Print Report
CEGL002436 Festuca altaica - (Hesperostipa spp., Achnatherum spp.) Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Altai Fescue - (Needle-and-Thread species, Ricegrass species) Grassland
Colloquial Name: Northern Plains Needlegrass - Altai Fescue Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This rough fescue grassland is found in the northern Great Plains of Canada, and possibly in adjacent areas of the United States. It is dominated by mid grasses such as Festuca altaica, Elymus trachycaulus, Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Hesperostipa curtiseta, and Achnatherum richardsonii. Important forbs include Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae spp., Monarda fistulosa, Solidago missouriensis, Oligoneuron rigidum, Thalictrum occidentale, and Vicia americana. Shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Rosa acicularis may also be present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The distribution of the type into the United States is thought to be very marginal, as both Festuca altaica and Hesperostipa curtiseta barely extend into the U.S.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This midgrass community is dominated by Festuca altaica (= Festuca scabrella) and commonly includes Elymus trachycaulus, Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Hesperostipa curtiseta (= Stipa spartea var. curtiseta), and Achnatherum richardsonii (= Stipa richardsonii). Important forbs include Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae spp., Monarda fistulosa, Solidago missouriensis, Oligoneuron rigidum (= Solidago rigida), Thalictrum occidentale, and Vicia americana. Shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Rosa acicularis may be present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Information on environmental factors is not available.
Geographic Range: This rough fescue grassland is found in the northern Great Plains of Canada and possibly in adjacent areas of the United States, from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, south possibly to North Dakota.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, ND, ON, SK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689290
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup | M051 | 2.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.2.d Plains Rough Fescue - Needle-and-Thread species Grassland Group | G332 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.d |
| Alliance | A4043 Altai Fescue Northern Great Plains Grassland Alliance | A4043 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.d |
| Association | CEGL002436 Altai Fescue - (Needle-and-Thread species, Ricegrass species) Grassland | CEGL002436 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca altaica - (Hesperostipa spp., Achnatherum spp.) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Greenall, J. A. 1995. Draft element descriptions for natural communities of southern Manitoba (prairie and parkland regions). Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg. 17 pp.
- Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.