Print Report
CEGL001675 Pseudoroegneria spicata - Pascopyrum smithii Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass Mixedgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This grassland association is found in the northern Great Plains and in the eastern foothills of the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains. Stands generally grow on slopes with shallow soils. Pseudoroegneria spicata dominates the vegetation, and rhizomatous wheatgrasses (Pascopyrum smithii or Elymus lanceolatus) are abundant. Forbs and shrubs contribute little cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The inclusion of Hansen and Hoffman''s (1988) stand number 25 from southeastern Montana extends the range of variability in vegetation found in this association. That stand contains Bouteloua curtipendula as an important species, and its inclusion in this association may be inappropriate. Similarly, it is unclear how much Bouteloua gracilis and Carex filifolia should be allowed in the vegetation for a stand to be placed into this association.
In ~Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Grassland (CEGL001677)$$, rhizomatous wheatgrasses are absent or contribute little cover.
In ~Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Grassland (CEGL001677)$$, rhizomatous wheatgrasses are absent or contribute little cover.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Grasses contribute most of the cover and production. Pseudoroegneria spicata dominates (usually strongly). The rhizomatous wheatgrasses Pascopyrum smithii or Elymus lanceolatus (or both) are secondary species, but the rhizomatous wheatgrasses may codominate with Pseudoroegneria spicata. Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda usually are present in smaller amounts, but Hesperostipa comata often codominates in west-central Montana (Jorgensen 1979). Bouteloua gracilis is absent or is a minor species. Nassella viridula (= Stipa viridula) contributes substantial cover in some stands, especially in the Great Plains but also in some foothills stands (Mueggler and Stewart''s (1980) Stipa viridula phase). Stands in the foothills often contain Poa cusickii, Leucopoa kingii, and Calamagrostis montanensis. In southeastern Montana (Hansen and Hoffman 1988) and northeastern Wyoming (Terwilliger et al. 1979a), Bouteloua curtipendula may also occur in the vegetation. Forbs contribute little cover or production, but a number of species may be present, including Ambrosia psilostachya (in Great Plains stands), Draba oligosperma, Erigeron compositus, Stenotus acaulis (= Haplopappus acaulis), Heterotheca villosa, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Phlox hoodii, Tragopogon dubius, and Vicia americana. The subshrubs Artemisia frigida and Gutierrezia sarothrae usually are present in small amounts. Shrubs generally are absent or are present only as scattered individuals, but Tweit and Houston (1980) note that Tetradymia canescens may be common and Chrysothamnus spp. may form a distinct shrub layer in disturbed stands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands of this grassland association grow over a broad elevation range, from 800 m (2600 feet) in Great Plains to 2300 m (7500 feet) in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. They occur on slopes, from gentle alluvial fans to slopes as steep as 40%, facing all aspects. Substrates are glacial deposits, alluvium, limestone, and calcareous sandstones. Soils usually are shallow, may contain a substantial volume of coarse fragments, and belong to sandy clay loam, loam, or clay loam textural classes. The sites often are exposed to strong, persistent winds.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from western and central Montana (Jorgensen 1979, Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Cooper et al. 1995), northeastern Montana (DeVelice et al. 1995), southeastern Montana (Hansen and Hoffman 1988), northwestern and west-central Wyoming (Tweit and Houston 1980), and apparently from northeastern Wyoming (Terwilliger et al. 1979a).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT, ND?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685585
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup | M051 | 2.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b Needle-and-Thread - Blue Grama Dry Mixedgrass Prairie Group | G331 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A4032 Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass - Needle-and-Thread Grassland Alliance | A4032 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001675 Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass Grassland | CEGL001675 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Agropyron spicatum - Agropyron smithii Community Type (Cooper et al. 1995) [Cooper et al. (1995) describe this association as it occurs in the foothills of southwestern Montana.]
< Agropyron spicatum - Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Jorgensen 1979) [On Jorgensen''s (1979) habitat type in west-central Montana, Hesperostipa comata often codominates the vegetation.]
< Agropyron spicatum / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [Mueggler and Stewart''s (1980) habitat type supports stands of this association in central Montana.]
< Agropyron spicatum / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Tweit and Houston 1980) [Tweit and Houston''s (1980) habitat type supports this association in northwestern Wyoming.]
< Agropyron spicatum / Bouteloua curtipendula Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984) [Hansen and Hoffman''s (1988) habitat type in southeastern Montana apparently supports stands belonging to this association (Table A-8, stand 25).]
? Agropyron spicatum / Stipa comata Plant Association (Terwilliger et al. 1979a) [Terwilliger et al.''s (1979a) Agropyron spicatum / Stipa comata plant association is included here because Johnston (1987) identifies it as part of his Roegneria spicata / Elytrigia smithii association. Terwilliger et al.''s (1979a) may contain stands that belong in this association, although the composition of the vegetation in their association is unclear.]
> Pseudoroegneria spicata / Pascopyrum smithii Plant Community (DeVelice et al. 1995) [The community of DeVelice et al. (1995) represents this association in northern Montana.]
= Roegneria spicata / Elytrigia smithii Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [Johnston''s (1987) plant association appears to be essentially the same as this one.]
< Agropyron spicatum - Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Jorgensen 1979) [On Jorgensen''s (1979) habitat type in west-central Montana, Hesperostipa comata often codominates the vegetation.]
< Agropyron spicatum / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [Mueggler and Stewart''s (1980) habitat type supports stands of this association in central Montana.]
< Agropyron spicatum / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Tweit and Houston 1980) [Tweit and Houston''s (1980) habitat type supports this association in northwestern Wyoming.]
< Agropyron spicatum / Bouteloua curtipendula Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984) [Hansen and Hoffman''s (1988) habitat type in southeastern Montana apparently supports stands belonging to this association (Table A-8, stand 25).]
? Agropyron spicatum / Stipa comata Plant Association (Terwilliger et al. 1979a) [Terwilliger et al.''s (1979a) Agropyron spicatum / Stipa comata plant association is included here because Johnston (1987) identifies it as part of his Roegneria spicata / Elytrigia smithii association. Terwilliger et al.''s (1979a) may contain stands that belong in this association, although the composition of the vegetation in their association is unclear.]
> Pseudoroegneria spicata / Pascopyrum smithii Plant Community (DeVelice et al. 1995) [The community of DeVelice et al. (1995) represents this association in northern Montana.]
= Roegneria spicata / Elytrigia smithii Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [Johnston''s (1987) plant association appears to be essentially the same as this one.]
- 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.
- Cooper, S. V., P. Lesica, R. L. DeVelice, and T. McGarvey. 1995. Classification of southwestern Montana plant communities with emphasis on those of Dillon Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 154 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L., S. V. Cooper, J. T. McGarvey, J. Lichthardt, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1995. Plant communities of northeastern Montana: A first approximation. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 116 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-157. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 68 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- Jorgensen, H. E. 1979. Vegetation of the Yellow Water Triangle, Montana. Montana Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management. Helena, MT. 57 pp.
- 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.
- Rice, P. M., E. W. Schweiger, W. Gustafson, C. Lea, D. Manier, D. Shorrock, B. Frakes, and L. O’Gan. 2012c. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2012/589. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 176 pp.
- Terwilliger, C., K. Hess, and C. Wasser. 1979a. Key to the preliminary habitat types of Region 2. Addendum to initial progress report for habitat type classification. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO.
- Tweit, S., and K. Houston. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of the Shoshone National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Shoshone National Forest.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.