Print Report

A3950 Agastache urticifolia - Geranium viscosissimum - Pteridium aquilinum Montane Mesic Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Plant associations within this montane mesic meadow alliance are characterized by the dominance of Agastache urticifolia, Geranium viscosissimum, Heliomeris multiflora, Mertensia ciliata, Pteridium aquilinum, or Wyethia amplexicaulis and occur in the central Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho extending west to ranges in Nevada.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Nettleleaf Giant-hyssop - Sticky Purple Geranium - Western Brackenfern Montane Mesic Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Montane Nettleleaf Giant-hyssop - Sticky Purple Geranium - Western Brackenfern Mesic Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: The vegetation of this montane mesic meadow alliance is characterized by an often patchy, moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial forbs. Diagnostic and dominant species are Agastache urticifolia, Geranium viscosissimum, Heliomeris multiflora, Mertensia ciliata, Pteridium aquilinum, and/or Wyethia amplexicaulis. Associated species are diverse and include widespread forbs such as Achillea millefolium or Senecio triangularis, and mesic graminoids such as Bromus carinatus, Carex microptera, and Elymus trachycaulus. Scattered clumps of the deciduous shrub Symphoricarpos oreophilus are common, and occasional Populus tremuloides trees may also be present. Plant associations occur in the central Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho extending west to ranges in Nevada. Sites vary from gentle to steep slopes with eastern to southwestern aspects, but are most often moderately steep mid to upper slopes. Stands also occur along small streams, benches near seeps, and on moist toeslopes in narrow valley bottoms. Elevations range from 1970-2835 m. Soils are moderately deep to deep, well-drained loams with a thick mollic horizon. The water table ranges to depths of 20 cm. Soils are developed from colluvium and more recently alluvium and are derived from limestone, sandstone or shale parent materials and have clay or clay loam textures.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are high-altitude mesic meadows dominated or codominated by forbs; especially diagnostic and often dominant species include Agastache urticifolia, Geranium viscosissimum, Heliomeris multiflora, Mertensia ciliata, Pteridium aquilinum, or Wyethia amplexicaulis.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This is a poorly documented alliance and may be more extensive than currently known. Subalpine forb meadow communities are not well-studied anywhere in the West. Possible occurrences of Mertensia ciliata communities in Colorado and the Centennial Mountains in Montana need to be investigated (Johnston 1987, Padgett et al. 1989).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderately dense to dense (40-100% cover), medium-tall (0.4-0.8 m) herbaceous layer that often occurs in patches. It is dominated by perennial forbs with consistent but low perennial graminoid cover. Scattered cold-deciduous shrubs are often present, and occasional cold-deciduous trees may present in these stands.

Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by an often patchy, moderately dense to dense (40-100% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by perennial forbs. Diagnostic and dominant species are Agastache urticifolia, Geranium viscosissimum, Heliomeris multiflora, Mertensia ciliata, Pteridium aquilinum, and/or Wyethia amplexicaulis (Gregory 1983). Associated species include Achillea millefolium, Bromus carinatus, Carex microptera, Collomia linearis, Delphinium x occidentale, Eucephalus engelmannii, Elymus trachycaulus, Geranium richardsonii, Heracleum maximum, Hymenoxys hoopesii, Lupinus argenteus, Poa palustris (exotic), Rudbeckia occidentalis, Saxifraga odontoloma, Senecio triangularis, and Senecio serra. Scattered clumps of the deciduous shrub Symphoricarpos oreophilus are common, and occasional Populus tremuloides trees may also be present.

Dynamics:  When disturbed by extensive sheep grazing, this community is converted to a Rudbeckia occidentalis- or Veratrum californicum-dominated community (Padgett et al. 1989). Pteridium aquilinum has been associated with recently disturbed, mesic ground on steep slopes in Grand Tetons National Park.
Environmental Description:  Plant associations within this montane mesic meadow alliance occur in the central Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho extending west to ranges in Nevada. Elevations range from 1970-2835 m. Sites vary from gentle to steep (5-70%) slopes with eastern to southwestern aspects, but are most often moderately steep (40%) mid to upper slopes. Stands also occur along small streams, benches near seeps, and on moist toeslopes in narrow valley bottoms. The water table ranges to depths of 20 cm. Soils are moderately deep to deep, well-drained loams with a thick mollic horizon. Soils are developed from colluvium and more recently alluvium and are derived from limestone, sandstone or shale parent materials (Gregory 1983, Youngblood et al. 1985a). Soil texture includes 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 alliance occurs in the subalpine zone in the central Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho extending west to ranges in Nevada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  ID, NV, UT, WY


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.b Greenleaf Fescue - Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Grassland & Meadow Group G271 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Alliance A3950 Nettleleaf Giant-hyssop - Sticky Purple Geranium - Western Brackenfern Montane Mesic Meadow Alliance A3950 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001937 Nettleleaf Giant-hyssop - Showy Goldeneye Meadow CEGL001937 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001944 Tall Fringed Bluebells Meadow CEGL001944 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001947 Northern Mule''s-ears Meadow CEGL001947 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL002536 Sticky Purple Geranium Meadow CEGL002536 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL002544 Western Brackenfern Meadow CEGL002544 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Concept Lineage: A.1602, A.1606, and A.1607. This new alliance includes associations from Old Alliance V.B.2.N.a. Agastache urticifolia Herbaceous Alliance (A.1602), Old Alliance V.B.2.N.a. Mertensia ciliata Herbaceous Alliance (A.1606), and Old Alliance V.B.2.N.a. Wyethia amplexicaulis Herbaceous Alliance (A.1607).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Mertensia ciliata Series (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by M. Damm.

Version Date: 03-14-14
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  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
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  • Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah and southeastern Idaho. Research Paper R4-ECOL-89-0. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
  • Welsh, S. L., N. D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L. C. Higgins, editors. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 9. Provo, UT. 894 pp.
  • 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.