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G271 Festuca viridula - Deschampsia cespitosa - Ligusticum spp. Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group
Type Concept Sentence: This Rocky Mountain, northern Vancouverian and Sierran group is typically lush meadow dominated by a diversity of taller forbs, including Achillea millefolium, Agastache urticifolia, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Geranium viscosissimum, Ligusticum spp., Rudbeckia occidentalis, Thalictrum occidentale, Valeriana sitchensis, and Xerophyllum tenax, typically with grasses intermingled in many of them. However, it includes stands dominated by grasses with relatively broad and soft blades and a few mesic Carices, such as Calamagrostis breweri, Carex filifolia, Carex straminiformis, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca viridula, and Phleum alpinum.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group
Colloquial Name: Rocky Mountain-North Pacific Subalpine-Montane Mesic Grassland & Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This Rocky Mountain, northern Vancouverian and Sierran group is restricted to sites from lower montane to subalpine where finely textured soils, snow deposition, rocky substrates, or windswept dry conditions limit tree establishment. Many occurrences are small-patch in spatial character, and are often found in mosaics with woodlands, more dense shrublands, or just below alpine communities. These are typically lush meadows dominated by a diversity of tall forbs, with grasses intermingled in many of them. The vegetation is typically forb-rich, with forbs often contributing more to overall herbaceous cover than graminoids. However, some stands are composed of dense grasslands, these often being taxa with relatively broad and soft blades, such as Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca viridula, and Phleum alpinum, but where the moist habitat promotes a rich forb component. Important taxa includes Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Thalictrum occidentale, Valeriana sitchensis, Xerophyllum tenax, and numerous species of Asteraceae, Campanula, Erigeron, Ligusticum, Lomatium, Lupinus, Mertensia, Phlox, Penstemon, Solidago, and Wyethia. Important graminoids include Deschampsia cespitosa, Koeleria macrantha, Luzula glabrata, perennial Bromus spp., and a number of Carex species. In the Cascades, this group includes Festuca viridula meadows. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda and Symphoricarpos spp. are occasional but not abundant. In the Sierra Nevada Calamagrostis breweri, Carex filifolia, Carex straminiformis, Juncus drummondii, Oreostemma alpigenum, Solidago canadensis, and Trisetum spicatum may dominate stands with diagnostics forbs Oreostemma alpigenum, and Solidago canadensis. Dwarf-shrubs such as Vaccinium cespitosum may have significant cover. Burrowing mammals can increase the forb diversity. This group is typically found above 2000 m in elevation in the southern part of its range and above 600 m in the northern part. These upland communities occur on gentle to moderate-gradient slopes and relatively moist habitats. The soils are typically seasonally moist to saturated in the spring but, if so, will dry out later in the growing season. These sites are not as wet as those found in ~Vancouverian-Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Alpine Snowbed, Wet Meadow & Dwarf-Shrubland Group (G520)$$ and ~Vancouverian-Rocky Mountain Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group (G521)$$, although some species are certainly shared with wet meadows, such as Deschampsia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Herbaceous communities found in the mountains of the Rockies and eastern Cascades, dominated by forbs and graminoids. These are relatively mesic or sometimes seasonally wet communities, and the combination of moisture and soil conditions results in forbs, often tall, being the predominant lifeform. Grasses and sedges are common, typically being taxa with broad and soft blades. Forb communities found on talus and scree slopes with subsurface moisture are included here, in particular when they are not sparsely vegetated.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The Rockies and Cascades support a number of forb types found on talus and rocky scree slopes, which are not sparsely vegetated, and which often have little to no grass component, though Carices may be abundant. These types often have heavy snow loading in winter, or are adjacent to snowfields, and subsurface moisture below the rocks/scree is significant throughout the growing season. These forb types are poorly documented; for now they are placed in this group, as many of the taxa are also found in mesic grassy meadows. Splitting them into a separate group would be hard to justify floristically.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group includes herbaceous communities found in the montane and subalpine throughout much of the Rockies, eastern Cascades and Sierra Nevada, dominated by flowering forbs, often tall (but still <1 m in height usually). Grasses with broad, soft blades are common, but these are more typically forb-rich meadows with grasses or other graminoids not the dominant lifeform. Cover is generally dense or can be patchy. Burrowing mammals in places will disrupt the soil.
