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CEGL001626 Rosa nutkana - Festuca idahoensis Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Nootka Rose - Idaho Fescue Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association is restricted to the rainshadow of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon, southwestern Washington, and adjacent Idaho. Elevations range from 610-1220 m. Sites are typically gently sloping, often with more mesic northerly aspects. Soils are deep silt loams that are too dry for conifer establishment, but support lush and diverse meadow vegetation. The perennial bunchgrass Festuca idahoensis dominates or codominates the dense herbaceous layer with Pseudoroegneria spicata. Characteristic of this association is a sparse shrub layer (<10% cover) of Rosa nutkana or Rosa woodsii and occasionally Phlox longifolia. Some stands have dense clumps of Rosa spp., especially in swales in the topography. Other important herbaceous species include Poa secunda, Koeleria macrantha, Balsamorhiza sagittata, and Lupinus sulphureus. The introduced perennial grass Poa pratensis and several introduced annual Bromus spp. and forbs are invading grazing-disturbed stands. The cryptogam layer is well-developed on undisturbed sites. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of Festuca idahoensis in the herbaceous layer with sparse shrub cover of Rosa nutkana or Rosa woodsii without significant cover of other common woody species, including Symphoricarpos, Artemisia, Eriogonum, Chrysothamnus, or Purshia.
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: This is a lush meadow-steppe association, dominated by the perennial bunchgrasses Festuca idahoensis and Pseudoroegneria spicata (together averaging from 60% to over 100% cover), with Koeleria macrantha also abundant. It has a very rich forb component (often with 100% cover), with many species common to abundant. The deciduous shrubs Rosa nutkana and/or Rosa woodsii have generally less than 10% cover, are shorter than the dominating bunchgrasses and do not contribute to the physiognomic structure of this type. Species richness is very high. The cryptogam layer is very well-developed on undisturbed sites, also with high species richness. This association has no Symphoricarpos albus occurring within it, nor are there thickets of this species within the grassland mosaic. Grazing of the association reduces the cover of the native perennial grasses. This allows invasion of stands by Poa pratensis, which may eventually dominate grazed stands. Reduction or elimination of grazing does not appear to restore the native perennial grasses. Other species invading grazed stands include Lagophylla ramosissima, Myosurus apetalus var. borealis (= Myosurus aristatus), Sanguisorba annua (= Sanguisorba occidentalis), and Veronica arvensis.
Dynamics: All species common to this association resprout readily following fire, and the type recovers within a few years of burning.
Environmental Description: The association occurs from 610 to 1220 m (2000-4000 feet) elevation on the eastern flanks, and in the rainshadow, of the Blue Mountains. The climate of this region is colder than in the Festuca - Symphoricarpos zone to the north, drier in winter, and somewhat wetter in summer. The area is a plateau above the canyon of the Snake and Salmon rivers. Soils are deep silt loams, evidently drying out in the upper 50 cm, which is too deep for conifer seedling survival. However, it is enough moisture to support a component of more mesic forb species.
Geographic Range: There is "a restriction of geographic range to the rainshadow of the Blue Mountains" (Daubenmire 1970); "restricted to areas east of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon, southwestern Washington, and (adjacent) Idaho". In Washington along lower treeline in Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties. In Idaho confined to the Camas Prairie region. In Oregon "in and around the Blues...around Zumwalt."
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, OR?, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686800
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2Q
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 | A3988 Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Western Wheatgrass Mesic Grassland Alliance | A3988 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001626 Nootka Rose - Idaho Fescue Grassland | CEGL001626 | 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 - Rosa nutkana Habitat Type, Rosa nutkana Phase (Daubenmire 1970)
>< Symphoricarpos albus - Rosa spp. Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
>< Symphoricarpos albus - Rosa spp. Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1985)
>< Symphoricarpos albus - Rosa spp. Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
>< Symphoricarpos albus - Rosa spp. Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1985)
- 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.
- Johnson, C. G., Jr., and S. A. Simon. 1987. Plant associations of the Wallowa-Snake Province Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-255A-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 399 pp. plus appendices.
- Johnson, C. G., and S. A. Simon. 1985. Plant associations of the Wallowa Valley Ranger District, Part II: Steppe. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 258 pp.
- Kagan, Jimmy. Personal communication. Coordinator, Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland.
- 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.