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Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita / Festuca campestris Shrub Grassland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita / Festuca campestris Shrub Grassland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This type is a minor component of landscapes generally dominated by <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana</i> in both eastern Washington and western Montana. These are generally arid sites with annual precipitation of 20-60 cm; in Washington elevation ranges between 335 and 915 m (1100-3000 feet), whereas its highly circumscribed Montana distribution ranges between 1280 and 1400 m (4200-4600 feet). In Washington this type is found on northerly aspects where loess soils cap basalt and granite. In Montana this type is found in glaciated landscapes where glacial till derived from metamorphic Belt Series rock predominates, and it occurs on gentle slopes of all aspects. It is possibly more abundant in British Columbia and Alberta. <i>Artemisia tripartita</i>, characteristically less than 60 cm (2 feet) tall, dominates the shrub layer, typically ranging in canopy cover from 10-40%. In Washington, <i>Artemisia tridentata</i> and <i>Purshia tridentata</i>, and in Montana <i>Rosa woodsii</i>, are the shrubs regularly present. On most sites, especially those only lightly grazed, <i>Festuca campestris</i> is by far the dominant herb (canopy cover ranging from 10-60%), but on the most mesic sites its cover can be approached by that of <i>Achnatherum richardsonii</i> and/or <i>Achnatherum occidentale</i>. On more intensively grazed sites <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> cover (or that of other graminoids) approaches or exceeds that of <i>Festuca campestris</i>. Forb diversity is moderate to high; in Montana, <i>Potentilla gracilis, Geranium viscosissimum, Lupinus sericeus, Eriogonum umbellatum</i> and <i>Antennaria microphylla</i> dominate this layer. Washington occurrences contrast with those of Montana by having a well-developed soil crust of mosses, lichens and algae. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30446-{9A34AF25-9B75-47DE-9BFA-D691043720F1}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688208 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001537
  Translated: Threetip Sagebrush / Rough Fescue Shrub Grassland
  Scientific: Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita / Festuca campestris Shrub Grassland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL001537
(similar) Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita / Festuca campestris Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
(similar) Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita / Festuca campestris Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation