Name:
Festuca campestris - Festuca idahoensis - Geranium viscosissimum Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This dry-mesic, mid-height grassland is found in the northwestern Great Plains and mountain and foothill slopes on both sides of the Continental Divide of Montana. It occurs on mesic sites from 900-2100 m (3000-7000 feet) elevation on any aspect, becoming restricted to west- and southwest-facing slopes farther north. Slopes vary from flat to gentle toeslopes and lowslopes, generally less than 30%. Soils are loamy and moderately deep on a variety of soil parent materials. This midgrass community is dominated by <i>Festuca campestris</i> and <i>Festuca idahoensis</i>, but <i>Festuca campestris</i> generally has the greater canopy cover and can be more abundant on undisturbed sites. A diverse assemblage of herbaceous species, with a significant forb component, has a combined cover ranging from 30-85%. <i>Carex obtusata</i> may be common, especially on more mesic sites. Other graminoids may also be found, including <i>Danthonia intermedia, Koeleria macrantha, Phleum pratense, Achnatherum nelsonii</i>, and <i>Achnatherum occidentale</i>. The diagnostic forb for this association is <i>Geranium viscosissimum</i>, which is often in association with, in varying combinations, <i>Potentilla gracilis, Potentilla glandulosa</i>, and <i>Carex petasata</i> that individually or in the aggregate have >1% cover. Other forbs may include <i>Achillea millefolium, Galium boreale, Selaginella densa, Lupinus sericeus, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Castilleja rhexiifolia, Calamagrostis rubescens</i>, and <i>Geum triflorum</i>. Shrubs are typically present, though in low stature and cover, generally <10%. Shrub species that may be present include <i>Artemisia frigida, Artemisia campestris, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Rosa arkansana, Amelanchier alnifolia</i>, and <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i>. This association is distinguished from the similar <i>~Festuca campestris - Festuca idahoensis</i> Grassland (CEGL005875)$$ by the characterized presence of <i>Geranium viscosissimum</i> and <i>Potentilla gracilis</i>, with a greater abundance of <i>Achnatherum occidentale</i> and <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> than generally present in the former.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34524-{3555CF71-E474-422E-83B3-F45D7FEC5BD3}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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