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CEGL005469 Achnatherum nelsonii - Lupinus argenteus Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Columbia Needlegrass - Silvery Lupine Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These northern lower montane and valley grasslands are typified by cool-season perennial bunchgrasses and forbs (>25% cover), sometimes with a sparse (<10% cover) shrub layer. Achnatherum nelsonii is the dominant graminoid species in this association. Elymus trachycaulus may also be common. Lupinus argenteus is characteristic of the plant community and is usually the most abundant forb species. It may be a codominant at a local scale. Additional forb species are variable in both cover and species composition. This plant community can occur under a broad range of environmental conditions, on flat to somewhat steep slopes from the basin floor to high slopes at various aspects. It is often found within a matrix of Artemisia tridentata-dominated shrublands. Soil texture ranges from moderately well-drained to rapidly drained silt loam or clay. These are generally moderately to well-developed, medium- to coarse-textured soils. Litter and small rock often dominate the non-vegetated ground surface.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This plant community description is based on data from Craters of the Moon (Bell et al. 2009) and on related plant communities that have been previously described. The description provided herein may vary slightly from similar plant communities found elsewhere due to the local scale at which data were collected. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available.
This association is uncommon at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Due to the limited spatial extent of occurrence and associated low sample size, the classification of this plant community is considered provisional. Only one plot was sampled at Craters of the Moon; therefore a thorough characteristic species list could not be compiled.
This association is uncommon at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Due to the limited spatial extent of occurrence and associated low sample size, the classification of this plant community is considered provisional. Only one plot was sampled at Craters of the Moon; therefore a thorough characteristic species list could not be compiled.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: ~Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland (CES306.040)$$, which occurs in the mountains and large valleys of northwestern Wyoming and western Montana, east to the central Montana Rocky Mountain Front and isolated mountain ranges west through Idaho into the Blue Mountains of Oregon. The range of this association is more restricted than that of the ecological system and is constrained by the range of occurrence of Achnatherum nelsonii.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.947900
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.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a Downy Ryegrass - Idaho Fescue - Spike Fescue Grassland Group | G267 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a |
| Alliance | A3966 Idaho Fescue - Pinegrass - Columbia Needlegrass Central Rocky Mountain Montane Mesic Grassland Alliance | A3966 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a |
| Association | CEGL005469 Columbia Needlegrass - Silvery Lupine Grassland | CEGL005469 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Columbia Needlegrass / Silvery Lupine Herbaceous Vegetation (Achnatherum nelsonii / Lupinus argenteus Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
- Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.