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CEGL005266 Agropyron cristatum - (Pascopyrum smithii, Hesperostipa comata) Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Crested Wheatgrass - (Western Wheatgrass, Needle-and-Thread) Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Crested Wheatgrass Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This crested wheatgrass association occurs most commonly in the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Sites are also reported from the southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau, and high plateaus of southern Utah, and it likely occurs throughout much of the semi-arid interior West. Stands occur in a wide variety of human-disturbed habitats, including highway rights-of-way, jeep trails, etc. It is also widely planted to revegetate pastures and western rangelands. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to dense, medium-tall graminoid layer dominated by Agropyron cristatum, an introduced forage species from Russia and Siberia that has been planted extensively in the western United States. 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. In the Intermountain West, native grasses Poa secunda and Pseudoroegneria spicata may be present at low cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Where native species are conspicuous enough to identify the native plant association that could occupy the site, the stand should be typed as such.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense, medium-tall (0.5-1 m) graminoid layer dominated by Agropyron cristatum, an introduced forage species from Russia and Siberia that has been planted extensively in the northwestern Great Plains and to a lesser extent in the interior western U.S. such as on the Colorado Plateau. It has also been used to revegetate disturbed areas and has expanded into natural vegetation communities. Other species present are often introduced or weedy and include annuals Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), Bromus tectorum, Helianthus annuus, and Sisymbrium altissimum, and perennials Bromus inermis, Convolvulus arvensis, Descurainia sophia, Linaria vulgaris, Melilotus officinalis, Poa pratensis, Psathyrostachys juncea (= Elymus junceus), and Verbascum thapsus. Remnant native species generally have less than 10% cover and include Bouteloua gracilis, Nassella viridula, Pascopyrum smithii, and Hesperostipa comata in mixed-grass prairie, and Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens) in intermountain regions. Short and dwarf-shrubs may provide sparse cover in some stands and include Atriplex canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, and Gutierrezia sarothrae.
Dynamics: Hansen and Hoffman (1988, p. 6, Fig. 6) show a seral stand of Agropyron cristatum, with signs of succession leading to ~Hesperostipa comata - Carex filifolia Grassland (CEGL001700)$$.
Environmental Description: This grassland occurs in the northern Great Plains, southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau and likely occurs throughout much of the semi-arid interior West. This type can occur in a wide variety of human-disturbed habitats, including railroad and highway rights-of-way, jeep trails, etc. It is also widely planted to revegetate pastures and western rangelands. Substrates are variable but tend to be loamy or finer-textured soils such as silt or clay loams.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada and from the southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau, and it likely occurs throughout much of the semi-arid interior West.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, ND, NV, SD, SK, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686559
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.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.90 Smooth Brome - Knapweed species - Pepperweed species Western North American Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M493 | 2.B.2.Nf.90 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a Western North American Interior Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group | G624 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
| Alliance | A3254 Crested Wheatgrass - Smooth Brome - Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A3254 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
| Association | CEGL005266 Crested Wheatgrass - (Western Wheatgrass, Needle-and-Thread) Ruderal Grassland | CEGL005266 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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