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CEGL002935 Thinopyrum intermedium Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Intermediate Wheatgrass Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Thinopyrum intermedium type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains of the United States, and perhaps more widely in the midwestern U.S. and Canada. It also occurs in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains at montane elevations and likely occurs elsewhere in the western U.S. Stands can occur in a wide variety of human-disturbed habitats. Thinopyrum intermedium is widely planted as pasture and hayland along road ditches for Conservation Reserve Program lands, and in dense-nesting-cover mixes. It is commonly found on reseeded cultivated lands planted with legumes, such as sweetclover and alfalfa, and may also have escaped into surrounding habitats. It is most abundant on dry, medium-textured soils but has adapted to a broad range of soil textures and moisture conditions. Vegetation is primarily medium-tall (0.5-1 m) graminoids dominated by Thinopyrum intermedium, a naturalized, cool-season grass species from eastern Europe. Other weedy species such as Bromus inermis may occur as well, but native species are generally less than 20% cover. Native grass species will rarely, if ever, reestablish in sites dominated by Thinopyrum intermedium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The Thinopyrum intermedium type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains of the United States, and perhaps more widely in the midwestern U.S. and Canada. It also is reported from Utah and western Colorado and likely occurs elsewhere in the western U.S. where Thinopyrum intermedium has been seeded or escaped from plantings.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is primarily medium-tall (0.5-1 m) graminoids dominated by Thinopyrum intermedium (= Agropyron intermedium, = Elytrigia intermedia), a naturalized, cool-season grass species from eastern Europe. Thinopyrum intermedium often contributes 90% of the cover for this community; however, other exotics such as Bromus inermis can invade into these areas. Native species are generally less than 20% cover and almost never reestablish in areas dominated by Thinopyrum intermedium. In the intermountain western U.S., the herbaceous layer is also low in species diversity and cover. Forbs include Artemisia dracunculus, Artemisia ludoviciana, Artemisia michauxiana, Mertensia arizonica, Solidago velutina, and Vicia americana. Short and dwarf-shrubs such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Ericameria parryi, and Ribes inerme may be present. Associated grasses include the non-native annual Bromus tectorum and perennial Bromus inermis which provide sparse cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The Thinopyrum intermedium type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains of the United States, and perhaps more widely in the midwestern U.S. and Canada. It also is reported from the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains at montane elevations and likely occurs elsewhere in the western U.S. Stands can occur in a wide variety of human-disturbed habitats. Thinopyrum intermedium is widely planted as pasture and hayland along road ditches for Conservation Reserve Program lands, and in dense-nesting-cover mixes (D. Ode pers. comm.). It is commonly found on reseeded cultivated lands planted with legumes, such as sweetclover and alfalfa, and may also have escaped into surrounding habitats (D. Ode pers. comm.). It is most abundant on dry, medium-textured soils but has adapted to a broad range of soil textures and moisture conditions.
Geographic Range: This type occurs widely throughout the northern Great Plains of the United States, and perhaps more widely in the Midwest and Canada, but is poorly documented.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, SD, UT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688601
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.90 Kentucky Bluegrass - Buffalograss - Knapweed species Great Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M498 | 2.B.2.Nb.90 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b Kentucky Bluegrass - Timothy - Canada Thistle Northern & Central Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group | G679 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
| Alliance | A4250 Timothy - Kentucky Bluegrass - Smooth Brome Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A4250 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
| Association | CEGL002935 Intermediate Wheatgrass Ruderal Grassland | CEGL002935 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Thinopyrum intermedium Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation (Cogan et al. 2004)
- Butler, J., D. Crawford, S. Menard, and T. Meyer. 2002. Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota. USGS-USFWS Vegetation Mapping Program. Final report. Technical Memorandum 8260-02-02, Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO.
- Cogan, D., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Erixson, J., D. Cogan, and J. Von Loh. 2011b. Vegetation inventory project report: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR--2011/434 National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Erixson, J., and D. Cogan. 2012a. Vegetation inventory project: Whitman Mission National Historic Site. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR--2012/520. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 176 pp.
- Ode, Dave. Personal communication. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.