Print Report

CEGL005264 Bromus inermis - (Pascopyrum smithii) Ruderal Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Smooth Brome - (Western Wheatgrass) Ruderal Grassland

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Smooth Brome Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This smooth brome grassland type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains, in disturbed montane meadows in the Rocky Mountains, on relatively mesic sites in the semi-arid interior western United States, and perhaps more widely in the midwestern U.S. and Canada. Stands can occur in a wide variety of human-disturbed habitats, including highway rights-of-way, jeep trails, etc. The type is also widely planted for revegetating disturbed land, pasture and hay fields, and has escaped into a variety of habitats, including prairie, riparian grasslands, and mesic mountain meadows. The dominant grass is Bromus inermis, a naturalized species from Eurasia that forms moderately dense to dense stands that often develop into monocultures. Other weedy species such as Cirsium arvense and Poa pratensis may occur as well, but native species are generally less than 10% cover. Native species may include mixed-grass prairie and montane meadow grasses, such as Pascopyrum smithii, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Hesperostipa comata, and sparse, scattered mesic shrubs such as Symphoricarpos spp., as well as many others. However, the native species are not conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, or the stand would be typed as such.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Where native species are conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, the stand should be typed as such. Bromus inermis occurs widely throughout the midwestern and western U.S., and perhaps this association should be broadened to include almost any stand dominated almost exclusively by Bromus inermis.

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

Floristics: This association is dominated by medium-tall (0.5-1 m) graminoids. The dominant grass is Bromus inermis, a naturalized species from Eurasia that forms moderately dense to dense stands that often develop into monocultures. Other weedy species, such as Cirsium arvense, Poa pratensis, and other introduced forage species, may occur as well, but native species are generally less than 10% cover. Native species may include mixed-grass prairie and montane meadow grasses, such as Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Pascopyrum smithii, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), and sparse scattered mesic shrubs, such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Ericameria nauseosa, and Symphoricarpos spp., and ruderal forbs, such as Heterotheca villosa, as well as many others. However, the native species are not conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, or the stand would be typed as such. This type could be defined very broadly to include almost any Bromus inermis-dominated stand, in which case the variability of the minor species associated with the type would be very high.

Dynamics:  Bromus inermis is a strongly rhizomatous, cool-season grass that grows 0.5-1 (1.5) m tall (Cronquist et al. 1977). It is a highly competitive, sod-forming grass with a dense fibrous root and rhizome system. The extensive rhizome system allows it to rapidly spread and makes it able to tolerate heavy grazing by livestock (Hansen et al 1995). Although this grass grows best on moist alluvial sites, it does not tolerate prolonged flooding (Hansen et al. 1995). It also has good drought resistance, which allows it to persist in semi-arid regions (Cronquist et al. 1977). Flooding of infested riparian areas has been used to restore native riparian or wetland species in degraded (de-watered) sites (Hansen et al. 1995). Bromus inermis is also fire-adapted and will vigorously sprout after most burns (Hansen et al. 1995). However, this cool-season grass is not tolerant of hot, late-spring burns, which is during its active growing period (Hansen et al. 1995). This may be an effective control measure where native vegetation is dominated by warm-season grasses.
Environmental Description:  This smooth brome grassland type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains, on relatively mesic sites in the semi-arid interior western United States, and perhaps more widely in the midwestern U.S. and Canada. Stands can occur in a wide variety of human-disturbed habitats, including highway rights-of-way, jeep trails, etc. The type is also widely planted for revegetating disturbed land, pasture and hay fields, and has escaped into a variety of habitats, including prairie, riparian grasslands, and mesic mountain meadows. This community is found at all elevational ranges with best examples occurring on mesic alluvial terraces. Bromus inermis grows best on moist, well-drained, finer-textured loam and clay loams, not heavy clays or sand, and does not tolerate prolonged flooding, however, it does persist quite well on well-drained sandy loam derived from granitic parent material. It also occurs in foothills and plains at lower elevations on relatively mesic sites. It occurs on poorly drained sites to rapidly drained sites with fine-textured alluvial soils derived from shale formations found in Utah. This community persists because it is rhizomatous, and once seeded, with enough moisture, will persist, regardless of elevation, soil or landform.
Geographic Range: This type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains, montane meadows in the Rocky Mountains, in relatively mesic sites in Utah and Wyoming, and perhaps more widely in the midwestern and western U.S. and Canada, as well where Bromus inermis has escaped from revegetation and forage plantings.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, MT, ND, NE, NV, SD, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.90 Smooth Brome - Knapweed species - Pepperweed species Western North American Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M493 2.B.2.Nf.90
Group 2.B.2.Nf.90.a Western North American Interior Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group G624 2.B.2.Nf.90.a
Alliance A3254 Crested Wheatgrass - Smooth Brome - Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance A3254 2.B.2.Nf.90.a
Association CEGL005264 Smooth Brome - (Western Wheatgrass) Ruderal Grassland CEGL005264 2.B.2.Nf.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bromus inermis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen, K.A. Schulz and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-24-09
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