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CEGL001794 Danthonia intermedia Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Timber Oatgrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This wide-ranging grassland association is found in lower alpine and subalpine meadows in southern plateaus and northeastern mountains of Utah, mountains of Colorado, and the east slope of the northern Cascades in Washington. Stands are located on gentle to undulating slopes on any aspect in Utah and Colorado, and range from broad, relatively dry upland meadows and benches, but include steep slopes to level wet-mesic meadows. Aspect is variable but often with southern exposures. In Washington, stands occur on moderately steep to steep slopes that receive additional moisture seepage from upslope. Prevailing winter winds allow only moderate snow accumulations. It may also occur on other somewhat mesic sites such as below talus slopes and along streams. Soils are shallow, well-drained, acidic, nutrient-poor, gravelly loams to gravelly clay loams. Vegetation is characterized by a moderately sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer, depending on the amount of rock cover. The vegetation is dominated by the cool-season, short bunchgrass Danthonia intermedia with Solidago multiradiata absent or with low cover. Forb cover codominates the herbaceous layer with species such as Achillea millefolium, Erigeron simplex, Erigeron ursinus, Solidago simplex or Symphyotrichum foliaceum. Associated graminoids include Agrostis spp., Carex spp., Festuca brachyphylla, Juncus drummondii, Phleum alpinum, Poa spp., or Trisetum spicatum. The ground surface is often covered with nonvascular plants such as lichens, liverworts, and mosses forming a cryptogamic crust.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. If it were renamed as a dominance type, the species would include Vaccinium cespitosum and Danthonia intermedia. This association is broadly defined and occurs in riparian sites at 2100 m elevation in eastern Washington to subalpine and alpine meadows from the northern Cascades and the central and southern Rocky Mountains. More survey and classification work are needed to verify all stands should be included in the same association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by a moderately sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer, depending on the amount of rock cover. The vegetation is dominated by the cool-season, short bunchgrass Danthonia intermedia with Solidago multiradiata absent or with low cover. Forb cover codominates the herbaceous layer with species such as Achillea millefolium, Erigeron simplex, Erigeron ursinus, Solidago simplex, or Symphyotrichum foliaceum (= Aster foliaceus). Associated graminoids include Agrostis scabra, Agrostis variabilis, Carex engelmannii, Carex microptera, Carex scirpoidea, Festuca brachyphylla, Juncus drummondii, Phleum alpinum, Poa spp., or Trisetum spicatum. Other common forbs are Arenaria capillaris, Cerastium beeringianum, Geum rossii, Lewisia pygmaea, Minuartia obtusiloba (= Arenaria obtusiloba), Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla diversifolia, Saxifraga rhomboidea, and many others. In Washington, Vaccinium cespitosum, Potentilla flabellifolia, and Carex pachystachya are often important species. The invasive forb Taraxacum officinale dominates the forb layer in some stands. The ground surface is often covered with nonvascular plants such as lichens, liverworts, and mosses forming a cryptogamic crust.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This wide-ranging grassland association is found in lower alpine and subalpine meadows in southern plateaus and northeastern mountains of Utah, mountains of Colorado, and the east slope of the northern Cascades in Washington. Elevations range from 2865-3170 m in Utah, 2940-3600 m in Colorado, and 2100 m in Washington. Stands are located on gentle to undulating slopes (1-15% 48%) on any aspect in Utah and Colorado. In Washington, stands occur on moderately steep to steep slopes that receive additional moisture seepage from upslope. In Colorado and Utah sites range from broad, relatively dry upland meadows and benches but include steep slopes to level wet-mesic meadows. Aspect is variable but often with southern exposures. Prevailing winter winds allow only moderate snow accumulations. It may also occur on other somewhat mesic sites such as below talus slopes and along streams. Soils are shallow, well-drained, acidic (pH 5), nutrient-poor, gravelly loams to gravelly clay loams. However, many stands have at least seasonally high water tables evidenced by mottles within the first 30 cm of soil. Parent materials include alluvium or colluvium derived for the basalt lava, granite, schist and sandstone. The ground surface has a cryptogamic crust of lichens, liverworts, and mosses. Adjacent stands include subalpine conifer woodlands and herbaceous- or shrub-dominated wetlands.
Geographic Range: This wide-ranging grassland association is found in lower alpine and subalpine meadows in southern plateaus and northeastern mountains of Utah, mountains of Colorado, and the east slope of the northern Cascades in Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686376
Confidence Level: Low
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 | CEGL001794 Timber Oatgrass Grassland | CEGL001794 | 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: = Danthonia intermedia - Erigeron simplex Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Danthonia intermedia - Potentilla diversifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Danthonia intermedia / Erigeron simplex Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982) [includes a Solidago multiradiata phase at lower elevations and a Sibbaldia procumbens - Artemisia norvegica phase at upper treeline.]
= Danthonia intermedia Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.177)]
= Danthonia intermedia Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Danthonia intermedia Community Type (Douglas and Bliss 1977) [(p.128)]
< Danthonia intermedia and Trisetum spicatum turf (Marr and Buckner 1974) [gas pipeline project on Rollins Pass.]
= Danthonia-Polytrichum Community (Hall 1971) [Danthonia intermedia-dominated alpine meadow.]
= Solidagini spathulatae - Danthonia intermedia Association (Komarkova 1976)
= Danthonia intermedia - Potentilla diversifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Danthonia intermedia / Erigeron simplex Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982) [includes a Solidago multiradiata phase at lower elevations and a Sibbaldia procumbens - Artemisia norvegica phase at upper treeline.]
= Danthonia intermedia Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.177)]
= Danthonia intermedia Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Danthonia intermedia Community Type (Douglas and Bliss 1977) [(p.128)]
< Danthonia intermedia and Trisetum spicatum turf (Marr and Buckner 1974) [gas pipeline project on Rollins Pass.]
= Danthonia-Polytrichum Community (Hall 1971) [Danthonia intermedia-dominated alpine meadow.]
= Solidagini spathulatae - Danthonia intermedia Association (Komarkova 1976)
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