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A2658 Elymus repens Ruderal Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is dominated by the non-native grass Elymus repens and is known from disturbed valley bottoms, alluvial flats, fans and lower valley wall sites in western Colorado and northwestern Montana.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quackgrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Quackgrass Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This montane, mesic to subhygric herbaceous alliance has low overall species diversity due to the dominance of Elymus repens, an exotic rhizomatous grass. Elymus repens is a highly invasive species in mesic areas and tends to exclude other species once established. Overall herbaceous cover ranges from 25-85% with Elymus repens clearly dominating this association with 5-80% cover. This alliance is known western Colorado, northwestern Montana and southern Idaho. Sites include disturbed valley bottoms, alluvial flats, fans and lower valley wall sites between 1450 and 2300 m in elevation.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Temperate semi-natural sod grasslands of disturbed areas characterized by a near monoculture of Elymus repens.
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: This alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense layer of medium-tall (0.5-1 m) perennial graminoids.
Floristics: This montane, mesic to subhygric herbaceous association has low overall species diversity due to the dominance of Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens var. repens), an exotic rhizomatous grass. Elymus repens is a highly invasive species in mesic areas and tends to exclude other species once established. Overall herbaceous cover ranges from 25-85% with Elymus repens clearly dominating this association with 5-80% cover. Other species sometimes present with low cover include Achillea millefolium, Cerastium arvense, Carex spp., Equisetum laevigatum, Iva axillaris, Poa palustris, Penstemon confertus, Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis), and Taraxacum officinale.
Dynamics: Although characterized as an early-seral dominant (Gross and Werner 1982), Elymus repens is a highly invasive species in mesic areas and tends to exclude other species once established. It is tolerant of mildly saline conditions. It hybridizes readily with other wheatgrasses (e.g., Pascopyrum smithii, Pseudoroegneria spicata) and has fair to good forage value for domestic livestock. Many of the occurrences in the western U.S. can be traced to plantings of Elymus repens or hybrids for pasture or hay (Beetle 1955).
Environmental Description: It occurs on flat to gently sloping lower slopes, toeslopes and valley bottoms at elevations between 1450 and 1555 m (4750-5100 feet) in Montana and between 1710 and 2285 m (5610-7500 feet) in Colorado. Soils are derived from glacial or fluvial deposits but are variable in soil texture, ranging from moderately well-drained sandy loams to clay loams to poorly drained gravel and rock. Litter dominates the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently known from western Colorado, northwestern Montana, and southern Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899221
Confidence Level: Low
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.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.90 Smooth Brome - Knapweed species - Pepperweed species Western North American Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M493 | 2.B.2.Nf.90 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a Western North American Interior Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group | G624 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
| Alliance | A2658 Quackgrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A2658 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
| Association | CEGL005868 Quackgrass Ruderal Grassland | CEGL005868 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.2658
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Beetle, A. A. 1955. Wheatgrasses of Wyoming. Bulletin 336. Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, Laramie, WY. 24 pp.
- 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.
- Gross, K. L., and P. A. Werner. 1982. Colonizing abilities of "biennial" plant species in relation to ground cover: Implications for their distributions in a successional sere. Ecology 63(4):921-931.