58

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Green Fescue Communities

(FEVI-LULA3, FEVI-JUPA, FEVI-PENST)

Green fescue (Festuca viridula) is the dominant subalpine 

fescue in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon. It 

has been found in very few isolated locations in the northern Blue Mountains. The description of the plant associations and plant community types to which they pertain can 

be found in Alpine and Subalpine Vegetation of the Wallowa, Seven Devils and Blue Mountains (Johnson 2004). 

The green fescue communities known to occur in the Blue 

Mountains are:

Green fescue-spurred lupine plant association

Festuca viridula/Lupinus laxiflorus

FEVI-LULA3 GS1112

Location—

Yellowjacket Point, northern Blue Mountains, Walla 

Walla RD, Umatilla NF.

Green fescue-Parry’s rush plant association

Festuca viridula/Juncus parryi

FEVI-JUPA GS1113

Location—

South of Bone Spring Lookout, Walla Walla RD, 

Umatilla NF.

Green fescue-penstemon plant community type

Festuca viridula/Penstemon spp.

FEVI-PENST GS1115

Location—

Oregon Butte, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF. 

Idaho Fescue Types

Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) occurs at elevations 

exceeding 6,000 ft in the Blue and Ochoco Mountains. 

Two plant associations and four plant community types 

are described below for these subalpine Idaho fescuedominated plant communities.

Idaho fescue-red avens plant community type

Festuca idahoensis-Geum triflorum

FEID-GETR GB5923 N = 4

The sampled sites represent ridgetop locations high in 

elevation (mean 7,633 ft) where bluebunch wheatgrass and 

prairie junegrass are unable to persist. Sites were in the 

Grassland Series

Principal species—

Species Code Cover/constancy Range of cover

Percent

Grasses:

 Idaho fescue FEID 44/100 40–50

Forbs:

 lupine LUPIN 11/75 0–30

 western groundsel SEIN2 5/50 0–10

 red avens GETR 18/100 10–30

 common yarrow ACMIL 8/100 5–20

 penstemon PENST 2/50 0–5

 golden buckwheat ERFL4 1/50 0–1

 pussytoes ANTEN 7/100 1–1

 scabland fleabane ERBL 2/75 0–4

 woolly goldenweed HALA3 1/50 0–1

 phlox PHLOX 4/25 0–15

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 3/25 0–10

Ground surface features—

Mean Range

Percent

Bare ground 7 0–15

Rock 7 5–10

Gravel 2 0–5

Pavement 9 5–10

Moss 11 5–18

Lichen 1 0–1

Litter 5 0–15

Environmental features— 

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 7,633 6,620–8,080

Slope (percent) 23 15–20

Aspect (number of plots) NW (2), NE (0), SE (0), SW (2)

Lithology Basalt

Position Ridgetop

Slope shape Convex

Wallowa Mountains on basaltic substrates on gentle to 

moderate slopes (mean 18 percent), in the Elkhorn Mountains on argillites, and at Dixie Butte on andesites. No 

sedges occurred. Only forbs were associated with fescue. 

Lupines, penstemon, and yarrow represented species that 

tended to increase with ungulate disturbance. Red avens 

and western groundsel were prominent associates. On 

depressions and thinner soil microsites, pussytoes, scabland fleabane, and buckwheat were found. Mosses were 

abundant. Erosion pavement was always present at 5 to 

10 percent. The FEID-GETR plant community type has 

not been previously described.
59

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-Cymopterus plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum-Cymopterus terebinthinus foeniculaceus

FEID-AGSP-CYTEF GB5925 N = 7

Distribution— 

Sampled sites were in the Aldrich Mountains (southern 

Blue Mountains) and Wallowa Mountains (outside of the 

study area).

Environmental features— 

The type was found from 6,040 to 8,100 ft elevation 

(mean 6,963 ft) on moderate to steep slopes (mean 36 percent). All sampled sites were on southwest-facing slopes 

where solar radiation and warmth were greatest. Sites were 

located on ridgetops and upper midslope positions on convex to flat surfaces. This type occurred on a broad range 

of substrates—basalts, dacite, sandstone, and serpentine. 

The two soils studied were droughty and formed in coarsegrained colluvium over bedrock. Very to extremely gravelly 

sandy loam was over bedrock at 21 and 39 in, in the two 

profiles. Available water capacity was very low (1.5 to 2 in), 

and pH was 6.5 to 7.5.

