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CEGL001502 Dasiphora fruticosa / Festuca idahoensis Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shrubby-cinquefoil / Idaho Fescue Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: Shrubby-cinquefoil / Idaho Fescue Shrub Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs infrequently in the mountains of southwestern Montana, northern Wyoming and southern Idaho. Elevation ranges from 1920-2600 m. Stands have been described from relatively mesic, gentle upland slopes with moderately deep soils derived from granitic parent materials in Montana, and on gently sloping to undulating alluvial benches along drainages in the mesic transition zone between riparian and dry upland areas in Wyoming and Idaho. However, these soils are deeper and derived from sedimentary rock such as sandstone, siltstone, and shale. This association has a dense and diverse herbaceous layer with a very sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer (3-45% cover). The shrub layer has 3-25% canopy cover of Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, which is a diagnostic species, and may have up to 20% cover of Artemisia cana in the alluvial bench stands. The herbaceous layer is dominated by medium-tall perennial graminoids with perennial forbs. The dominant/diagnostic graminoid species is Festuca idahoensis. Danthonia intermedia and Carex obtusata or several other Carex spp. often codominate. Forb species are diverse, with Achillea millefolium, Geum triflorum, Agoseris glauca, Arenaria congesta, Besseya wyomingensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Fragaria virginiana, and Potentilla gracilis being the most consistent.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association has a dense and diverse herbaceous layer with a very sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer (3-45% cover). The shrub layer has 3-25% canopy cover of Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda) which is a diagnostic species, and may have up to 20% cover of Artemisia cana in the alluvial bench stands. Other shrubs present include Amelanchier alnifolia and Penstemon fruticosus. The herbaceous layer is dominated by medium-tall perennial graminoids with perennial forbs. The dominant/diagnostic graminoid species is Festuca idahoensis. Danthonia intermedia, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Heuchera cylindrica, Agrostis scabra, Carex geyeri, and Carex obtusata or several other Carex spp. often codominate. Forb species are diverse, with Achillea millefolium, Geum triflorum, Agoseris glauca, Arenaria congesta, Besseya wyomingensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Fragaria virginiana, and Potentilla gracilis being the most consistent.
Dynamics: With overgrazing, Festuca idahoensis decreases in abundance and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda increases.
Environmental Description: This association occurs infrequently in the mountains of southwestern Montana, northern Wyoming and southern Idaho. Elevation ranges from 1920-2600 m. Stands have been described from relatively mesic, gentle upland slopes with moderately deep soils derived from granitic parent materials in Montana, and on gently sloping to undulating alluvial benches along drainages in the mesic transition zone between riparian and dry upland areas in Wyoming and Idaho. However, these soils are deeper and derived from sedimentary rock such as sandstone, siltstone, and shale.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the mountains of southwestern Montana, northern Wyoming and southern Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689809
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.c Rough Fescue - Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Central Rocky Mountain Foothill Grassland Group | G273 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Alliance | A4096 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Prairie Fescue - Idaho Fescue Shrub-steppe Alliance | A4096 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001502 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Idaho Fescue Shrub Grassland | CEGL001502 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda / Festuca idahoensis Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Reid et al. 2004)
= Potentilla fruticosa / Festuca idahoensis Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a) [(p.27)]
= Potentilla fruticosa / Festuca idahoensis habitat type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [(p.62)]
= Potentilla fruticosa / Festuca idahoensis Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a) [(p.27)]
= Potentilla fruticosa / Festuca idahoensis habitat type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [(p.62)]
- 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.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Mattson, D. J. 1984. Classification and environmental relationships of wetland vegetation in central Yellowstone National Park. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow. 409 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Tweit, S., and K. Houston. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of the Shoshone National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Shoshone National Forest.
- 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.
- Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985a. Riparian community type classification of eastern Idaho-western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-85-01. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 78 pp.