Name:
Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Dry Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
Vegetation of this dry grassland alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by diagnostic perennial bunchgrasses <i>Festuca idahoensis, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, and/or <i>Poa secunda</i>. <i>Balsamorhiza sagittata, Balsamorhiza serrata, Carex filifolia, Eriogonum heracleoides, Hesperostipa comata, Hieracium cynoglossoides</i>, or <i>Lomatium cous</i> may codominate the herbaceous layer. Scattered shrubs may be present, are generally low in stature (<0.5 m) and cover (<5%) and include browsed <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Juniperus communis</i>, and <i>Juniperus horizontalis</i>. Other common graminoid species include <i>Achnatherum occidentale, Danthonia intermedia, Leymus cinereus</i>, and <i>Poa cusickii</i>. Forb species are typically diverse with low cover. This widespread dry grassland alliance occurs in the northwestern Great Plains, central Rocky Mountains and interior Pacific Northwest. Stands are found on relatively dry valley bottoms, stream terraces, rolling uplands, canyon benches and slopes, hills, ridges, plateaus and buttes, badlands, foothills, expansive park meadow openings in montane forests, and glacial outwash plains. Elevation ranges from 200-2500 m on any aspect, becoming restricted to west- and southwest-facing slopes farther north. Substrates are variable and range from shallow and lithic soils with a rocky surface of gravel, cobbles or scoria, to moderately deep soils with little rock.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39197-{0CD8FDA5-D9DF-450E-8022-26D1DAF3A5CD}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
