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CEGL001662 Pseudoroegneria spicata - Balsamorhiza sagittata - Poa secunda Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Arrowleaf Balsamroot - Sandberg Bluegrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This grassland association is described from the foothills and canyon slopes of northeastern Oregon, western Idaho, northwestern Wyoming and possibly Washington. Stands occur on steep, southeast- to southwest-facing slopes on mid- to upper-slope positions of major ridge systems in, typically, highly dissected terrain. Elevations range from 400-1500 m (1300-4900 feet), with outliers to 2256 m (7400 feet). Soils are often gravelly with abundant cobbles and stones. The plant association is characterized by a relatively open, tall bunchgrass canopy dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata. Poa secunda is consistently present but typically is only common to well-represented. Annual bromes (Bromus briziformis, Bromus arvensis, and Bromus tectorum) and Poa bulbosa are often present and may occur with abundance in degraded stands. Associated herbaceous species include Balsamorhiza sagittata, Lupinus spp., Crepis acuminata, Allium acuminatum, Achillea millefolium, Epilobium brachycarpum, Penstemon deustus, and Collomia grandiflora.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The plant association is described as Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda / Balsamorhiza sagittata by Tisdale (1986) for the Hells Canyon region of Oregon and Idaho. Johnson and Simon (1987) describe a series of Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda associations that, in part, describe variants of the broader Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda / Balsamorhiza sagittata described by Tisdale (1986). Rust (1997a) prepared a crosswalk of the Pseudoroegneria spicata-dominated plant associations from the Hells Canyon region based on published data summaries. A comprehensive and quantitative review of the classification of these plant communities is needed to formally determine the relationships between Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda described by Johnson and Simon (1987), Johnson and Clausnitzer (1992), Tisdale (1986), Poulton (1955), Ganskopp (1979) and Daubenmire (1970). The more refined classification of Johnson and Simon (1987) will likely serve the needs of conservation of biological diversity.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This subxeric montane grassland association is characterized by a relatively open, tall bunchgrass canopy dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata (10-20% cover). Poa secunda is consistently present and typically has 5-10% cover, although it may be absent from some stands. Exotic annual bromes (Bromus briziformis, Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), and Bromus tectorum) and Poa bulbosa are often present and may be abundant in degraded stands. Associated herbaceous species include Balsamorhiza sagittata, Lupinus spp., Crepis acuminata, Allium acuminatum, Achillea millefolium, Helianthella uniflora, Epilobium brachycarpum (= Epilobium paniculatum), Penstemon deustus, and Collomia grandiflora.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This grassland association is described from foothills and canyon slopes and occurs in northeastern Oregon, western Idaho, northwestern Wyoming and possibly Washington. Stands occur on steep slopes with varying aspects on mid- to upper-slope positions of major ridge systems in highly dissected terrain. Elevations range from 400-1500 m (1300-4900 feet) in Oregon and Idaho, and extend up to 2256 m (7400 feet) in Wyoming. Soils are often gravelly with abundant cobbles and stones.
Geographic Range: Improved understanding of the range of Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda communities requires resolution of questions regarding the classification of these communities. The association does, however, appear to be known primarily from the eastern and western portions, respectively, of the Blue Mountains and Idaho Batholith ecoregional sections, with an isolated stand reported from the Grand Teton Mountains of northwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686562
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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 | CEGL001662 Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Arrowleaf Balsamroot - Sandberg Bluegrass Grassland | CEGL001662 | 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: < Agropyron spicatum - Balsamorhiza sagittata - Poa secunda Herbaceous Vegetation (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Agropyron spicatum - Poa sandbergii / Balsamorhiza sagittata Habitat Type (Tisdale 1986)
= Agropyron spicatum - Poa secunda Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
< Agropyron spicatum - Poa secunda Plant Association (Ganskopp 1979)
= Pseudoroegneria spicata - Balsamorhiza sagittata - Poa secunda (Rust 1997a)
= Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda (Poulton 1955)
< Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Sandberg Bluegrass / Arrowleaf Balsamroot Herbaceous Vegetation (Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda / Balsamorhiza sagittata Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
= Agropyron spicatum - Poa sandbergii / Balsamorhiza sagittata Habitat Type (Tisdale 1986)
= Agropyron spicatum - Poa secunda Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
< Agropyron spicatum - Poa secunda Plant Association (Ganskopp 1979)
= Pseudoroegneria spicata - Balsamorhiza sagittata - Poa secunda (Rust 1997a)
= Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda (Poulton 1955)
< Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Sandberg Bluegrass / Arrowleaf Balsamroot Herbaceous Vegetation (Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda / Balsamorhiza sagittata Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
- Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
- 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.
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- Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
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- Johnson, C. G., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1992. Plant associations of the Blue and Ochoco mountains. R6-ERW-TP-036-92. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 163 pp. plus appendices.
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- Poulton, C. E. 1955. Ecology of the non-forested vegetation in Umatilla and Morrow counties, Oregon. Unpublished dissertation. State College of Washington, Pullman. 166 pp.
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- Stevens, J. E., D. S. Jones, and K. J. Benner. 2015. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRYN/NRR--2015/1070. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 350 pp.
- Tisdale, E. W. 1986. Canyon grasslands and associated shrublands of west-central Idaho and adjacent areas. Bulletin No. 40. Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station, University of Idaho, Moscow. 42 pp.
- 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.