Print Report

A4165 Poa secunda - Muhlenbergia richardsonis - Carex douglasii Moist Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Moist deep-soil meadows dominated by graminoids Poa secunda, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Poa cusickii, and/or Carex douglasii, found at low to high elevations throughout the interior of the western U.S.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sandberg Bluegrass - Mat Muhly - Douglas'' Sedge Moist Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Bluegrass - Muhly - Sedge Moist Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These moist meadows are dominated by Poa secunda, Poa cusickii, Carex douglasii, or Muhlenbergia richardsonis, usually with a diversity of other graminoids and forbs. They are found on gentle slopes of uplands or drainages, between approximately 10 and 3240 m (30-10,630 feet) elevation. Soils are moist to wet in the spring but dry by the end of the growing season. These meadows are found throughout the interior western United States.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

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: No Data Available

Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a somewhat open to dense graminoid canopy dominated by the short bunchgrass/graminoid Poa secunda, Poa cusickii, Carex douglasii, or Muhlenbergia richardsonis. The herbaceous layer is diverse, with additional graminoids such as Aristida purpurea, Blepharipappus scaber, Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), Bromus rubens, Carex microptera, Carex praegracilis, Danthonia unispicata, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis quinqueflora (= Eleocharis pauciflora), Elymus caninus, Elymus elymoides, Elymus multisetus, Hesperostipa comata, Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum, Juncus balticus, Koeleria macrantha, Leymus simplex, Leymus triticoides, Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Triteleia hyacinthina; however, these provide low to moderate cover. Forbs provide moderate cover and include Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Lomatium bicolor, Iris missouriensis, Iva axillaris, Potentilla gracilis, Senecio sp., and Trifolium spp. Shrubs such as Artemisia arbuscula, Artemisia tridentata, or Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus may be present with sparse cover. Introduced species may also be common in some stands, especially Bromus tectorum, Descurainia pinnata, Onopordum acanthium, Poa pratensis, and Sisymbrium altissimum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This widespread grassland association occurs across the intermountain western U.S. Elevation ranges from 10 to 3240 m (32-10,630 feet). Stands occur on relatively flat terrain characterized as valley bottoms with shallow water tables, inactive floodplains, terraces, and dry basins, in swales, on upland gentle slopes and drainage bottoms, often with easterly facing aspects, and sometimes on the dry fringes of wetter meadows. Substrates are deep, well-drained sandy loam and clay loam soils. The soils are moist in spring and tend to be dry by mid-summer, and are often on the dry fringe of wetter areas. This alliance has a wide tolerance of pH conditions and has been documented on serpentine soils, alkaline soils of sand dunes and acidic soils on sandstone and granitic substrates. USFWS wetland Inventory recognizes Poa secunda as an FACU.
Geographic Range: These meadows are found in the western interior mountains and valleys of the western U.S.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA?


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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 A4165 Sandberg Bluegrass - Mat Muhly - Douglas'' Sedge Moist Meadow Alliance A4165 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001655 Cusick''s Bluegrass Moist Meadow CEGL001655 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001657 Sandberg Bluegrass Moist Meadow CEGL001657 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL001768 Douglas'' Sedge Moist Meadow CEGL001768 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL002755 Sandberg Bluegrass - Mat Muhly Moist Meadow CEGL002755 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Association CEGL005605 Sandberg Bluegrass - Granite Prickly-phlox Moist Meadow CEGL005605 2.B.2.Nf.3.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Carex douglasii Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Carex douglasii Provisional Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.169.00]
> Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Mat muhly meadows) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.277.00]
> Poa secunda (Curly blue grass grassland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.180.00]
>< Alkali Meadow (#45310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Cusick Bluegrass Association (Kovalchik 1987)
>< Dry Meadow (Volland 1976)
>< Dry Montane Meadow (#45120) (Holland 1986b)
>< Dry Subalpine or Alpine Meadow (#45220) (Holland 1986b)
< Sedge series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2015)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-27-16
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  • Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • 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.
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  • Manning, M. 1988. Ecology and rooting characteristics of four intermountain meadow community types. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno.
  • Padgett, W. G., and M. E. Manning. 1988. Preliminary riparian community type classification for Nevada. Draft. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service Region IV, Intermountain Region Ecology and Classification Program, Ogden, UT.
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
  • Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
  • Smith, S. 1998b. Riparian community type classification for national forests in northeastern California: First approximation. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.
  • Volland, L. A. 1976. Plant communities of the central Oregon pumice zone. USDA Forest Service R-6 Area Guide 4-2. Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 113 pp.