Print Report

A3848 Poa pratensis - Agrostis gigantea - Agrostis stolonifera Ruderal Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes grasslands dominated by introduced grasses such as Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, or Poa pratensis, and is a very common and widespread in the western U.S. where it has invaded natural meadows, wetlands and riparian areas.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Kentucky Bluegrass - Redtop - Creeping Bentgrass Ruderal Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Kentucky Bluegrass - Redtop - Creeping Bentgrass Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes mesic grasslands and wetlands dominated by introduced grasses such as Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, or Poa pratensis. This semi-natural grassland is widespread in the western U.S. where it has invaded natural meadows, wetlands and riparian areas. Agrostis stolonifera and Poa pratensis have been widely planted for forage and have invaded native communities from hay fields, especially more mesic areas such as riparian floodplains and seasonally flooded wetlands in the semi-arid western U.S.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Grasslands dominated by Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, or Poa pratensis.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance covers areas invaded by these non-native grasses and does not include irrigated hay meadows or other actively managed areas.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Low-statured perennial herbaceous graminoid, generally <1 m in height.

Floristics: This widespread, semi-natural alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous canopy that is strongly dominated by Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, or Poa pratensis. Associate species are often those early-seral and weedy species that tolerate historic heavy livestock grazing or other disturbance well, such as Achillea millefolium, Cirsium arvense, Elymus repens, Equisetum spp., Fragaria virginiana, Hordeum spp., Juncus balticus, Linaria vulgaris, Potentilla gracilis, Taraxacum officinale, and introduced forage species such as Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, and Phleum pratense. Remnant native species present may include Ambrosia psilostachya, Amorpha canescens, Andropogon gerardii, Artemisia ludoviciana, Carex spp., Deschampsia cespitosa, Pascopyrum smithii, and Psoralidium tenuiflorum.

Dynamics:  Poa pratensis is tolerant of heavy grazing and increases at the expense of less tolerant native species (Volland 1978, Hansen et al. 1995). It is also adapted to burning and quickly resprouts after fire, except when burned during growing periods (Volland and Dell 1981).
Environmental Description:  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. Stands with Alopecurus pratensis are the wettest of this alliance that tolerates very high water table throughout the growing season. Stands can also tolerate mildly alkaline and saline soils, and some drought (Kovalchik 1987, Padgett et al. 1989, Hansen et al. 1995, Manning and Padgett 1995, Hall and Hansen 1997).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout western U.S.

Nations: US

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


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.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 CEGL001558 (Redtop, Creeping Bentgrass) Ruderal Marsh CEGL001558 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL003081 Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Marsh CEGL003081 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL005209 Meadow Foxtail Western Ruderal Wet Meadow CEGL005209 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL005615 Barnyard Grass Ruderal Wet Meadow CEGL005615 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Agrostis (gigantea, stolonifera) - Festuca arundinacea (Bent grass - tall fescue meadows) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.106.00]
> Agrostis (gigantea, stolonifera)-Festuca arundinacea Herbaceous Semi-Natural Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.106.00]
> Poa pratensis (Kentucky blue grass turf) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.060.00]
> Poa pratensis Herbaceous Semi-Natural Alliance (CNPS 2017) [42.060.00]
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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