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CEGL001633 Festuca viridula - Festuca idahoensis Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greenleaf Fescue - Idaho Fescue Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has only been described from northern Idaho, near the border with Canada, in the Selkirk Mountains, Kaniksu National Forest. It occurs in a mountainous region of inland maritime climate, characterized by mild, moderate winters with prolonged gentle rains, deep snow accumulations at higher altitudes and abundant clouds, fog and high humidity. Summers are typically sunny and dry for most of the region (<1 inch of precipitation/ month). Geologically, the region is underlain by metamorphosed, Precambrian sedimentary strata that are primarily argillites and quartzites. The entire region was covered two times by the continental ice sheet, and has since been overlain by eolian deposits, especially volcanic ash. Due to prevailing southwesterly winds, much of the deposition has occurred on the leeward (north to northeasterly) slopes. It occurs as subalpine openings within spruce-fir forest, from roughly 1586 to 1769 m (5200-5800 feet) elevation. Sites are typically on moderate to steep mountain slopes of southern to southeastern aspects. Because of prevailing southwesterly winds, these sites are windswept and snowfree much of the winter. Soils are well-drained loams, with abundant coarse fragments in the subsurface layers. This association is poorly described. The perennial bunchgrasses Festuca viridula and Festuca idahoensis dominate. Associated species are unknown, but can be expected to include subalpine perennial forbs typical of open, relatively dry sites. Festuca viridula-dominated grasslands in the Blue and Wallowa mountains of Oregon are described as dense, sod-forming clumps of this grass, nearly forb-free, with much litter and no bare ground or exposed gravel or rock particles.
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 association is poorly described. The perennial bunchgrasses Festuca viridula and Festuca idahoensis dominate. Associated species are unknown, but can be expected to include subalpine perennial forbs typical of open, relatively dry sites. Festuca viridula-dominated grasslands in the Blue and Wallowa mountains of Oregon (Johnson and Simon 1987, Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) are described as dense, sod-forming clumps of this grass, nearly forb-free, with much litter and no bare ground or exposed gravel or rock particles.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in a mountainous region of inland maritime climate, characterized by mild, moderate winters with prolonged gentle rains, deep snow accumulations at higher altitudes and abundant clouds, fog and high humidity. Summers are typically sunny and dry for most of the region (<1 inch of precipitation/ month). Geologically, the region is underlain by metamorphosed, Precambrian sedimentary strata that are primarily argillites and quartzites. The entire region was covered two times by the continental ice sheet, and has since been overlain by eolian deposits, especially volcanic ash. Due to prevailing southwesterly winds, much of the deposition has occurred on the leeward (north to northeasterly) slopes. Little detailed information is available for this association. It occurs as subalpine openings within spruce-fir forest, from roughly 1586 to 1769 m (5200-5800 feet) elevation. Sites are typically on moderate to steep mountain slopes of southern to southeastern aspects. Because of prevailing southwesterly winds, these sites are windswept and snowfree much of the winter. Soils are well-drained loams, with abundant coarse fragments in the subsurface layers.
Geographic Range: It has only been described from northern Idaho, near the border with Canada, in the Selkirk Mountains, Kaniksu National Forest.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684616
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?Q
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.b Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group | G271 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Alliance | A1257 Greenleaf Fescue - Hood''s Sedge - Lupine species Subalpine Mesic Meadow Alliance | A1257 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001633 Greenleaf Fescue - Idaho Fescue Meadow | CEGL001633 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca viridula - Festuca idahoensis Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Festuca viridula - Festuca idahoensis Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Festuca viridula - Festuca idahoensis Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 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.
- 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 R. R. Clausnitzer. 1992. Plant associations of the Blue and Ochoco mountains. R6-ERW-TP-036-92. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 163 pp. plus appendices.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Wellner, C. A. 1984. Establishment record for Canyon Creek Research Natural Area within Kaniksu National Forest, Bonner County, Idaho. Unpublished report for Idaho Panhandle national forests, Coeur d''Alene, ID. 23 pp. plus maps.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.