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CEGL002588 Elymus lanceolatus Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Thick-spike Wheatgrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This streamside wild rye grassland occurs on rolling upland terrain in northwestern and southern Colorado, northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Stands typically occur as patches and small stands on dry to mesic habitats at elevations from 1600 to 2470 m (5250-8100 feet). Sites are located on generally level to gentle slopes, but may occur on steep slopes. Aspect is not important in determining this community. Soils are generally well-developed, fine-textured silt loams or clay loams derived from shale or eolian loess, less often from alluvium. Litter or bare soil cover much of the unvegetated ground surface. The vegetation is dominated by the perennial grass Elymus lanceolatus. Other grasses are generally present, usually with much less cover, and include Hesperostipa comata, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Leymus cinereus, Pascopyrum smithii, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Exotics such as Agropyron cristatum, Bromus inermis and Bromus tectorum may be present in disturbed stands. A variety of forb species may also be present with low to moderate cover. Some of the more consistent species include Lupinus argenteus, Silene menziesii, Agoseris glauca, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Phlox spp. Shrubs such as Amelanchier utahensis and Symphoricarpos oreophilus may occur with minimal cover. Shrubs may provide trace cover, including Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and Krascheninnikovia lanata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Rhizomatous Elymus lanceolatus can easily be confused with the bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata, especially in disturbed areas or on steep slopes, where bunches can spread out. It is also difficult to distinguish reliably from the hybrid of the two species, Elymus albicans, which is prevalent east of the Continental Divide but which also occurs at Dinosaur National Monument. Further work is necessary to clarify the ranges and habitats of the three grasses so that ~Elymus lanceolatus Grassland (CEGL002588)$$ can be readily distinguished from ~Pseudoroegneria spicata Grassland (CEGL001660)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is dominated by the perennial grass Elymus lanceolatus. Other grasses are generally present, usually with much less cover, and include Hesperostipa comata, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Leymus cinereus, Pascopyrum smithii, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Non-native grasses Agropyron cristatum, Bromus inermis, and Bromus tectorum may be common in disturbed stands. A variety of forb species may also be present with low to moderate cover. Some of the more consistently present species include Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Astragalus jejunus, Comandra umbellata, Eriogonum brevicaule, Iva axillaris, Linum lewisii, Lupinus argenteus, Packera cana (= Senecio canus), Phlox hoodii, Silene menziesii, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and non-natives Ceratocephala testiculata (= Ranunculus testiculatus), Melilotus officinalis, and Taraxacum officinale. Occasional shrubs, such as Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba, Atriplex gardneri, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Tetradymia canescens, may occur with minimal cover.
Dynamics: Most of the Colorado stands are the result of fire burning sagebrush stands. The Wyoming stands are apparently natural openings in sagebrush.
Environmental Description: This grassland occurs on rolling upland terrain in northwestern Colorado, northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Stands typically occur as patches and small stands on dry to mesic habitats. This perennial grassland is found on flat to gentle slopes of valleys, benches, stream terraces and butte rims, and steeper slopes of ridges and hills. Sites are located on generally level to gentle slopes, but include slopes up to 35°. Elevations range from 1600 to 2470 m (5250-8100 feet). Aspect is not important in determining this community. Soils are generally well-developed, fine-textured silt loams or clay loams, and less often coarse-textured loams, that are derived from shale or eolian loess, less often from alluvium. Litter or bare soil cover much of the unvegetated ground surface. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high exposure of bare soil, low to moderate cover of small and large rocks, and moderate to low cover of litter.
Geographic Range: This association is known from northwestern and southern Colorado, northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.770515
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup | M168 | 2.B.2.Nf.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a Arizona Fescue - Thurber''s Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland Group | G268 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
| Alliance | A3953 Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly - Muttongrass Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Grassland Alliance | A3953 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
| Association | CEGL002588 Thick-spike Wheatgrass Grassland | CEGL002588 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Elymus lanceolatus Herbaceous Vegetation (Coles et al. 2008a)
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- Friesen, B. A., S. Blauer, K. Landgraf, J. Von Loh, J. Coles, K. Schulz, A. Tendick, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Fossil Butte National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/319. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 552 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fobu/foburpt.pdf]
- Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.