Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

A.1204 | EcoArt 2002
  click to update datacart
Name: A.1204
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This grassland alliance occurs in the Intermountain West of the U.S. Sites are often gentle to moderate slopes on any aspect. Stands are found on relatively mesic, non-flooded sites such as terraces above the seasonal floodplain, uplands from toeslopes to the shoulder of the slope, broad valleys, mesic patches in semi-arid shrublands and seepage sites. Sites are relatively mesic; some have soils saturated with snowmelt, while others are subirrigated. Soils are typically deep, fine-textured, alkaline, and sometimes saline, derived from alluvium and colluvium. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a sparse to dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by the tall bunchgrass ~Leymus cinereus$. Other plants are found mainly between the clumps of ~Leymus cinereus$ or on the edges of the stand. Characteristic graminoids include ~Festuca idahoensis, Pascopyrum smithii, Carex praegracilis, Poa secunda (= Poa juncifolia)$, and ~Puccinellia distans$. The forb layer is sparse to moderately dense with perennial species such as ~Achillea millefolium, Antennaria microphylla, Aquilegia$ spp., ~Astragalus$ spp., ~Cirsium$ spp., ~Frasera speciosa, Pyrrocoma uniflora (= Haplopappus uniflorus)$, or ~Castilleja$ spp. Scattered shrubs may also be present. Sparse annual forbs and grasses are seasonally present. ~Leymus cinereus$ is salt-tolerant, and saline sites include the more salt-tolerant species like ~Pascopyrum smithii$ or ~Puccinellia distans$. Diagnostic of this alliance is the ~Leymus cinereus$-dominated grassland. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.975.A1204
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Code: A.1204
  Scientific: LEYMUS CINEREUS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Common: Great Basin Lyme Grass Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Leymus cinereus Herbaceous Alliance