Print Report
CEGL001786 Eriogonum niveum / Poa secunda Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Snow Buckwheat / Sandberg Bluegrass Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Restricted to the Columbia Basin of Washington, this association occurs primarily in the "scablands" or shallow soils of the Palouse Prairie region. This is an open, short bunchgrass-dominated community with scattered dwarf-shrubs and forbs. Total cover of vascular plants is between 30 and 75%. Exposed gravel and mineral soil, often covered with ground lichens and mosses, is a prominent feature of most communities. Eriogonum niveum is the only dwarf-shrub and provides 2% or more cover to the community. Poa secunda is the most common species covering 25% or more cover. Few perennial forbs appear. Lomatium farinosum or Lomatium gormanii are the most frequent forbs. Annual grasses and forbs are always present, and their abundance varies with disturbance. Exotic species Bromus tectorum and Holosteum umbellatum are the most common annuals. This association is a Lithosol, deep gravel type not to be confused with communities on deep sandy soils with gravel. Sandy sites are more floristically diverse with Hesperostipa comata, Plantago patagonica, and Chrysothamnus spp. and are included in Hesperostipa comata community types.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is a Lithosol, deep gravel type not to be confused with communities on deeper, usually sandy soils with gravel. Daubenmire (1970) referred to these as a phase of the Stipa comata / Poa secunda association. This is generally more diverse with Hesperostipa comata, Plantago patagonica, Chrysothamnus spp., and other species associated with deeper soil.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is an open, short bunchgrass-dominated community with scattered dwarf-shrubs and forbs. Total cover of vascular plants is between 30 and 75%. Exposed gravel and mineral soil, often covered with ground lichens and mosses, is a prominent feature of most communities. Eriogonum niveum is the only dwarf-shrub and provides 2% or more cover to the community. Poa secunda is the most common species covering 25% or more cover. Few perennial forbs appear. Lomatium farinosum or Lomatium gormanii are the most frequent forbs. Annual grasses and forbs are always present, and their abundance varies with disturbance. Exotic species Bromus tectorum and Holosteum umbellatum are the most common annuals. This association is a Lithosol, deep gravel type not to be confused with communities on deep sandy soils with gravel. Sandy sites are more floristically diverse with Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Plantago patagonica, and Chrysothamnus spp. and are included in Hesperostipa comata community types.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs primarily in the "scablands" or shallow soils of the Palouse Prairie region.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to Columbia Basin of Washington primarily in the scablands of the Palouse Prairie region.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684983
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.2 Little Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush - Scabland Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M170 | 3.B.1.Ne.2 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.2.a Scabland Sagebrush - Buckwheat species Dwarf-shrubland & Steppe Group | G307 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.a |
| Alliance | A1568 Buckwheat species / Sandberg Bluegrass Dwarf-shrub Steppe Alliance | A1568 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.a |
| Association | CEGL001786 Snow Buckwheat / Sandberg Bluegrass Dwarf-shrub Grassland | CEGL001786 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eriogonum niveum - Poa secunda Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
= Poa-Eriogonum Association (Poulton 1955)
= Poa-Eriogonum Association (Poulton 1955)
- 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.
- Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
- Poulton, C. E. 1955. Ecology of the non-forested vegetation in Umatilla and Morrow counties, Oregon. Unpublished dissertation. State College of Washington, Pullman. 166 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.