Name:
Festuca idahoensis - Calamagrostis rubescens - Achnatherum nelsonii Central Rocky Mountain Montane Mesic Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation of this grassland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense and diverse herbaceous layer dominated by medium-tall perennial graminoids with perennial forbs. The dominant and diagnostic species are <i>Achnatherum nelsonii, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex hoodii, Deschampsia cespitosa</i>, or <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> with <i>Achnatherum richardsonii, Carex filifolia, Elymus trachycaulus, Koeleria macrantha, Lupinus sericeus, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, or <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i> present to codominant. Commonly associated forbs are often relatively mesic, such as <i>Achillea millefolium, Packera pseudaurea, Symphyotrichum foliaceum</i>, and <i>Zigadenus elegans</i>. Shrubs may be present with up to 25% cover, but are not diagnostic of this alliance. Shrub species are relatively mesic with <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Rubus parviflorus</i>, and <i>Symphoricarpos albus</i> most common. This alliance is described from montane slopes in the central Rocky Mountains of central and southern Idaho, western and south-central Montana, eastern Oregon, Washington and northwestern Wyoming. These grasslands form in openings on the slopes and benches in shrublands, woodlands and forests ranging from 1100-3322 m (3600-10,900 feet) elevation. Stands occur on mesic sites under a broad range of environmental conditions, ranging from gentle, broad, dissected plateau ridgetops to steep mountain sideslopes at 1830-2410 m (6000-7900 feet) elevation. Sites are nearly level to gently sloping with gentle topography. The soils are shallow to moderately deep and have high organic matter content. Soil texture varies from loam to sandy loam.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39176-{B2CF2887-A8B4-497A-8D1E-E7A754111E06}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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