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CEGL001526 Artemisia pedatifida / Festuca idahoensis Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Birdfoot Sagebrush / Idaho Fescue Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association is known from one site in Beaverhead County, southwestern Montana, near the border with Idaho. This association is poorly described. The region where found is on the eastern side of the Continental Divide and so is more strongly influenced by a continental climate regime. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but heavy snows occur during the winter months. Summers are cool and winters are cold. This association is found in the montane zone at roughly 2135 m (7000 feet) elevation, on moderate slopes. Soils are dry, alkaline, and derived from alluvium. Artemisia pedatifida is known to occur on soils that are fine-textured to loamy with gravel, but have a high percentage of clay in some horizons. The microphyllous-leaved evergreen shrub Artemisia pedatifida is dominant and typically less than 15.2 cm in height. The perennial bunchgrass Festuca idahoensis dominates the herbaceous layer and is relatively abundant. Other perennial grasses commonly found include Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Calamagrostis montanensis, and Elymus lanceolatus. Forbs are relatively scarce and consist primarily of the mat-forming perennials Antennaria rosea and Phlox hoodii.
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 is a poorly known association reported by Mueggler and Stewart (1980). The microphyllous-leaved evergreen shrub Artemisia pedatifida is dominant and typically less than 15.2 cm in height. In this association it is relatively sparse in canopy cover. The perennial bunchgrass Festuca idahoensis dominates the herbaceous layer and is relatively abundant. Other perennial grasses commonly found include Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Calamagrostis montanensis, and Elymus lanceolatus. Forbs are relatively scarce and consist primarily of the mat-forming perennials Antennaria rosea and Phlox hoodii. No other information is available.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is poorly described. The region where found is on the eastern side of the Continental Divide and so is more strongly influenced by a continental climate regime. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but heavy snows occur during the winter months. Summers are cool and winters are cold. This association is found in the montane zone at roughly 2135 m (7000 feet) elevation, on moderate slopes. Soils are dry, alkaline, and derived from alluvium. Artemisia pedatifida is known to occur on soils that are fine-textured to loamy with gravel, but have a high percentage of clay in some horizons.
Geographic Range: It is described from one site in Beaverhead County, southwestern Montana, near the border with Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685293
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup | M093 | 3.B.1.Ne.5 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a Mat Saltbush - Gardner''s Saltbush - Birdfoot Sagebrush Dwarf-Scrub Group | G301 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Alliance | A1127 Birdfoot Sagebrush Low Scrub Alliance | A1127 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Association | CEGL001526 Birdfoot Sagebrush / Idaho Fescue Shrubland | CEGL001526 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia pedatifida Habitat Type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980)
- 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.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F., and W. P. Handl. 1974. Mountain grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. Interim Report-1974. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 89 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.