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CEGL001596 Festuca viridula - Carex hoodii Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greenleaf Fescue - Hood''s Sedge Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This grassland association is known from northeastern Oregon, be may also occur in Washington, northern California and adjacent Idaho. Festuca viridula dominates high-elevation areas in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon and the northern Cascade Range. On moist sites along ridgetops, seepy sideslopes and interforest meadows, Festuca viridula forms a unique community with Carex hoodii. These are tall, dense, productive montane grasslands. Stands are found from 1800 to 2410 m (5900-7900 feet) elevation, generally plateaus or ridgetops with slopes from 10-30%. Soils are formed from weathered basalt and are generally fairly shallow (76 cm) and stony. Festuca viridula dominates these grasslands with over 20% cover in fair condition stands, and even greater cover in good condition stands. Carex hoodii is codominant, ranging from 3-30% cover, and averaging 15%. Other graminoids include Poa cusickii, Achnatherum occidentale, and Elymus elymoides. Important forbs include Eriogonum heracleoides, Lupinus argenteus var. laxiflorus, Penstemon globosus, Microseris nutans, and Lupinus caudatus. In early seral stands, Achillea millefolium, Rudbeckia occidentalis, and Hackelia micrantha can provide significant cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community was described by Johnson and Simon (1987), and appears to be quite distinct from other Festuca viridula associations. However, given the lack of pristine stands and limited sampling of Festuca viridula stands from Idaho, there may be similarities to types yet to be described.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Festuca viridula dominates these grasslands with over 20% cover in fair condition stands, and even greater cover in good condition stands. Carex hoodii is codominant, ranging from 3-30% cover, and averaging 15%. Other graminoids include Poa cusickii, Achnatherum occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis), and Elymus elymoides. Important forbs include Eriogonum heracleoides, Lupinus argenteus var. laxiflorus (= Lupinus laxiflorus), Penstemon globosus, Microseris nutans, and Lupinus caudatus. In early seral stands, Achillea millefolium, Rudbeckia occidentalis, and Hackelia micrantha (= Hackelia jessicae) can provide significant cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are found from 1800 to 2410 m (5900-7900 feet) elevation, generally plateaus or ridgetops with slopes from 10-30%. Soils are formed from weathered basalt and are generally fairly shallow (76 cm) and stony.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon. It may possibly occur in the mountains of adjacent Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, ID?, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687954
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup | M168 | 2.B.2.Nf.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group | G271 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Alliance | A1257 Greenleaf Fescue - Hood''s Sedge - Lupine species Subalpine Mesic Meadow Alliance | A1257 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001596 Greenleaf Fescue - Hood''s Sedge Meadow | CEGL001596 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca viridula - Carex hoodii Plant Association (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.
- 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.
- 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.