Name:
Festuca hallii - Hesperostipa spp. Grassland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This fescue grassland type is found at the northern edge of the North American Great Plains that are dominated by a single species, <i>Festuca hallii</i>. Northern fescue prairie is primarily found in Alberta and Saskatchewan, less commonly in Manitoba, with a few occurrences in North Dakota and Montana. The type occurs as extensive grasslands south of the limit of tree growth in the west-central prairies, and also forms the grassland patches that occur between forest/woodland groves in this part of the Parkland CNVC vegetation zone. Natural stands are dense, mid-height (approximately 20-40 cm tall), and strongly dominated by plains rough fescue. Other common graminoids include <i>Elymus lanceolatus, Elymus trachycaulus, Avenula hookeri, Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa curtiseta, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Pascopyrum smithii</i>, and upland sedges such as <i>Carex obtusata, Carex duriuscula</i>, and <i>Carex inops</i>. A variety of forbs and shrubs occur but may be restricted in abundance by the dense grass. They include <i>Symphyotrichum falcatum, Galium boreale, Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana</i>, and <i>Cerastium arvense</i>. <i>Symphoricarpos occidentalis</i> and <i>Rosa arkansana</i> are common shrub species but may not be readily visible because of the tall growth of the <i>Festuca hallii</i>. Other shrubs that may be present include <i>Rosa woodsii, Artemisia frigida, Amelanchier alnifolia</i>, and <i>Rosa acicularis</i>. Species composition and abundance can shift dramatically with grazing impacts, changes in fire regime, or invasion by exotic species. This type occurs in a cooler and moister climate than does the mixedgrass prairie to the south. It usually occurs on level to rolling terrain at elevations below 1000 m ASL. Stands may occur in a variety of upland or valley settings. Most stands are on Black or Dark Brown Chernozemic soils with loamy to clayey textures, but may also occur on sandy sites and on Solonetzic soils with an impervious hardpan layer.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40082-{96C523B9-6ED6-4429-98CE-BC2494639A01}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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