Print Report

CEGL001614 Festuca idahoensis - Elymus trachycaulus Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Idaho Fescue - Slender Wheatgrass Grassland

Colloquial Name: Idaho Fescue - Slender Wheatgrass Mixedgrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This grassland occurs in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado on relatively high mountain slopes and alluvial terraces of gentle terrain (4-12%) from 1100- 3322 m (3600-10,900 feet). It occurs in mesic habitats with 45-79 cm (18-31 inches) annual average precipitation. Soils are deep, well-drained loams with a variety of parent materials. Ground cover has 4-13% bare ground, as much as 40% litter, and some nonvascular cover. This is a mesic grassland with low stature (<0.5 m), high species diversity, and a high proportion of forb cover (30-70% cover), more than other western Montana grassland types. Elymus trachycaulus and Festuca idahoensis are consistently present, and both are dominant grasses within stands. Other important graminoids include Carex spp., Koeleria macrantha, Danthonia intermedia, Achnatherum occidentale, Achnatherum lettermanii, Melica spectabilis, Bromus ciliatus, and Poa fendleriana. Usually abundant forbs include Geum triflorum, Potentilla gracilis, Achillea millefolium, Geranium viscosissimum, Agoseris glauca, and Campanula rotundifolia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Major species shifts due to past and current abusive grazing practices make correct identification of Festuca-dominated grassland associations problematic.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This grassland has low stature (<0.5 m), high species diversity, and a high proportion of forb cover (30-70% cover), more than other western Montana grassland types. Elymus trachycaulus (= Agropyron caninum) and Festuca idahoensis are consistently present, and both are dominant grasses within stands. Other important graminoids include Carex spp., Koeleria macrantha (= Koeleria cristata), Danthonia intermedia, Achnatherum occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis), Achnatherum lettermanii, Melica spectabilis, Bromus ciliatus (= Bromus canadensis), and Poa fendleriana. Usually abundant forbs include Geum triflorum, Potentilla gracilis, Achillea millefolium, and Campanula rotundifolia.

Dynamics:  Heavy grazing will result in a pronounced decrease of Elymus trachycaulus, Bromus carinatus, and Festuca idahoensis. Forb cover will also decrease if heavy grazing is by sheep. Increasers are likely to be Danthonia intermedia, Geum triflorum, Solidago missouriensis, Polygonum bistortoides, and Achillea millefolium. With continual abuse, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana may increase. Cirsium vulgare will most certainly invade. Major species shifts due to past and current abusive grazing practices make correct identification of grassland associations problematic.
Environmental Description:  This grassland association occurs in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado on relatively high mountain slopes and alluvial terraces of gentle terrain (4-12%) from 1100- 3322 m (3600-10,900 feet). It occurs in mesic habitats with 45-79 cm (18-31 inches) annual average precipitation. Soils are deep, well-drained loams with a variety of parent materials. Ground cover has 4-13% bare ground, as much as 40% litter, and some nonvascular cover.
Geographic Range: This grassland is documented from the high mountains of southwestern and northwestern Montana, northern and central Wyoming, and western slopes of Colorado.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, MT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.a Downy Ryegrass - Idaho Fescue - Spike Fescue Grassland Group G267 2.B.2.Nf.2.a
Alliance A3966 Idaho Fescue - Pinegrass - Columbia Needlegrass Central Rocky Mountain Montane Mesic Grassland Alliance A3966 2.B.2.Nf.2.a
Association CEGL001614 Idaho Fescue - Slender Wheatgrass Grassland CEGL001614 2.B.2.Nf.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Bromopsis inermis-Koeleria macrantha habitat type (Komarkova 1986) [(p.235)]
> Elymus trachycaulus-Koeleria macrantha habitat type (Komarkova 1986) [(p.235)]
= Festuca idahoensis - Elymus trachycaulus (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Festuca idahoensis - Elymus trachycaulus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
> Festuca idahoensis - Poa fendleriana habitat type (Komarkova 1986)
= Festuca idahoensis / Agropyron trachycaulum Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Festuca idahoensis/Agropyron caninum Habitat Type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980)
= Festuca idahoensis/Agropyron trachycaulum Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-09-04
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  • Hess, K., and C. H. Wasser. 1982. Grassland, shrubland, and forest habitat types of the White River-Arapaho National Forest. Unpublished final report 53-82 FT-1-19. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 335 pp.
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  • 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.
  • Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
  • Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
  • Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
  • 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.