Print Report
CEGL005265 Poa pratensis - (Pascopyrum smithii) Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Kentucky Bluegrass - (Western Wheatgrass) Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Kentucky Bluegrass Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Kentucky bluegrass type is widespread throughout the Great Plains, the midwestern United States and plains of Canada, throughout montane elevations in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains. Stands can occur in a wide variety of upland human-disturbed and native habitats. Stands are typically found on fine-textured, poorly drained, often alluvial or well-developed soils that are topographically situated to receive supplemental moisture, such as flat areas, swales, creek bottoms, riparian areas, moist toeslopes of upland draws and drainages. The vegetation is dominated by medium-tall (0.5-1 m) graminoids. The dominant grass is Poa pratensis, considered to be both a native and naturalized species from Eurasia. Other native species may occur as well, but they are generally less than 10% cover. Native species may include mixed-grass prairie grasses, such as Pascopyrum smithii and Hesperostipa comata, as well as others. Where native species are conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, the stand should be typed as such. This type includes only naturalized examples of Poa pratensis stands. Maintained lawns are treated as cultural types.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The debate over whether Poa pratensis is either native or introduced appears to be resolved in favor of it being both (Great Plains Flora Association 1986, Gleason and Cronquist 1991). The Great Plains Flora Association (1986) cites Boivin and Love (1960) as the source of this decision. Gleason and Cronquist (1991) state that in most parts of their Manual''s range (Northeast and Midwest United States and adjacent Canada), the species is introduced, but that it is probably native along their northern boundary and in Canada.
This type could be narrowly restricted to mixed-grass prairie stands where Poa pratensis dominates to the exclusion of most other species, or it could be expanded to include almost any naturalized stand dominated by Poa pratensis. Where native species are conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, the stand should be typed as such. This type includes only naturalized examples of Poa pratensis stands. Maintained lawns are treated as cultural types.
This type could be narrowly restricted to mixed-grass prairie stands where Poa pratensis dominates to the exclusion of most other species, or it could be expanded to include almost any naturalized stand dominated by Poa pratensis. Where native species are conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, the stand should be typed as such. This type includes only naturalized examples of Poa pratensis stands. Maintained lawns are treated as cultural types.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by medium-tall (0.5-1 m) graminoids. The dominant grass is Poa pratensis, considered to be both a native and naturalized species from Eurasia (Great Plains Flora Association 1986, Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Other native species may occur as well, but they are generally less than 10% cover. Native species may include mixedgrass prairie grasses, such as Pascopyrum smithii and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), as well as other mesic forbs, such as Achillea millefolium and exotic Taraxacum officinale.
Dynamics: Poa pratensis sod is unusually resistant to intense grazing and can increase in abundance even in areas that are heavily trampled and closely cropped (USFS 1937). This tolerance to heavy grazing favors Poa pratensis over less-tolerant natives grasses.
Environmental Description: This Kentucky bluegrass type is potentially widespread throughout the Great Plains and into the midwestern United States and Canada, at montane elevations in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains, and elsewhere in the western U.S. where the introduced perennial Poa pratensis has invaded native western rangeland. Stands can occur in a wide variety of upland human-disturbed and native habitats. Stands in western North Dakota are found on deep, well-developed, fine-textured soils that are topographically situated to receive supplemental moisture in the form of runoff from adjacent slopes. Such conditions exist in the toeslopes of upland draws and drainages, and in shallow depressions on north- and east-facing, nearly level slopes. Stands in the semi-arid western U.S. are typically found at montane elevations (1800-3250 m) on lowland and relatively mesic upland sites, such as canyon floors and swales on high terraces with permanently saturated soils. Substrates are also typically finer-textured, poorly drained alluvial soils. The unvegetated surface has a moderate to high cover of litter.
Geographic Range: This Kentucky bluegrass type is potentially widespread throughout the Great Plains and into the midwestern United States and Canada. Stands are also found on upland sites in the northwestern Great Plains and occur elsewhere in the western U.S. where Poa pratensis has invaded native western rangeland.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, ND, NM, SD, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684776
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.90 Kentucky Bluegrass - Buffalograss - Knapweed species Great Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M498 | 2.B.2.Nb.90 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b Kentucky Bluegrass - Timothy - Canada Thistle Northern & Central Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group | G679 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
| Alliance | A4250 Timothy - Kentucky Bluegrass - Smooth Brome Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A4250 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
| Association | CEGL005265 Kentucky Bluegrass - (Western Wheatgrass) Ruderal Grassland | CEGL005265 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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