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CEGL001619 Festuca idahoensis - Hieracium cynoglossoides Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Idaho Fescue - Hound''s-tongue Hawkweed Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found on the "boundary" between the eastern Cascade foothills and the Columbia Basin of south-central Washington and north-central Oregon. Stands occur at higher elevations than the Pseudoroegneria - Poa Zone in the Columbia Gorge, so it is colder throughout the year, wetter in winter and drier in summer. Soils are loams and silt loams, derived from loess, with a high content of volcanic ash. Fire may play a role in excluding shrub invaders. Little is known floristically about this grassland association except that is dominated by the medium-tall perennial bunchgrasses Festuca idahoensis and Pseudoroegneria spicata, with a lower layer of Poa secunda. The perennial forb layer is floristically rich and probably abundant, with Hieracium cynoglossoides well represented and diagnostic. The shrub layer is typically lacking from most stands, and where shrubs do occur there is no one species characteristic of this association. A well-developed cryptogam layer is typical of undisturbed sites. Diagnostic of this grassland association is a floristically rich forb layer dominated by Hieracium cynoglossoides in a Festuca idahoensis- and Pseudoroegneria spicata-dominated grassland.
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: Little is known floristically about this grassland association. Daubenmire (1970) described it with no stand tables. It is dominated by the 0.5- to 1-m tall perennial bunchgrasses Festuca idahoensis and Pseudoroegneria spicata, with a lower layer of Poa secunda. The perennial forb layer is floristically rich and probably abundant, with Hieracium cynoglossoides well represented and diagnostic. The shrub layer is typically lacking from most stands, and where shrubs do occur, there is no one species characteristic of this association. A cryptogam layer is well-developed on undisturbed sites. Species invading under grazing pressure include Bromus tectorum, other annual bromes, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Draba verna, Holosteum umbellatum, and Plantago patagonica.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the western Columbia Basin between the eastern Cascades foothills (at lower treeline of Quercus garryana) and the shrub-steppe of southeastern Washington. It is found at higher elevations than the Pseudoroegneria - Poa zone in the Columbia Gorge, so is colder throughout the year, wetter in winter and drier in summer. Soils are loams and silt loams, derived from loess, with a high content of volcanic ash. Fire may play a role in excluding shrub invaders.
Geographic Range: This association is found on the "boundary" between the eastern Cascade foothills and the Columbia Basin of south-central Washington and north-central Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686451
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2
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.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c Rough Fescue - Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Central Rocky Mountain Foothill Grassland Group | G273 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Alliance | A3987 Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Sandberg Bluegrass Dry Grassland Alliance | A3987 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001619 Idaho Fescue - Hound''s-tongue Hawkweed Grassland | CEGL001619 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca idahoensis - Hieracium cynoglossoides Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
- 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.
- Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.