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CEGL001901 Festuca idahoensis - Leucopoa kingii Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Idaho Fescue - Spike Fescue Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The association purportedly occurs in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Composition and distribution data for the association are scant. High-elevation grassland stands of the Blackpine Mountains of southern Idaho are tentatively classified within this plant association. The stands occur on well-drained ribbon scree formations of steep, west-facing slopes with convex microtopographical configuration at 2655 m (8700 feet) elevation. The association appears to be restricted to high-elevation sites of intermediate productivity where combined factors of duration of snow cover, exposure to winter desiccation, and growing-season soil-moisture availability allow the occurrence of the association. Leucopoa kingii is well represented to abundant on this exposed, stabilized scree. Festuca idahoensis and Pseudoroegneria spicata are common to well represented. Stenotus acaulis, Packera cana, Erigeron linearis, and Artemisia frigida are common. Leucopoa kingii and Pseudoroegneria spicata codominate cushion plant associations occurring on adjacent more harsh, ridgetop sites. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana-dominated stands are adjacent on less harsh downslope sites.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a poorly documented association. The classification is based on a limited number of samples taken from a limited range.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii) is well represented to abundant on this exposed, stabilized scree. Festuca idahoensis and Pseudoroegneria spicata are common to well represented. Stenotus acaulis (= Haplopappus acaulis), Packera cana (= Senecio canus), Erigeron linearis, and Artemisia frigida are common. Leucopoa kingii and Pseudoroegneria spicata codominate cushion plant associations occurring on adjacent more harsh, ridgetop sites. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana-dominated stands are adjacent on less harsh downslope sites.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The stands occur on well-drained ribbon scree formations of steep, west-facing slopes with convex microtopographical configuration at 2655 m (8700 feet) elevation. The association appears to be restricted to high-elevation sites of intermediate productivity where combined factors of duration of snow cover, exposure to winter desiccation, and growing-season soil-moisture availability allow the occurrence of the association.
Geographic Range: The association purportedly occurs in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688296
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.a Downy Ryegrass - Idaho Fescue - Spike Fescue Grassland Group | G267 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a |
| Alliance | A3965 Idaho Fescue - Northern Single-spike Sedge - Timber Oatgrass Central Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry Grassland Alliance | A3965 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a |
| Association | CEGL001901 Idaho Fescue - Spike Fescue Grassland | CEGL001901 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca idahoensis - Leucopoa kingii (Jones and Ogle 2000)
- 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.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. No date. Unpublished data on file at Idaho Conservation Data Center, Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.