Fields Peak, Blue Mountain RD, Malheur NF.

Vegetation composition— 

Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass codominate subalpine gravelly 

sites with turpentine 

cymopterus. In addition 

to the two principal bunchgrasses, Sandberg’s bluegrass was often present. 

The perennial forbs associated with cymopterus were relatively few on these dry, warm sites. Only yarrow and sulfur penstemon were regular community members. Two dry, 

gravelly site plants (woolly eriophyllum and scabland fleabane) were also found in these communities. Rock and 

gravel averaged 25 percent of the surface cover.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 6,963 6,040–8,100

Slope (percent) 36 15–58

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 1) 3,330

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (0), SE (0), SW (7)

Lithology Basalt, sandstone, serpentine, dacite

Position Ridgetop; upper and mid slopes

Slope shape Convex, flat

Ground surface features—

Mean Range

Percent

Bare ground 2 0–10

Rock 5 0–10

Gravel 20 0–55

Moss 8 0–25

Lichen 1 0–1

Litter 22 1–55

Principal species—

Species Code Cover/constancy Range of cover

Percent

Grasses:

 Idaho fescue FEID 15/100 3–35

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 16/100 5–25

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 3/57 0–15

Forbs:

 turpentine cymopterus CYTEF 11/100 1–30

 common yarrow ACMIL 5/100 1–20

 yellow salsify TRDU 1/43 0–1

 red avens GETR 1/43 0–5

 scabland fleabane ERBL 1/43 0–1

 sulfur penstemon PEAT3 5/71 0–15

 woolly eriophyllum ERLA6 4/43 0–20

 pussytoes ANTEN 5/28 0–25

Management considerations— 

On steep colluvial slopes, the cymopterus competes 

well with bunchgrasses by sending the taproot deep into 

the colluvium to reach available ground water.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEDI-AGSP-CYTEF plant association was first 

described in Johnson (2004).
60

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-Cusick’s frasera plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum-Frasera albicaulis var. cusickii

FEID-AGSP-FRALC2 GB5926 N = 5

Distribution— 

Strawberry Mountains on serpentine substrates.

Environmental features— 

This plant association was found on peridotite, gabbro, 

and serpentine substrates on the north flank of the Strawberry Mountains. Elevational range was 6,360 to 7,420 ft 

(mean 7,004 ft). Slopes were gentle to moderately steep 

(mean 16 percent). Sampled sites were predominantly on 

northerly aspects. All surfaces were encountered (convex, concave, flat, and undulating). Sample sites were on 

ridgetops and at upper slope positions.

Vegetation composition— 

Bunchgrass cover was 

low owing to the low calcium and high metallic levels of the ultramafic rocks. 

Idaho fescue and bluebunch 

wheatgrass were the dominant species on these sites. 

Onespike oatgrass was usually present as well. The forbs associated included plants often found on ultramafic sites (e.g., cockscomb cryptantha 

(Cryptantha celosioides) and Nuttall’s draba (Draba densifolia)). Cusick’s frasera was always present as the most abundant forb. Sulfur penstemon (Penstemon attenuatus var. 

palustris), serrate balsamroot, and scabland fleabane were 

other species usually occurring with the bunchgrasses.

Baldy Mountain, Prairie City RD, Malheur NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 7,004 6,360–7,420

Slope (percent) 16 10–28

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 1) 2,140

Aspect (number of plots) NW (3), NE (1), SE (1), SW (0)

Lithology Peridotite, gabbro, serpentine

Position Ridgetop, upper third of slope

Slope shape Convex, flat, concave, undulating

Ground surface features—

Mean Range

Percent

Bare ground 3 1–10

Rock 6 0–30

Gravel 44 0–55

Moss 4 0–20

Lichen 5 0–5

Litter 8 0–20

Principal species—

Species Code Cover/constancy Range of cover

Percent

Grasses:

