Print Report

CEGL001913 Leucopoa kingii - Phlox pulvinata Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Spike Fescue - Cushion Phlox Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This plant association occurs on broad, gentle, low-alpine ridges of east-central Idaho and similar high-subalpine sites in northwestern Wyoming. The association occurs on gentle to moderately steep, convex ridgetops oriented to any aspect. Sites are often on windward exposures at 2990-3140 m (9800-10,300 feet) elevation. Moderately deep, moderately unstable, very gravelly soils are derived from limestone, siliceous volcanic rocks, and quartzite. Leucopoa kingii is the dominant species in this open, low-growing bunchgrass vegetation. Associated species include Carex elynoides, Minuartia obtusiloba, Phlox pulvinata, Lupinus argenteus, Poa secunda, and Agoseris glauca.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The association is described by Caicco (1983), Moseley (1985), and Urbanczyk (1993) from 18 plots located in the Beaverhead Mountains, Lemhi Range, White Knob Mountains, and Pioneer Mountains. The association is not specifically named by any of these authors.

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

Floristics: Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii) is the dominant species in this open, low-growing bunchgrass vegetation. Carex elynoides may be codominant. Associated species include Phlox pulvinata, Lupinus argenteus, Minuartia obtusiloba, Phlox pulvinata, Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella), Solidago multiradiata, and Agoseris glauca. If Achillea millefolium is present, it is with low cover. Total vegetation cover is generally greater than 50%.

Dynamics:  The presence of species such as Phlox pulvinata indicate a relatively stable substrate, as opposed to Leucopoa kingii stands on steep, unstable or eroding slopes, which tend to have lower vegetative cover, higher cover of bare ground, lack mat species such as Phlox pulvinata, and instead include disturbance indicators such as Achillea millefolium, Penstemon attenuatus, and Poa secunda (Moseley 1987a).
Environmental Description:  This plant association occurs on broad, gentle alpine ridges of the Challis Volcanics and Beaverhead Mountains ecoregional sections in east-central Idaho, as well as the Grand Teton Mountains of northwestern Wyoming. The association occurs on gentle to moderately steep, convex, southwest- to north-facing ridgetops near treeline or in the low alpine zone. Sites are often on windward exposures at 2990-3140 m (9800-10,300 feet) elevation. Moderately deep, moderately unstable, sandy or gravelly soils are derived from limestone, siliceous volcanic rocks, and quartzite. Bare soil, rocks and gravel cover most of the unvegetated ground surface.
Geographic Range: The association is known only from alpine habitats of the Challis Volcanics and Beaverhead Mountains ecoregional sections in east-central Idaho.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  ID, MT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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 A1323 Spike Fescue - Blackroot Sedge - Cushion Phlox Central Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Alpine Grassland Alliance A1323 2.B.2.Nf.2.a
Association CEGL001913 Spike Fescue - Cushion Phlox Grassland CEGL001913 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: = Leucopoa kingii - Phlox pulvinata Community Type (Caicco 1983)
= Stable Spike Fescue Community Type (Moseley 1985)
= Stable Spike Fescue Cover Type (Moseley 1987a)
Concept Author(s): S.K. Rust

Author of Description: S.K. Rust and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-09-05
  • 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.
  • Caicco, S. L. 1983. Alpine vegetation of the Copper Basin area, south-central Idaho. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow. 99 pp.
  • Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
  • Moseley, R. K. 1985. Synecological relationships of alpine spike-fescue grasslands in east-central Idaho. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow. 70 pp.
  • Moseley, R. K. 1987a. Synecological relationships of alpine spike-fescue (Leucopoa kingii (Wats.) Weber) grasslands in eastcentral Idaho, U.S.A. Unpublished manuscript prepared for Arctic and Alpine Research. 33 pp.
  • Urbanczyk, S. M. 1993. Classification and ordination of alpine plant communities, Sheep Mountain, Lemhi County, Idaho. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow.
  • WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.