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CEGL001516 Sporobolus cryptandrus - Poa secunda Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Dropseed - Sandberg Bluegrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This plant association is described for the Columbia Basin and lower Snake River, where it occurs on gentle, lower slope and river terrace positions in the valleys of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Stands are dominated by Sporobolus cryptandrus. Poa secunda is common but varies in abundance. Aristida purpurea var. longiseta and Hesperostipa comata are frequently present in low abundance; Pseudoroegneria spicata may also be present. Forb cover is typically low. Astragalus inflexus, Calochortus macrocarpus, and Heterotheca villosa are often present. Bromus tectorum (and several other exotic species) was present in nearly all the sampled stands. Early-seral, disturbed stands of ~Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Grassland (CEGL001677)$$ might be mistaken for this association.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Johnson and Simon (1987) describe a similar community, Sporobolus cryptandrus, but Poa secunda is not present in any of the stands they sampled. It is not certain if these stands represent distinct environmental conditions or if Poa secunda has simply been eliminated by grazing pressure. Most stands are in poor condition in canyons in eastern Washington.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated by Sporobolus cryptandrus. Poa secunda is common but varies in abundance. Aristida purpurea var. longiseta (= Aristida longiseta) and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata) are frequently present in low abundance; Pseudoroegneria spicata may also be present. Forb cover is typically low. Astragalus inflexus, Calochortus macrocarpus, and Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa) are often present. Bromus tectorum (and several other exotic species) was present in nearly all the sampled stands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This plant association is described for the Columbia Basin and lower Snake River, where it occurs on gentle, lower slope and river terrace positions in the valleys of the Snake and Clearwater rivers.
Geographic Range: The association occurs in the lower Snake River drainage.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687665
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c James'' Galleta - Indian Ricegrass - Needle-and-Thread Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G311 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Alliance | A3977 Sand Dropseed - Red Three-awn - Sandberg Bluegrass Sandy Stream Terrace Grassland Alliance | A3977 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL001516 Sand Dropseed - Sandberg Bluegrass Grassland | CEGL001516 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Sporobolus cryptandrus (Johnson and Simon 1987)
- 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, 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.
- 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.