Print Report

CEGL001630 Festuca thurberi - (Lathyrus lanszwertii, Potentilla spp.) Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Thurber''s Fescue - (Nevada Pea, Cinquefoil species) Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This montane association is a major and extensively distributed grassland in the Colorado Rocky Mountains along the western slope of the Front Range and the eastern slope of the Park Range in the Arapaho National Forest. It also occurs in north-central New Mexico at elevations between 2760 and 2950 m (9050-9680 feet). It is found on sites with moderate to high solar exposure (mostly southerly aspects) from the toe- to upper slopes of mountains (5-25% slope). Soils are well-developed and relatively deep Mollisols with loamy textures in a cobbly matrix. They are derived from latite and dacite slope alluvium or colluvium parent materials. The ground surface is typically characterized by bunchgrasses with inter-grass spaces covered with leaf litter or some exposed soil. The vegetation is characterized by abundant to luxuriant growth of Festuca thurberi with Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Elymus elymoides, and Poa pratensis as common associates. Danthonia parryi is poorly represented or absent. Forbs are moderately diverse but variable from stand to stand with cover that is usually less than 10%. Trees are rare or incidental but can include such conifer species as Abies concolor, Pinus ponderosa, or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Typically, shrubs are absent as well, though occasionally such species as Juniperus communis, Ribes inerme, or Rosa woodsii can be common to well-represented.

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 montane grassland association is characterized by abundant to luxuriant growth of Festuca thurberi with Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Elymus elymoides, and Poa pratensis as common associates among 12 graminoid species reported for the association. Danthonia parryi is poorly represented or absent. Forbs are moderately diverse (26 species have been reported) but variable from stand to stand with cover that is usually less than 10%. Potentilla hippiana is the typical dominant along with other open meadow species such as Achillea millefolium and Taraxacum officinale as common associates; occasionally Campanula rotundifolia, Erigeron formosissimus, Iris missouriensis, Senecio eremophilus, and Symphyotrichum ascendens are prevalent. Trees are rare or incidental but can include such conifer species as Abies concolor, Pinus ponderosa, or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Typically, shrubs are absent as well, though occasionally such species as Juniperus communis, Ribes inerme, or Rosa woodsii can be common to well-represented.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This high-elevation association occurs between 2760 and 2950 m (9050-9680 feet) on sites with moderate to high solar exposure (mostly southerly aspects). Stands are found from the toe- to upper slopes of mountains (5-25% slope). Soils are mapped as well-developed and relatively deep Mollisols with loamy textures in a cobbly matrix. They are derived from latite and dacite slope alluvium or colluvium parent materials (Hibner 2009). The ground surface is typically characterized by bunch grasses with inter-grass spaces covered with leaf litter or some exposed soil.
Geographic Range: This montane association occurs in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and in north-central New Mexico.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM


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.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup M168 2.B.2.Nf.3
Group 2.B.2.Nf.3.a Arizona Fescue - Thurber''s Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland Group G268 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Alliance A3954 Thurber''s Fescue - Timber Oatgrass - Letterman''s Bluegrass Southern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Grassland Alliance A3954 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001630 Thurber''s Fescue - (Nevada Pea, Cinquefoil species) Grassland CEGL001630 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca thurberi - Poa pratensis Plant Association (Muldavin and Tonne 2003)
= Festuca thurberi - Poa pratensis Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 2006)
= Festuca thurberi / Lathyrus leucanthus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Festuca thurberi / Lathyrus leucanthus Habitat Type / Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Festuca thurberi / Vicia americana - Lathyrus leucanthus Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Festuca thurberi / Vicia americana - Lathyrus leucanthus Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Festuca thurberi / Vicia americana - Lathyrus leucanthus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Subalpine Grassland (Balice et al. 1997)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.S. King

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-01-09
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