species include <i>Castilleja, Potentilla, Erigeron, Phlox, Astragalus, Geum, Lupinus</i>, and <i>Eriogonum</i>. Other forbs common, if less frequent, include <i>Balsamorhiza sagittata, Achillea millefolium, Eriogonum umbellatum, Antennaria rosea</i>, and <i>Geranium viscosissimum</i>. Some authors have noted different phases based on dominance of forb species. All phases are included within this one herbaceous shrubland concept. Trees are uncommon but individuals of <i>Pinus ponderosa, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Populus tremuloides, Juniperus occidentalis, Pinus albicaulis</i>, and <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> may occasionally occur.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30442-{C8C67299-CD5F-4E8B-8C78-71D6F1E03400}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
1
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