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CEGL001618 Festuca idahoensis - Geranium viscosissimum Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Idaho Fescue - Sticky Purple Geranium Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has been documented as locally abundant across the southern White River Plateau in White River National Forest, Colorado, and two sites have been identified in Grand Teton National Park. Stands occur between 1830 and 2210 m (6000-7250 feet) elevation on relatively xeric upland ridges and summits of gentle inclination (2-7%) and variable exposures. Soils are deep, well-drained, and moderately permeable with a cobbly clay substratum. This medium-height, late-seral grassland is composed of moderately dense cover of Festuca idahoensis. Several graminoids of lesser importance occur with high constancy, including Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca thurberi, Melica spectabilis, Melica bulbosa, and Achnatherum lettermanii. Significant forbs found in the community include the dominant Geranium viscosissimum, as well as Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Agoseris glauca, Erigeron speciosus, and Hymenoxys hoopesii. These sites are generally subject to wind exposure.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is based on qualitative data from one classification study with 5 stands measured. Hess and Wasser (1982) describe occurrences of this association in White River National Forest.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This medium-height, late-seral grassland is composed of moderately dense cover of Festuca idahoensis (3-25% cover). Several graminoids of lesser importance occur with high constancy, including Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca thurberi, Melica spectabilis, Melica bulbosa, Carex hoodii, and Achnatherum lettermanii (= Stipa lettermanii). Significant forbs found in the community include the dominant Geranium viscosissimum (3-30% cover), as well as Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis (= Achillea lanulosa), Agoseris glauca, Chamerion angustifolium, Erigeron speciosus, Eurybia integrifolia, Fragaria vesca, and Hymenoxys hoopesii (= Helenium hoopesii). Scattered shrubs may be present, including Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Mahonia repens, and Rosa woodsii.
Dynamics: These sites are generally subject to wind exposure and, as such, experience less snow accumulation than more protected areas of the similar ~Festuca idahoensis - Festuca thurberi Grassland (CEGL001617)$$, that is dominated by Festuca idahoensis and Festuca thurberi. The similar ~Festuca idahoensis - Elymus trachycaulus Grassland (CEGL001614)$$ occupies a more mesic environment, usually at the base of a slope and adjacent to a wet meadow. Elymus trachycaulus may be present in both plant associations but usually has less than 2% cover in ~Festuca idahoensis - Geranium viscosissimum Grassland (CEGL001618)$$.
Environmental Description: This association has been documented as locally abundant across the southern White River Plateau in White River National Forest, Colorado, and two sites have been identified in Grand Teton National Park. Stands occur between 1830 and 2210 m (6000-7250 feet) elevation on relatively xeric upland ridges and high level positions of gentle inclination (2-7%) and variable exposures. Soils are deep, well-drained, and moderately permeable with a cobbly clay substratum.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented on the White River National Forest in northwestern Colorado and in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest in northwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686111
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup | M168 | 2.B.2.Nf.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a Arizona Fescue - Thurber''s Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland Group | G268 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
| Alliance | A3954 Thurber''s Fescue - Timber Oatgrass - Letterman''s Bluegrass Southern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Grassland Alliance | A3954 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001618 Idaho Fescue - Sticky Purple Geranium Grassland | CEGL001618 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca idahoensis - Geranium viscosissimum Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Hess, K., and C. H. Wasser. 1982. Grassland, shrubland, and forest habitat types of the White River-Arapaho National Forest. Unpublished final report 53-82 FT-1-19. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 335 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.