Name:
Festuca idahoensis - (Festuca campestris) / Potentilla diversifolia Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association is described from alpine slopes of mountains of central Idaho and western Montana. Stands range from 1840-3072 m (6000-10,080 feet), the lower margin of the alpine zone. Soils are derived from granitic, limestone, and calcareous sandstone rocks. The association occurs on moderately steep north-facing slopes, east-facing and southerly exposures with all degrees of slope inclination represented including gently undulating and even depressed glacial moraine surfaces. On north-facing slopes winter snow accumulation is light to moderate and melts early in the growing season. However, on east and south exposures, augmented snow accumulation occurs due to predominantly west and southwest winds. This is a mostly graminoid-dominated type, and cover varies from about 20 to 85% with a modal range being 40 to 60%; i.e., it ranges from sparse vegetation of fell-fields to a nearly continuous grass-dominated turf . <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> dominates relatively lush meadow vegetation, and under these conditions, <i>Potentilla diversifolia</i> is codominant. In more exposed settings, <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> sometimes relinquishes dominance to <i>Festuca campestris</i>. Other graminoids of high constancy are <i>Carex nova, Poa cusickii ssp. epilis, Poa cusickii, Luzula spicata</i>, and <i>Carex phaeocephala</i>. Other graminoids with lower constancy include <i>Calamagrostis purpurascens, Poa alpina</i>, and <i>Carex rupestris</i>. <i>Calamagrostis purpurascens</i> and <i>Carex rupestris</i> have been used as indicators in situations where <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> and/or <i>Festuca campestris</i> cover alone is insufficient to qualify stands as belonging to this type. Forb cover is highly variable, but notable species include <i>Potentilla diversifolia, Astragalus alpinus, Erigeron simplex, Phlox pulvinata, Polemonium viscosum</i>, and <i>Solidago multiradiata</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30532-{62A2E4BB-3A20-4724-BDBA-AF1D6B4E2F40}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
14
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