Print Report
CEGL001724 Juniperus occidentalis / Festuca idahoensis Wooded Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Juniper / Idaho Fescue Wooded Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This wooded grassland association is found in eastern Oregon, Idaho, and Washington and possibly California. Stands occur on northwest-facing slopes between 1300-1400 m elevation. The open tree canopy is dominated by Juniperus occidentalis. No other tree species occurs with constancy. The shrub layer is scant. Purshia tridentata is the most diagnostic shrub due to its constancy and height (1 m). Artemisia tridentata occurs with slightly higher cover values, but it is not as conspicuous with an average height of only 0.5 m. The perennial herbaceous layer averages 15% cover, 10% of which is attributable to Festuca idahoensis. Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa secunda, and Koeleria macrantha also occur with 100% constancy but at much lower cover values.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Tree cover data of stands included in this association need review to determine if this should be classified into a woodland or wooded herbaceous alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The open tree canopy is dominated by Juniperus occidentalis. No other tree species occurs with constancy. The shrub layer is scant with an average cover value of 1.6%. Purshia tridentata is the most diagnostic shrub due to its constancy and height (1 m). Artemisia tridentata occurs with slightly higher cover values, but it is not as conspicuous with an average height of only 0.5 m. The perennial herbaceous layer averages 15% cover, 10% of which is attributable to Festuca idahoensis. Pseudoroegneria spicata (= Agropyron spicatum), Poa secunda, and Koeleria macrantha (= Koeleria cristata) also occur with 100% constancy but at much lower cover values.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur on northwest-facing slopes between 1300-1400 m elevation.
Geographic Range: This relatively broad-ranging wooded grassland association is found in eastern Oregon, Idaho, and Washington and possibly California. It is known to occur within the western region of the Northwest Basin and Range, High Lava Plains, and Owyhee Uplands ecoregional sections. Stands may also occur within the southern region of the Blue Mountains ecoregional section.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, ID, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687766
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division | D010 | 1.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nc.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup | M896 | 1.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b Western Juniper Open Woodland Group | G248 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A3500 Western Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3500 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001724 Western Juniper / Idaho Fescue Wooded Grassland | CEGL001724 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus occidentalis / Purshia tridentata / Festuca idahoensis - Agropyron spicatum Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
- 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.
- Driscoll, R. S. 1964a. Vegetation-soil units in the central Oregon juniper zone. Research Paper PNW-19. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 60 pp.
- Driscoll, R. S. 1964b. A relict area in the central Oregon juniper zone. Ecology 45(2):345-353.
- Hall, F. C. 1973. Plant communities of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. R6 Area Guide 3-1. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 62 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.