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Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata - Pascopyrum smithii Mesic Grassland Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata - Pascopyrum smithii Mesic Grassland Alliance
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This alliance is composed of mesic to subhygric, diverse grasslands characterized by a lush meadow dominated by diagnostic perennial grasses <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> and/or <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>. Mesic indicator species <i>Bromus marginatus, Elymus lanceolatus, Koeleria macrantha</i>, or <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i> are present to codominant in the graminoid layer. The short shrubs <i>Symphoricarpos albus, Rosa nutkana</i>, or <i>Rosa woodsii</i> are frequently present and may form an open layer or scattered clumps, usually with less than a quarter of the bunchgrass cover. <i>Artemisia frigida</i> is common in eastern stands. Other grass associates include <i>Poa cusickii</i> and <i>Poa secunda</i>. The forb component has high species diversity and less cover than graminoids. Non-native grasses <i>Bromus briziformis, Phleum pratense</i>, and <i>Poa palustris</i> are important in some stands. The biological crust is very well-developed on undisturbed sites. This alliance found in the central Rocky Mountains from the Palouse region and Blue Mountains to the foothills east of the Continental Divide in northwestern and Montana and Alberta. Stands occur on gentle to steep slopes at 370 to 2015 m elevation from sites on the dissected basalt plateaus, canyon and mountain slopes of the lower Snake River drainage and on the eastern flanks of the Blue Mountains on relatively deep loessal soils that overlay basalt rock or colluvium. Stands range northeast to east of the Continental Divide on gentle slopes at elevations from 1200-1800 m, but may be found up to 2400 m on moderately deep, moderately well-drained, coarse-textured soils. Litter and small rock dominate the ground surface. Stands typically occur where moisture is available well into summer drought because of cool aspect or subsurface seepage. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39198-{A9419B40-0552-4964-BA87-F892623BCA8B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 14-Mar-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900039 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A3988
  Translated: Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass Mesic Grassland Alliance
  Common: Idaho Fescue - Wheatgrass Mesic Grassland
  Scientific: Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata - Pascopyrum smithii Mesic Grassland Alliance