Print Report
A4029 Hesperostipa curtiseta - Elymus lanceolatus Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This mixedgrass alliance is found in the northwestern Great Plains, both in prairie provinces of Canada and adjacent United States. Hesperostipa curtiseta and Elymus lanceolatus are dominant, possibly in combination with other northern midgrasses such as Pascopyrum smithii and Koeleria macrantha.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Short-bristle Needle-and-Thread - Thick-spike Wheatgrass Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Needle-and-Thread - Wheatgrass Dry Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This dry mixedgrass alliance is found in the drier climate of the northwestern Great Plains, from southwestern Manitoba to western Saskatchewan and south into northern North Dakota and Montana. It is dominated by Hesperostipa curtiseta and Elymus lanceolatus, possibly in combination with other northern midgrasses such as Pascopyrum smithii and Koeleria macrantha.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands of this alliance are found from southwestern Manitoba to western Saskatchewan and possibly Alberta and south into northern North Dakota and Montana. Dominant species are Elymus lanceolatus and Hesperostipa curtiseta.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The component associations have almost no descriptive information so the alliance is based on the similarity of the nominal species and the distribution of the associations. This alliance should be re-examined if more information about the component associations becomes available. This alliance appears to be similar to ~Pascopyrum smithii - Nassella viridula Northwestern Great Plains Grassland Alliance (A4031)$$. It is possible that the two should be combined but so little is known about the associations in this alliance that they are left separate for now.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is composed mostly of midgrasses approximately 0.5-1 m tall.
Floristics: This alliance is dominated by Hesperostipa curtiseta and Elymus lanceolatus, possibly in combination with other northern midgrasses such as Pascopyrum smithii and Koeleria macrantha.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Sites are typically on drier sites, related to the drier climate of the northwestern Great Plains.
Geographic Range: Stands of this alliance are found from southwestern Manitoba to western Saskatchewan and south into northern North Dakota and Montana.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB?, MB, MT, ND, SK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900080
Confidence Level: Low
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup | M051 | 2.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b Needle-and-Thread - Blue Grama Dry Mixedgrass Prairie Group | G331 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A4029 Short-bristle Needle-and-Thread - Thick-spike Wheatgrass Grassland Alliance | A4029 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002253 Short-bristle Needle-and-Thread - Thick-spike Wheatgrass Grassland | CEGL002253 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL003789 Short-bristle Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass Grassland | CEGL003789 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: This alliance has two associations from old A.3523 and one from old A.3520.
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.