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CEGL001509 Festuca idahoensis - Symphoricarpos albus Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Idaho Fescue - Common Snowberry Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This grassland association is found in southeastern Washington, and possibly occurs in Idaho and Oregon. Stands typically occur above 1300 m elevation on steep slopes where moisture is available well into summer drought because of cool aspect or subsurface seepage. Soils are generally derived from loess. Forested stringer communities are often in close proximity. Festuca idahoensis dominates the association, masking the low Symphoricarpos albus. Other bunchgrasses which occur may include Pseudoroegneria spicata, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda. The bunchgrasses usually dominate 4:1 over the Symphoricarpos albus. Other associates may include Bromus briziformis, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Lupinus sericeus, Lupinus sp., Achillea millefolium, Lithospermum ruderale, and Clarkia pulchella.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a lush meadow-steppe association dominated by the perennial bunchgrasses Festuca idahoensis and Pseudoroegneria spicata (together averaging from 60% to over 100% cover), with Koeleria macrantha also abundant. Other bunchgrasses which occur may include Pseudoroegneria spicata (= Agropyron spicatum), Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda (= Poa sandbergii). The bunchgrasses usually dominate 4:1 over the Symphoricarpos albus. In this vegetation type, the Pseudoroegneria is an ecotype that is rhizomatous rather than cespitose. This association has a very rich forb component (often with 100% cover), with many species common to abundant. The deciduous shrub Symphoricarpos albus is always present, with up to 20% cover, but is dwarfed (less than 0.5 m tall) and does not contribute to the physiognomic structure of this type. Rosa woodsii and Rosa nutkana also have a dwarf stature, when present. Species richness is very high. The cryptogam layer is very well-developed on undisturbed sites. Grazing of the association reduces the cover of the native perennial grasses. This allows invasion of stands by Poa pratensis, which may eventually dominate grazed stands. Reduction or elimination of grazing does not appear to restore the native perennial grasses. Other species invading grazed stands include Lagophylla ramosissima, Myosurus apetalus var. borealis (= Myosurus aristatus), Sanguisorba annua (= Sanguisorba occidentalis), and Veronica arvensis.
Dynamics: All species common to this association resprout readily following fire, and the type recovers within a few years of burning.
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the cooler, moister portion of the Palouse prairie, from 610 to 1220 m (2000-4000 feet) elevation. The generally northerly slopes can vary from gentle to steep. Soils are typically deep silt loams, evidently drying out in the upper 50 cm, which is too deep for conifer seedling survival. However, it is enough moisture to support a component of more mesic forb species.
Geographic Range: This type is restricted to the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho or the central third of Bailey''s section 331A. It has been eliminated from adjacent areas of Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID?, OR?, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683644
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c Rough Fescue - Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Central Rocky Mountain Foothill Grassland Group | G273 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Alliance | A3988 Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass Mesic Grassland Alliance | A3988 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001509 Idaho Fescue - Common Snowberry Grassland | CEGL001509 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca idahoensis - Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type, Symphoricarpos Phase (Daubenmire 1970)
= Symphoricarpos albus / Festuca idahoensis - Lupinus sericeus Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
< Symphoricarpos albus Series (Tisdale 1986)
= Symphoricarpos albus / Festuca idahoensis - Lupinus sericeus Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
< Symphoricarpos albus Series (Tisdale 1986)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. No date. Unpublished data on file at Idaho Conservation Data Center, Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID.
- Johnson, C. G., Jr., and S. A. Simon. 1987. Plant associations of the Wallowa-Snake Province Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-255A-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 399 pp. plus appendices.
- Johnson, C. G., and S. A. Simon. 1985. Plant associations of the Wallowa Valley Ranger District, Part II: Steppe. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 258 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Tisdale, E. W. 1986. Canyon grasslands and associated shrublands of west-central Idaho and adjacent areas. Bulletin No. 40. Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station, University of Idaho, Moscow. 42 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.