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CEGL005268 Euphorbia esula Ruderal Forbland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Leafy Spurge Ruderal Forbland
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Leafy Spurge Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This leafy spurge type is widely naturalized in the northern United States and Canada. Stands occur in fields, roadsides, stream valleys, open woodlands, waste places and native prairie on a variety of soils. Other weedy species may occur as well, but native species 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. This type is a serious pest of rangeland, since it is unpalatable to cattle. Where native species are conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, the stand should be typed as such.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands dominated by Euphorbia esula occur in a wide variety of habitats, with many possible associates. It is unclear how best to describe this variability, though only stands that are overwhelmingly dominated by this species (greater than 90% canopy cover) should be placed in this type. Stands that still retain sufficient native species composition should be placed with their most likely natural type. It''s possible that at least two broad types should be distinguished - those with either a small remnant of mixed grass prairie species or tallgrass prairie species.
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) forbs. The dominant forb is Euphorbia esula, a naturalized species from Eurasia (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). Other weedy species may occur as well, but native species are generally less than 10% cover. Native species may include mixed-grass prairie grasses, such as Pascopyrum smithii and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), as well as others. This type is a serious pest of rangeland, since it is unpalatable to cattle.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur in fields, roadsides, stream valleys, open woodlands, waste places, and native prairie, on a variety of soils (Great Plains Flora Association 1986).
Geographic Range: Stands dominated by Euphorbia esula are increasingly common across the northern Great Plains.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, ND, SD, SK, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686356
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 | A4249 Leafy Spurge - Canada Thistle Mixed Ruderal Forbland Alliance | A4249 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
| Association | CEGL005268 Leafy Spurge Ruderal Forbland | CEGL005268 | 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
- Barkley, T. M., editor. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1392 pp.
- Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. 1402 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Trammel, M. A., and J. L. Butler. 1995. Effects of exotic plants on native ungulate use of habitat. Journal of Wildlife Management 59:804-815.
- Trammell, M. A. 1994. Exotic plants of Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Extent, distribution, and ecological impact. M.S. thesis, University of South Dakota. 174 pp.
- Von Loh, J., D. Cogan, D. J. Butler, D. Faber-Langendoen, D. Crawford, and M. J. Pucherelli. 2000. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 252 pp.