 Idaho fescue FEID 15/100 5–25

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 10/100 1–20

 onespike oatgrass DAUN 1/80 0–3

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 1/100 1–3

 scabland fleabane ERBL 3/80 0–3

 stonecrops SEDUM 4/40 0–10

 sulfur penstemon PEAT3 3/100 1–5

 spurred lupine LULA3 4/40 0–5

 Nuttall’s draba DRDE 2/80 0–3

 Cusick’s frasera FRALC2 7/100 3–15

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 1/80 0–1

 woolly goldenweed HALA3 1/40 0–1

 cockscomb cryptantha CRCE 1/40 0–1

 prairie lupine LULEU2 2/40 0–3

Management considerations— 

These subalpine sites were used intensively by domestic 

sheep in the early 1900s. Pedestalled fescue plants, erosion 

pavement in deflation depressions, and trailing terracettes 

are all indicative of past soil erosion resulting from overgrazing. On relatively pristine sites, Idaho fescue dominates 

over bluebunch wheatgrass at a 2:1 ratio. Stands that have 

been moderately affected by grazing contain the two principal bunchgrasses at a 1:1 ratio. Stands that have been more 

strongly affected by grazing are dominated by bluebunch 

wheatgrass.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEDI-AGSP-FRALC2 plant association was first 

described in Johnson (2004).
61

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Oniongrass-western needlegrass plant community type

Melica bulbosa-Stipa occidentalis

MEBU-STOC2 GB5011 N = 1

A ridgetop community at 7,300 ft elevation in the Strawberry Mountains, which has a history as a sheep livestock 

driveway, now contains a grass-dominated herbaceous 

component with perennial and annual forbs capitalizing on 

secondary site disturbance factors (e.g., pocket gophers, 

Thomomys thalpoides). A very high composition of oniongrass (Melica bulbosa) at 20 percent cover and western 

needlegrass at 5 percent composed the graminoid component. Perennial forbs present were thread-leaf fleabane and 

sulfur penstemon. The churning of the soil by pocket gophers left a gravel/bare ground surface of 70 percent. Populating this highly disturbed area were annual forbs (e.g., 

narrow-leaf collomia, spreading groundsmoke). The substrate was rhyolitic on Strawberry Mountain volcanics.

Western needlegrass-bottlebrush squirreltail plant community type

Stipa occidentalis-Sitanion hystrix

STOC2-SIHY (Alpine) GS50 N = 3

Severe annual grazing by domestic livestock in subalpine 

environments has degenerated native plant communities, 

caused soils to erode extensively, and resulted in plant 

communities capable of inhabiting a drier, often warmer 

site, with nutrient-deficient soils. This community represents 

vegetation found extensively along the subalpine mountain 

slopes where overgrazing and subsequent erosion have 

taken the vegetation beyond the threshold where Idaho 

fescue and elk sedge were once prevalent on the site but 

can no longer persist. This community was found in the 

Strawberry Mountains and the Elkhorn Mountains of the 

central and southern Blue Mountains. Here two grasses, 

western needlegrass and bottlebrush squirreltail, codominated with 40 percent cover. An erosion pavement dominated 

the ground surface averaging 67 percent. Capitalizing on 

the lithic, warm site were phlox (especially P. pulvinata), 

western hawkweed, and hawksbeard. Elevations averaged 

7,700 ft. Sampled sites were on moderate westerly slopes 

(mean 13 percent). Substrates were basaltic in the Strawberry Mountains, granitic in the Elkhorn Mountains.
62

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Idaho fescue/prairie junegrass-mounds plant association

Festuca idahoensis/Koeleria cristata

FEID-KOCR (Mound) GB5912 N = 14

Distribution— 

Northern Blue Mountains.

Benchmark site—

Pataha Bunchgrass Research Natural Area, Pomeroy RD, 

Umatilla NF.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies deep soil mounds overlying Columbia River basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 

3,650 to 5,120 ft elevation (mean 4,440 ft). Slopes were gentle (mean 4 percent) with surfaces flat to convex. Mounded 

topography occurred on ridgetops. All aspects were represented. Soils consisted of a surface layer of silt loam (loess) 

over stoney clayey soil over bedrock. The silt loam cap was 

about 2 ft thick on the mound centers, thinning to zero at 

mound margins where other plant associations were present. 

The available water capacity of the mound soils was moderate. Herbage production was high, ranging from 627 to 

4,120 lb/ac (mean 1,934 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

These mounds are dominated by bunchgrasses. Shrubs 

are virtually absent in these communities, although common snowberry may occur as an incidental species. The 

bunchgrasses are mainly Idaho fescue, with prairie junegrass always associated at low cover levels in undisturbed 

communities. Forbs that frequently occur are yarrow, red 

besseya, deerhorn, creamy buckwheat, lupines, and potentillas. With increased disturbance, annual grasses (soft brome, 

Japanese brome, hairy brome, ventenata) may become prominent. Perennial forbs that tend to increase with disturbances are creamy buckwheat, yarrow, and red avens. Tarweeds 

and deerhorn are annual forbs that increase with surface disturbance.

