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CEGL001608 Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri - Sericocarpus rigidus Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Roemer''s Fescue - Columbian Whitetop Aster Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This grassland association is described from the southern edge of Puget Sound in Washington where it occurs exclusively on deep gravelly/sandy glacial outwash deposits. Frequent burns ignited primarily by Native Americans maintained stands historically. Sites are typically on mesic, gentle to moderate slopes with relatively warm southern to western exposures. This association has a moderately dense mixed graminoid/forb herbaceous layer less than 0.5 m tall that is dominated by Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri with the indicator species Sericocarpus rigidus. Other common forb species include Achillea millefolium and Fragaria virginiana. Trees may be scattered in these stands as they often occur as patches within a dominant Pseudotsuga menziesii or Quercus garryana forest type. Stands are separated from Festuca idahoensis ssp. idahoensis stands by being dominated by Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri and by the codominance of Sericocarpus rigidus.

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 has a moderately dense mixed graminoid/forb herbaceous layer less than 0.5 m tall that is dominated by Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri with the indicator species Sericocarpus rigidus (= Aster curtus). Other common forb species include Achillea millefolium and Fragaria virginiana. Trees may be scattered in these stands as they often occur as patches within a dominant Pseudotsuga menziesii or Quercus garryana forest type. Stands are separated from Festuca idahoensis ssp. idahoensis stands by being dominated by Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri and by the codominance of Sericocarpus rigidus.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This grassland association is described from the southern edge of Puget Sound in Washington where it occurs exclusively on deep gravelly/sandy glacial outwash deposits. Frequent burns ignited primarily by Native Americans maintained stands historically. Sites are typically on mesic, gentle to moderate slopes with relatively warm southern to western exposures.
Geographic Range: Occurs only around the southern end of Puget Sound in southwestern Pierce County, Thurston County, and far eastern Grays Harbor County. Probably extirpated from Lewis and Mason counties.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  WA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1

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.4 Southern Vancouverian Lowland Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M050 2.B.2.Nf.4
Group 2.B.2.Nf.4.a Manzanita species / Roemer''s Fescue - California Oatgrass Shrubland & Grassland Group G488 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Alliance A4210 Roemer''s Fescue - California Oatgrass Interior Prairie, Bald & Bluff Grassland Alliance A4210 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL001608 Roemer''s Fescue - Columbian Whitetop Aster Grassland CEGL001608 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca roemeri - Sericocarpus rigidus (Chappell 2006b)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz and C.B. Chappell

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and C.B. Chappell

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97
  • 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.
  • Chappell, C. B. 2006b. Upland plant associations of the Puget Trough ecoregion, Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-01. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, WA. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/intro.pdf]
  • Chappell, C., R. Crawford, J. Kagan, and P. J. Doran. 1997. A vegetation, land use, and habitat classification system for the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of Oregon and Washington. Unpublished report prepared for Wildlife habitat and species associations within Oregon and Washington landscapes: Building a common understanding for management. Prepared by Washington and Oregon Natural Heritage Programs, Olympia, WA, and Portland, OR. 177 pp.
  • Crawford, R. C., C. Chappell, B. Stephens, C. Soper, and D. Rolph. 1994. Inventory and mapping of endangered native ecosystems on Fort Lewis: Final report. Final report to Fort Lewis Military Base, WA. 47 pp.
  • Evans, S., R. Schuller, and E. Augenstein. 1984. A report on Castilleja leviscita at Rocky Prairie, Thurston County, Washington. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy. 56 pp.
  • Lang, F. A. 1961. A study of vegetation change on the gravelly prairies of Pierce and Thurston counties, western Washington. Unpublished thesis, University of Washington, Seattle. 109 pp.
  • WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.