Print Report

A4096 Dasiphora fruticosa / Festuca campestris - Festuca idahoensis Shrub-steppe Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This small-patch alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by diagnostic species Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda and a moderate to dense herbaceous layer dominated by medium-tall perennial bunchgrasses Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis. It occurs infrequently in the central Rocky Mountains and the northwestern Great Plains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shrubby-cinquefoil / Prairie Fescue - Idaho Fescue Shrub-steppe Alliance

Colloquial Name: Shrubby-cinquefoil / Fescue Shrub-steppe

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer (10-45% cover) and a moderate to dense (40-100% cover) herbaceous layer with very high species diversity. The shrub layer is dominated by diagnostic species Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. A moderate to dense (40-100% cover) graminoid layer is dominated by medium-tall perennial bunchgrasses Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis. Associated graminoids include Agrostis scabra, Bouteloua gracilis, Carex geyeri, Carex obtusata, Danthonia intermedia, Danthonia parryi, Koeleria macrantha, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Forb species are typically diverse and include species common in both the foothill and montane zones and northwestern Great Plains. This small-patch alliance occurs infrequently in the central Rocky Mountains and the northwestern Great Plains. Stands occur between 1360-2600 m elevation. It usually occurs on level and gently sloping or rolling topography to steep slopes of all aspects. Soils are loamy and moderately deep derived from a variety of parent materials, including sedimentary rocks and granitics.

Diagnostic Characteristics: The shrub layer is dominated by diagnostic species Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda which characterizes this alliance when there is a moderate to dense (40-100% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by medium-tall perennial bunch grasses Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis. Associated graminoids include Agrostis scabra, Bouteloua gracilis, Carex geyeri, Carex obtusata, Danthonia intermedia, Danthonia parryi, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia cuspidata, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Schizachyrium scoparium,. Associate forb species are diverse. The introduced grass Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis may be abundant, especially in mesic lowland areas.

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: Stands within this alliance have an open to moderately dense (10-45% cover) cold-deciduous short-shrub layer (0.5-1 m tall) and a moderate to dense (40-100% cover) herbaceous layer (0.5-1 m tall). The herbaceous layer is dominated by medium-tall, perennial bunch grasses. Other graminoids and perennial broad-leaved forbs are present to codominant.

Floristics: This alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer (10-45% cover) and a moderate to dense (40-100% cover) herbaceous layer with very high species diversity. The shrub layer has 5-30% canopy cover of diagnostic species Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda) and may have up to 20% cover of Artemisia cana in alluvial bench stands. Other shrubs may be present with low cover and include Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Artemisia frigida, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Juniperus horizontalis, Mahonia repens, Penstemon fruticosus, and Rosa woodsii. At lower elevations, stands have 90-100% herbaceous cover, while higher elevation stands have 40-70% total herbaceous cover. The herbaceous layer is dominated by medium-tall perennial graminoids. Forb species are typically diverse and include species common in both montane zones and the northwestern Great Plains. The dominant and diagnostic graminoid species are bunchgrasses Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis. Associated graminoids include Agrostis scabra, Bouteloua gracilis, Carex geyeri, Carex obtusata, Danthonia intermedia, Danthonia parryi, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia cuspidata, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Forb species are diverse, with Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Arenaria congesta, Besseya wyomingensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Fragaria virginiana, Gaillardia aristata, Galium boreale, Geum triflorum, Hedysarum sulphurescens, Heuchera cylindrica, Lupinus sericeus, Penstemon confertus, Potentilla gracilis, and Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida being the most consistent. The introduced grass Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis may be abundant, especially in mesic lowland areas.

Dynamics:  Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda will increase in abundance with heavy grazing, and Festuca campestris, Festuca idahoensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata will decrease.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs infrequently in the central Rocky Mountains and the northwestern Great Plains where it is found on gently sloping or rolling topography to steep slopes (1-45%) at elevations from 1360-2600 m. Stands tend to occur on south-facing low and midslopes but can occur on all aspects, and on basin floors. They have been described from relatively mesic, gentle upland slopes with moderately deep soils derived from granitic parent materials in northwestern Montana, and on gently sloping to undulating alluvial benches along drainages in the mesic transition zone between riparian and dry upland areas in Wyoming and Idaho. However, these soils are deeper and derived from glacio-fluvial deposits of limestone, siltstone, sandstone or shale parent materials. Soil textures are sandy loam, loam or silty clay loam. Soils are moderately deep, moderately to well-drained with 25- to 46-cm (10- to 18-inch) rooting depth. Surface rock can be abundant, but little bare ground is exposed. Argillite and limestone rock and gravel are common in the soil profile. Litter may dominate the ground surface, ranging between 6-45%. Small rock, bare soil, and moss are consistently common in most occurrences.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the central Rocky Mountains and northwestern Great Plains from northern Wyoming and southern Idaho north into southwestern Alberta, and east into western North Dakota and southern Saskatchewan.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, ID, MT, ND, NV, SK, WY


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.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M048 2.B.2.Nf.2
Group 2.B.2.Nf.2.c Rough Fescue - Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Central Rocky Mountain Foothill Grassland Group G273 2.B.2.Nf.2.c
Alliance A4096 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Prairie Fescue - Idaho Fescue Shrub-steppe Alliance A4096 2.B.2.Nf.2.c
Association CEGL001502 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Idaho Fescue Shrub Grassland CEGL001502 2.B.2.Nf.2.c
Association CEGL001503 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Rough Fescue Shrub Grassland CEGL001503 2.B.2.Nf.2.c
Concept Lineage: A.1534 (in part). This new alliance is composed of associations from Old Alliance: V.A.7.N.g. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1534).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1534) (Hop et al. 2007)
> Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1534) (Reid et al. 2004)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2014)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by M.S. Reid and G. Kittel.

Version Date: 03-14-14
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