Print Report
CEGL001025 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Leucopoa kingii Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Spike Fescue Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland is found either in patches or continuously on gentle to steep slopes of various aspects between 2392 to 2895 m (7840-9500 feet) elevation in southern Idaho, Wyoming, and north-central Colorado. Soils are of a sedimentary substrate. The moderately open shrub layer is dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and several other shrubs may also be present. Occasionally, Pinus flexilis is sparsely scattered throughout stands. The herbaceous understory is dominated by Leucopoa kingii. Other grasses present are Festuca idahoensis, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eriogonum heracleoides, Lupinus argenteus, and Phlox longifolia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is similar to and may be difficult to differentiate from ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca idahoensis Shrub Grassland (CEGL001533)$$ and ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001030)$$. The percent cover and constancy of the dominant grass in each type are key to differentiating these three associations. Many of the forb species that contribute to the composition are present in all of the communities. Common forb species include Balsamorhiza sagittata, Lupinus, Crepis, and Eriogonum spp. (Hironaka et al. 1983, Johnson and Simon 1987, Nelson and Jensen 1987).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This sagebrush shrubland has a moderately open, mixed shrub canopy dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and several other shrubs such as Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba, and Ribes cereum may also be present. Occasionally, Pinus flexilis is sparsely scattered throughout stands. The herbaceous understory is dominated by Leucopoa kingii. Other grasses present are Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum pinetorum, Elymus lanceolatus, Festuca idahoensis, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Pteryxia terebinthina (= Cymopterus terebinthinus), Eriogonum heracleoides, Eriogonum umbellatum, Lupinus argenteus, Phlox longifolia, and Phlox multiflora.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrubland is found either in patches or continuously on gentle to steep slopes of various aspects between 2392 to 2895 m (7840-9500 feet) elevation in southern Idaho, Wyoming, and north-central Colorado. Lower elevation sites are restricted to cooler northerly slopes or locally relatively mesic sites. Litter covers much of the unvegetated ground surface with low to moderate bare ground cover. Soils are of a sedimentary substrate such as the Wasatch Formation.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is found in southern Idaho and north-central Colorado, as well as western Wyoming. It may also occur in Nevada but has not been substantiated there.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, NV?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683756
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M169 | 3.B.1.Ne.3 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G304 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Alliance | A3207 Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3207 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Association | CEGL001025 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Spike Fescue Shrubland | CEGL001025 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata / Hesperochloa kingii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Artemisia tridentata / Hesperochloa kingii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Artemisia tridentata / Leucopoa kingii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Artemisia tridentata / Hesperochloa kingii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Artemisia tridentata / Leucopoa kingii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Friesen, B. A., S. Blauer, K. Landgraf, J. Von Loh, J. Coles, K. Schulz, A. Tendick, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Fossil Butte National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/319. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 552 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fobu/foburpt.pdf]
- Hess, K. 1981. Phyto-edaphic study of habitat types of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 558 pp.
- Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho. Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 15, University of Idaho, Moscow. 44 pp.
- 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.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Nelson, L. P., and M. E. Jensen. 1987. Sagebrush-grass community types of the Humboldt National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Humboldt National Forest, Elko, NV. 80 pp.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Wasser, C. H., and K. Hess. 1982. The habitat types of Region II. USDA Forest Service: A synthesis. Final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 140 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.