Print Report

CEGL003081 Poa pratensis Ruderal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Marsh

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This semi-natural grassland is widespread in the western U.S. and northern Great Plains where it has invaded natural meadows and riparian areas. Sites are generally flat to moderately sloping and occur on all aspects. Stands typically occur on pastures found in the plains, montane meadows, stream benches and terraces. In the semi-arid region it is restricted to relatively mesic sites. Soils are highly variable, but Poa pratensis grows best on moist, fertile sandy to clayey alluvium with high organic content. It does not tolerate prolonged flooding, high water tables or poor drainage well. However, it can tolerate mildly alkaline and saline soils, and some drought. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous canopy that is strongly dominated by the introduced perennial, sod-forming graminoid Poa pratensis. Poa pratensis has invaded many natural plant associations, but the diagnostic character in this association is that there is typically not enough of the native grassland left to classify it as a poor condition natural type. Associates are often those early-seral and weedy species that tolerate the historic heavy livestock grazing or other disturbance well, such as Achillea millefolium, Cirsium arvense, Elymus repens, Equisetum spp., Fragaria virginiana, Hordeum spp., Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Linaria vulgaris, Potentilla gracilis, Taraxacum officinale, and introduced forage species such as Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, and Phleum pratense. Remnant natives Pascopyrum smithii, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Carex spp. are often present in low cover. Occasional trees and shrubs may also be present.

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 widespread, semi-natural plant association is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous canopy that is strongly dominated by the introduced perennial, sod-forming graminoid Poa pratensis. Poa pratensis has invaded many natural plant associations, but the diagnostic character in this association is that there is typically not enough of the native grassland left to classify it as a poor-condition natural type. Associates are often those early-seral and weedy species that tolerate the historic heavy livestock grazing or other disturbance well, such as Achillea millefolium, Cirsium arvense, Elymus repens, Equisetum spp., Fragaria virginiana, Hordeum spp., Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Linaria vulgaris, Potentilla gracilis, Taraxacum officinale, and introduced forage species such as Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, and Phleum pratense. Remnant natives Pascopyrum smithii, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Carex spp. are often present in low cover. Occasional trees and shrubs may also be present.

Dynamics:  Poa pratensis is widespread in the western U.S. where, following disturbance, its extensive rhizome system allows it to spread and establish, outcompeting many native graminoids. It is tolerant of heavy grazing and increases at the expense of less tolerant native species (Hansen et al. 1995, Volland 1978). It is also adapted to burning and quickly resprouts after fire, except when burned during growing periods (Volland and Dell 1981).
Environmental Description:  This semi-natural grassland is widespread in the western U.S. and northern Great Plains where it has invaded natural prairies, meadows and riparian areas. Elevation ranges from 1100-3200 m (3600-10,500 feet). Sites are generally flat to moderately sloping and occur on all aspects. Stands typically occur on pastures found in the plains, montane meadows, stream benches and terraces. In the semi-arid regions it is restricted to relatively mesic sites. Soils are variable, but Poa pratensis grows best on moist, fertile sandy to clayey alluvium with high organic content (Hansen et al. 1995). It does not tolerate prolonged flooding, high water tables or poor drainage well. However, it can tolerate mildly alkaline and saline soils, and some drought (Hansen et al. 1995, Hall and Hansen 1997, Kovalchik 1987, Manning and Padgett 1995, Padgett et al. 1989).
Geographic Range: This semi-natural grassland is widespread in the western U.S. and northern Great Plains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, ID, MT, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: High

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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.90 Western North American Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M301 2.C.4.Nb.90
Group 2.C.4.Nb.90.a Kentucky Bluegrass - Canadian Horseweed - Canada Thistle Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group G524 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Alliance A3848 Kentucky Bluegrass - Redtop - Creeping Bentgrass Ruderal Marsh Alliance A3848 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL003081 Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Marsh CEGL003081 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Concept Lineage: This type (CEGL003159) merged into CEGL003081.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Poa pratensis - Agrostis spp. Community (Franklin and Dyrness 1973)
< Poa pratensis - Phleum pratense / Mixed Grass Community Type (Kauffman et al. 1985)
< Poa pratensis / Mixed Forb Community Type (Kauffman et al. 1985)
? Poa pratensis (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.060.05]
= Poa pratensis (Kovalchik 1987) [(p.92)]
= Poa pratensis Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Poa pratensis Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a)
= Poa pratensis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Poa pratensis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Poa pratensis Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997)
= Poa pratensis Community Type (Tuhy and Jensen 1982)
= Poa pratensis Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
< Dry Meadow (Hall 1973)
< Dry Meadows (Kauffman et al. 1983)
< Kentucky Bluegrass Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Moist Meadows (Kauffman et al. 1983)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen, K.A. Schulz and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-24-09
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