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CEGL001481 Leymus cinereus - Distichlis spicata Alkaline Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Basin Wildrye - Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is located on the Columbia Plateau in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and California, as well as the Uinta Basin of northwestern Colorado. This is a small-patch community ranging from 1-1000 acres in size that is restricted to alkaline or saline soils, often in swales or stream terraces. The water table can be shallow, or soils may have an impermeable layer holding a perched water table or may have a fine texture (e.g., clay loam) that holds water well. The community is composed of Leymus cinereus that forms an open 4-foot tall or taller bunchgrass layer and a 2-foot tall or less, dense rhizomatous Distichlis spicata grass cover. Leymus cinereus and Distichlis spicata are always present and can be the only vascular species present. Carex praegracilis, Equisetum laevigatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and Spartina gracilis may be present, although usually with less cover than the diagnostic species. Patches of exposed ground are common in more saline sites. The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum is present to abundant in disturbed sites. Achillea millefolium is found in most sites in the Great Basin, and Asclepias speciosa is common in Uinta Basin stands. This is a low-diversity community with 5-17 species per plot. Total vegetative cover is rarely less than 50%.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. In Washington, there are three distinct Leymus cinereus communities: Leymus cinereus - Distichlis spicata as described here; ~Leymus cinereus Bottomland Wet Meadow (CEGL001480)$$ with more Carex praegracilis cover than Distichlis spicata. It also occurs on better drained or subirrigated, less saline sites with more Poa pratensis and more forbs, especially mesic weeds. M. Jankovsky-Jones and R. Crawford recall, as discussed at the 1999 WA OR ID riparian crosswalk meeting, that CEGL001480 is a less alkaline bottomland type and that ~Leymus cinereus - Distichlis spicata Alkaline Wet Meadow (CEGL001481)$$ is an alkaline type. A third type is dominated by Leymus cinereus and Bromus tectorum with little or no Distichlis spicata or Carex praegracilis and occurs on more upland, well-drained, and more disturbed sites. The first two are natural vegetation; the third is a mix affected by livestock grazing/stream downcutting or ditching/sowing of Leymus cinereus and is best described as modified vegetation.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The community is composed of Leymus cinereus that forms an open 4-foot tall or taller bunchgrass layer and a 2-foot tall or less, dense rhizomatous Distichlis spicata grass cover. Leymus cinereus and Distichlis spicata are always present and can be the only vascular species present. Carex praegracilis, Equisetum laevigatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda (= Poa juncifolia), and Spartina gracilis may be present, although usually with less cover than the diagnostic species. Patches of exposed ground are common in more saline sites. The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum is present to abundant in disturbed sites. Achillea millefolium is found in most sites in the Great Basin, and Asclepias speciosa is common in Uinta Basin stands. This is a low-diversity community with 5-17 species per plot. Total vegetative cover is rarely less than 50%.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is located on the Columbia Plateau in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and California, as well as the Uinta Basin of northwestern Colorado. This is a small-patch community ranging from 1-1000 acres in size that is restricted to alkaline or saline soils, often in swales or stream terraces. The water table can be shallow, or soils may have an impermeable layer holding a perched water table or may have a fine texture (e.g., clay loam) that holds water well.
Geographic Range: This community is located on the Columbia Plateau in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California and Washington, as well as the Uinta Basin of northwestern Colorado. It may also extend into British Columbia and Utah. This description is primarily based on samples from Adams County and plots from Daubenmire (1970) in Douglas, Walla Walla and Yakima counties in Washington.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group G538 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A1329 Basin Wildrye - Beardless Wildrye Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1329 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001481 Basin Wildrye - Saltgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow CEGL001481 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Elymus cinereus - Distichlis stricta Association (Daubenmire 1970) [(p.50)]
= Leymus cinereus - Distichlis spicata association (Crawford 2003) [3 plots]
Concept Author(s): R.C. Crawford

Author of Description: R.C. Crawford and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-13-05
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