Floristics: Species composition in this mesic meadow differs some between montane and subalpine elevations, but across its range, this is a very diverse group. Tall forb-dominated mesic meadows are typically composed of a wide diversity of genera and contribute more to overall herbaceous cover than graminoids. At montane elevations, important forbs include Allium schoenoprasum, Angelica arguta, Arnica chamissonis, Athyrium filix-femina, Camassia quamash, Campanula rotundifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Delphinium x occidentale, Erigeron speciosus, Eucephalus spp., Geum macrophyllum, Hackelia spp., Heracleum maximum, Ligusticum porteri, Ligusticum tenuifolium, Lupinus parviflorus, Mertensia spp., Osmorhiza occidentalis, Pteridium aquilinum, Senecio hydrophiloides, Senecio serra, Solidago canadensis, Symphyotrichum spp., Thalictrum occidentale, Trollius laxus, Vicia americana and Zigadenus elegans. Early-successional stages may be dominated by Achillea millefolium, Agastache urticifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Urtica dioica, and small amounts of mesic grasses such as Bromus carinatus and Deschampsia cespitosa. At montane elevations, graminoids form a minor component and are usually taxa with relatively broad and soft blades such as Bromus carinatus, Bromus sitchensis, Carex geyeri, Carex hoodii, Carex microptera, Carex raynoldsii, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus glaucus, Festuca rubra, and Melica spectabilis. Broadleaf deciduous shrubs such as Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda and Symphoricarpos spp. are occasional, but not abundant.
At subalpine elevations, Angelica spp., Arnica latifolia, Castilleja miniata, Erigeron peregrinus, Erythronium grandiflorum, Eucephalus ledophyllus, Ligusticum spp., Lupinus argenteus var. laxiflorus, Lupinus latifolius, Senecio triangularis, Valeriana spp., and Veratrum viride are commonly the dominant forbs. Other locally abundant forbs include Hydrophyllum fendleri, Phacelia hastata, Phlox diffusa, Saussurea americana, and Xerophyllum tenax. Burrowing mammals can increase the forb diversity. Graminoids are typically a minor component of the canopy, with typically less than 20% cover. Common species include Agrostis variabilis, Carex microptera, Carex paysonis, Carex spectabilis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus drummondii, Luzula glabrata, Luzula parviflora, Phleum alpinum, Poa alpina, and Vahlodea atropurpurea. However, this group also includes Festuca viridula-dominated meadows in the Cascades. In the Sierra Nevada Calamagrostis breweri, Carex filifolia, Carex straminiformis, Juncus drummondii, and Trisetum spicatum may dominate stands with diagnostics forbs Oreostemma alpigenum, and Solidago canadensis. Dwarf-shrubs such as Vaccinium cespitosum may have moderate cover in some stands. Early-successional stages may be dominated by Achillea millefolium, Hypericum scouleri, Sibbaldia procumbens, and other forbs, and small amounts of mesic graminoids such as Carex spp., Deschampsia cespitosa, Phleum alpinum, and Poa alpina.
At subalpine elevations, Angelica spp., Arnica latifolia, Castilleja miniata, Erigeron peregrinus, Erythronium grandiflorum, Eucephalus ledophyllus, Ligusticum spp., Lupinus argenteus var. laxiflorus, Lupinus latifolius, Senecio triangularis, Valeriana spp., and Veratrum viride are commonly the dominant forbs. Other locally abundant forbs include Hydrophyllum fendleri, Phacelia hastata, Phlox diffusa, Saussurea americana, and Xerophyllum tenax. Burrowing mammals can increase the forb diversity. Graminoids are typically a minor component of the canopy, with typically less than 20% cover. Common species include Agrostis variabilis, Carex microptera, Carex paysonis, Carex spectabilis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus drummondii, Luzula glabrata, Luzula parviflora, Phleum alpinum, Poa alpina, and Vahlodea atropurpurea. However, this group also includes Festuca viridula-dominated meadows in the Cascades. In the Sierra Nevada Calamagrostis breweri, Carex filifolia, Carex straminiformis, Juncus drummondii, and Trisetum spicatum may dominate stands with diagnostics forbs Oreostemma alpigenum, and Solidago canadensis. Dwarf-shrubs such as Vaccinium cespitosum may have moderate cover in some stands. Early-successional stages may be dominated by Achillea millefolium, Hypericum scouleri, Sibbaldia procumbens, and other forbs, and small amounts of mesic graminoids such as Carex spp., Deschampsia cespitosa, Phleum alpinum, and Poa alpina.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: In the Rocky Mountains, these meadows occupy a wide variety of environments, including moderate to steep slopes and glacio-fluvial flats and swales that lose their snow cover relatively late in the season. Generally the group is restricted to sites from lower montane to subalpine where finely textured soils, snow deposition, rocky substrates, or windswept dry conditions limit tree establishment. Many occurrences are small-patch in spatial character, and are often found in mosaics with woodlands, more dense shrublands, or just below alpine communities. This group is typically found above 2000 m to 3700 m in elevation in the southern part of its range and above 600 m in the northern extent. These upland communities occur on gentle to moderate-gradient slopes and relatively moist habitats. The soils are typically seasonally moist to saturated in the spring but, if so, will dry out later in the growing season. At montane elevations, this group occurs within Pinus-Pseudotsuga or mixed conifer-dominated forests. At subalpine elevations, these meadows are found below treeline, usually within Abies lasiocarpa-Picea species-dominated forests.
