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A1361 Poa glauca Wet Meadow Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This grassland alliance is found in the scablands east of the Cascade Range in the Columbia Basin, portions of the Snake River plain, valleys of the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain. Stands occur on flat to undulating ridgetops, plateaus, plains, and benches on steep canyon slopes. Sites are flat to moderately steep slopes on all aspects, but most common on southern exposures. Stands also occur in soil pockets between rocks on cliffs lining the sides of ravines. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by the dominance of Poa secunda.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Glaucous Bluegrass Wet Meadow Alliance
Colloquial Name: Western Glaucous Bluegrass Wet Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This grassland alliance is found in the scablands east of the Cascade Range in the Columbia Basin, portions of the Snake River plain, valleys of the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain. The following description is just from the Columbia Basin and Snake River plain: Elevation ranges from 300-2120 m. Precipitation primarily occurs in the winter as snow or rain, and this moisture is stored in the soil profile and utilized during the typically dry summers. Stands occur on flat to undulating ridgetops, plateaus, plains, and benches on steep canyon slopes. Sites are flat to moderately steep slopes on all aspects, but most common on southern exposures. Stands also occur in soil pockets between rocks on cliffs lining the sides of ravines. Soils are typically shallow, moderately to well-drained, non-calcareous with a high percentage of rock fragments and exposed rock (lithic), and texture varies from sandy loam to clay loam. Rock and moss cover significant amounts of the ground surface often with over 40% cover of each. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by the dominance of Poa secunda. Codominant species may include mid grasses such as Aristida purpurea var. longiseta, Danthonia unispicata, and the forbs Balsamorhiza serrata and Lomatium cous. Other associated species may include Elymus elymoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Hesperostipa comata, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria spp., Balsamorhiza incana, Erigeron spp., Phlox longifolia, Sedum spp., Trifolium macrocephalum, and Plantago patagonica. Diagnostic of this alliance is the short graminoid layer dominated by Poa glauca.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Moist to wet meadows of interior montane valleys dominated by Poa secunda.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance description is from just the Columbia and Snake River Plain. As it is much more widespread, further information is needed to document the full range of variation.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by the dominance of Poa secunda. Codominant species may include mid grasses such as Aristida purpurea var. longiseta, Danthonia unispicata, and the forbs Balsamorhiza serrata and Lomatium cous. Other associated species may include Elymus elymoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Achillea millefolium, Antennaria spp., Balsamorhiza incana, Erigeron spp., Phlox longifolia, Sedum spp., Trifolium macrocephalum, and Plantago patagonica. Diagnostic of this alliance is the short graminoid layer dominated by Poa glauca. Rock and moss cover significant amounts of the ground surface often with over 40% cover of each.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This grassland alliance is found in the scablands east of the Cascade Range in the Columbia Basin, portions of the Snake River plain, valleys of the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain. The following description is just from the Columbia Basin and Snake River plain: Elevation ranges from 300-2120 m. Precipitation primarily occurs in the winter as snow or rain, and this moisture is stored in the soil profile and utilized during the typically dry summers. Stands occur on flat to undulating ridgetops, plateaus, plains, and benches on steep canyon slopes. Sites are flat to moderately steep slopes on all aspects, but most common on southern exposures. Stands also occur in soil pockets between rocks on cliffs lining the sides of ravines. Soils are typically shallow, moderately to well-drained, non-calcareous with a high percentage of rock fragments and exposed rock (lithic), and texture varies from sandy loam to clay loam.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found east of the Cascade Range, in the intermountain ranges, Great Basin, and Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899119
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.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.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M893 | 2.C.4.Nb.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.5.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group | G521 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.b |
| Alliance | A1361 Glaucous Bluegrass Wet Meadow Alliance | A1361 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.b |
| Association | CEGL001926 Glaucous Bluegrass Wet Meadow | CEGL001926 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.b |
Concept Lineage: built from A. 1361
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.