Print Report

CEGL001657 Poa secunda Moist Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sandberg Bluegrass Moist Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widespread grassland association occurs across the intermountain western U.S. Elevation ranges from 1440 to 2722 m (4720-8925 feet). Stands occur on uplands in swales, gentle slopes and drainage bottoms, often with easterly facing aspects. Substrates are deep, well-drained loam and clay loam soils. The vegetation is characterized by a somewhat open to dense graminoid canopy dominated by the short bunchgrass Poa secunda (up to 50% cover). The herbaceous layer is diverse, with additional graminoids such as Carex microptera, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum, Leymus simplex, Juncus spp., and Pascopyrum smithii providing low to moderate cover. Forbs provide moderate cover and include Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Iris missouriensis, Iva axillaris, Potentilla gracilis, Senecio sp., and Trifolium spp. The short shrub Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis may be present with sparse cover. Introduced species may also be common in some stands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The dominant grass in this association, Poa secunda, was originally identified as Poa nevadensis, a taxon which Kartesz (1999) has subsumed into Poa secunda.

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

Floristics: This herbaceous vegetation association forms a somewhat open to dense graminoid canopy strongly dominated by the short bunchgrass Poa secunda (up to 50% cover). The herbaceous layer may be diverse, with additional graminoids such as Carex microptera, Eleocharis quinqueflora (= Eleocharis pauciflora), Elymus trachycaulus, Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum, Leymus simplex, Koeleria macrantha, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Juncus confusus, Juncus ensifolius, and Pascopyrum smithii providing low to moderate cover. Forbs provide moderate cover and include Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Elymus trachycaulus, Iris missouriensis, Potentilla gracilis, Machaeranthera canescens, Senecio sp., Trifolium cyathiferum, Trifolium dubium, and Trifolium gymnocarpon. The short shrubs Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Krascheninnikovia lanata may be present with sparse cover. Introduced species may also be common, including Descurainia sophia, Iva axillaris, Lepidium perfoliatum, Poa pratensis, Taraxacum officinale, and Tragopogon dubius.

Dynamics:  If sites become drier, Hordeum brachyantherum can replace Poa secunda (Manning and Padgett 1995). Heavy grazing may result in replacement of Poa secunda with less favorable species such as Achillea millefolium, Potentilla gracilis, and Poa pratensis (Manning and Padgett 1995).
Environmental Description:  This widespread grassland association occurs across the intermountain western U.S. Elevation ranges from 1440 to 2722 m (4720-8925 feet). Stands occur on uplands in swales, gentle slopes and drainage bottoms and valley floors, often with easterly facing aspects. Substrates are deep, well-drained loam, clay loam and silty clay soils derived from alluvium. Litter cover is variable but often relatively high.
Geographic Range: This grassland association occurs across the intermountain western U.S. from western Colorado to California, north to Idaho and Oregon.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA?, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT


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.b Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group G271 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Alliance A4165 Sandberg Bluegrass - Mat Muhly - Douglas'' Sedge Moist Meadow Alliance A4165 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001657 Sandberg Bluegrass Moist Meadow CEGL001657 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: = Poa nevadensis / Carex sp. Community (Blackburn et al. 1969a)
= Poa nevadensis Community Type (Manning 1988)
= Poa nevadensis Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Sandberg Bluegrass Herbaceous Vegetation (Poa secunda Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-06-08
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