Climate: Approximately two-thirds of the region''s precipitation occurs in just half the year (October from March), with the remaining third occurring in late spring to early summer. Generally, the east slopes of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges east to the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming receive greater than 100 cm of precipitation annually.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Soils are typically seasonally moist to saturated during spring and early summer after snowmelt, but will dry out later in the growing season. At montane elevations, soils are usually clays or silt loams with an A horizon greater than 10 cm. Some sites may have inclusions of hydric soils in low, depressional areas within this group. At subalpine elevations, soils are derived from a variety of parent materials, and can be acidic or calcareous. The A horizon is typically less than 10 cm, and soils are usually rocky or gravelly with good aeration and drainage, but with a well-developed organic layer. A third setting includes talus or scree slopes, or colluvial fields of rocks and small boulders, where subsurface moisture is provided by melting snow throughout much of the growing season. Soils are developed from colluvium and more recently alluvium are often derived from limestone, sandstone, shale parent materials (Gregory 1983, Youngblood et al. 1985a), or weathered volcanic extrusives such as basalt, pumice and ash or loess deposits. Soil texture is variable and ranges from coarser-textured sandy loams to finer-textured silt loams, clay or clay loams with an average pH of 6.4 (Gregory 1983). Surface rock averages 46%, but varies from 1-90%. Bare ground cover is usually less than 15%.
Climate: Approximately two-thirds of the region''s precipitation occurs in just half the year (October from March), with the remaining third occurring in late spring to early summer. Generally, the east slopes of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges east to the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming receive greater than 100 cm of precipitation annually.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Soils are typically seasonally moist to saturated during spring and early summer after snowmelt, but will dry out later in the growing season. At montane elevations, soils are usually clays or silt loams with an A horizon greater than 10 cm. Some sites may have inclusions of hydric soils in low, depressional areas within this group. At subalpine elevations, soils are derived from a variety of parent materials, and can be acidic or calcareous. The A horizon is typically less than 10 cm, and soils are usually rocky or gravelly with good aeration and drainage, but with a well-developed organic layer. A third setting includes talus or scree slopes, or colluvial fields of rocks and small boulders, where subsurface moisture is provided by melting snow throughout much of the growing season. Soils are developed from colluvium and more recently alluvium are often derived from limestone, sandstone, shale parent materials (Gregory 1983, Youngblood et al. 1985a), or weathered volcanic extrusives such as basalt, pumice and ash or loess deposits. Soil texture is variable and ranges from coarser-textured sandy loams to finer-textured silt loams, clay or clay loams with an average pH of 6.4 (Gregory 1983). Surface rock averages 46%, but varies from 1-90%. Bare ground cover is usually less than 15%.
Geographic Range: This group is very widespread in the Rocky Mountains cordillera from New Mexico (where it is uncommon) and Colorado north into Canada, and west into the eastern Cascades and Sierra Nevada. It also occurs in the mountain ranges of Nevada, northern Utah and Wyoming, and has been observed on the Snake River plain, as well as the "island ranges" of central Montana.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.837646
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Idaho Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass (308) (Shiflet 1994)
>< Tall Forb (409) (Shiflet 1994)
>< Tufted Hairgrass - Sedge (313) (Shiflet 1994) [Forb-rich portions of this SRM type overlap with this group.]
>< Tall Forb (409) (Shiflet 1994)
>< Tufted Hairgrass - Sedge (313) (Shiflet 1994) [Forb-rich portions of this SRM type overlap with this group.]
- Buckner, D. L. 1977. Ribbon forest development and maintenance in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 224 pp.
- Ellison, L. 1954. Subalpine vegetation of the Wasatch Plateau, Utah. Ecological Monographs 24(2):89-104.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Fritz, R. J. 1981. Alpine vegetational patterns around isolated tree islands on the eastern and western slopes of the Tenmile Range, Summit County, Colorado. Unpublished thesis, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. 233 pp.
- Gregory, S. 1983. Subalpine forb community types of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming. Unpublished completion report #36 for USDA Forest Service Cooperative Education Agreement (contract 40-8555-3-115). Bozeman, MT 63 pp.
- Hall, H. H. 1971. Ecology of a subalpine meadow of the Aquarius Plateau, Garfield and Wayne counties, Utah. Unpublished dissertation, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.
- Marr, J. W. 1977a. The development and movement of tree islands near the upper limit of tree growth in the southern Rocky Mountains. Ecology 58:1159-1164.
- Meidinger, D., and J. Pojar, editors. 1991. Ecosystems of British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Forests Special Report Series No. 6. Victoria, BC. 330 pp.
- Potkin, M., and L. Munn. 1989. Subalpine and alpine plant communities in the Bridger Wilderness, Wind River Range, Wyoming. USDA Forest Service Contract No. 53-8555-3-00015. Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie. 117 pp. plus appendix.
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
- Starr, C. R. 1974. Subalpine meadow vegetation in relation to environment at Headquarters Park, Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming. Unpublished thesis, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
- 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.