States and transitions— 

Six phases were defined as follows:

A Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass cover totals 

>50 percent, perennial forb cover <30 percent.

B Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and prairie 

junegrass cover totals 30 to 50 percent; forb cover 

>30 percent.

Abels Ridge, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,440 3,650–5,120

Slope (percent) 4 1–5

Soil pH (n = 2) 6.2–7.0

Soil available water capacity 4–7.5 (moderate)

 (inches, n = 2)

Depth to bedrock (inches, n = 12) 16–30

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 6) 1,934 627–4,120

Aspect (number of plots) NW (3), NE (5), SE (3), SW (4)

Lithology Basalt

Position Summit

Slope shape Flat, convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D1 D2 A + B

 (n = 1) (n = 3) (n = 1) (n = 3) (n = 1) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 3 5 10 27 24 40 1–15

Bedrock 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Rock 1 0 0 10 1 8 0–1

Gravel 0 0 0 3 0 8 0

Pavement 2 0 0 0 0 0 0–2

Mosses and 20 1 0 3 17 5 0–20

 lichens

Litter 74 55 90 10 43 11
63

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

C1 Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass 

cover totals 5 to 30 percent; annual grasses 

dominant.

C2 Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass cover 

totals 5 to 30 percent; perennial forbs high in 

cover (creamy buckwheat, yarrow, and red avens); 

bare ground percentage high (>10 percent).

D1 Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass cover 

<5 percent; annual bromes and tarweeds abundant.

D2 Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass cover 

<5 percent; perennial forbs (yarrow, creamy 

buckwheat) high in cover; bare ground high 

(>25 percent).

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. The site depicted by phase A is 

inside the Pataha Bunchgrass Research Natural Area that 

has excluded domestic livestock since 1968. As ungulate use 

increases, the three deep-rooted bunchgrasses (Idaho fescue, 

bluebunch wheatgrass, and prairie junegrass) decline in vigor and foliar cover (phase B). With further degradation, either annual grasses (phase C1) or perennial forbs and bare 

ground (phase C2) become dominant. The D phases represent the perennial bunchgrass as either relict or absent, with 

annuals (especially cluster tarweed, phase D1) or perennial 

forbs (creamy buckwheat and yarrow, phase D2) dominant.

Management considerations— 

To promote or enhance Idaho fescue and bluebunch 

wheatgrass in these communities, grazing should occur 

after seed set. Ungulates can promote germination by 

trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer. Bunchgrasses generally rebound quickly from fires, reaching 

levels similar to those before the fire in just 1 year. However, 

fescue is often suppressed by severe burns in late summer, 

when root crowns are readily damaged or consumed; it 

usually returns to preburn cover within 5 years after fire. If 

heavy grazing suppresses bunchgrasses, perennial forbs or 

annuals expand as discussed above. Observations in the 

Hell’s Canyon region suggest that Kentucky bluegrass may 

also invade if severe fires reduce the fescue component.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEID-KOCR association was first described by 

Poulton (1955) on the Deschutes-Umatilla Plateau of northcentral Oregon. Tisdale (1979, 1986) subsequently described 

this vegetation as a FEID-KOCR habitat type. Johnson and 

Simon (1987) classified FEID-KOCR with topoedaphic 

breaks. They encountered the FEID-KOCR-Mound plant 

association in the northern Wallowa Mountains and on 

ridgetops above the Snake, Imnaha, and Grande Ronde 

River canyons.

Principal species—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D1 D2 A + B

Species Code (n = 1) (n = 3) (n = 1) (n = 3) (n = 4) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 21/100 30/67 1/100 15/33 1/50 3/100 0–30

 mountain brome BRCA5 0 2/67 0 3/67 3/50 0 0–2

 hairy brome BRCO4 0 20/33 0 20/33 22/75 1/50 0–20

 Japanese brome BRJA 0 0 0 0 0 35/50 0

 soft brome BRMO2 0 0 20/100 0 0 0 0

 cheatgrass BRTE 0 0 1/100 0 2/50 1/100 0

 Idaho fescue FEID 33/100 25/100 20/100 14/100 0 1/100 15–40

 prairie junegrass KOCR 2/100 3/100 0 12/67 12/75 1/50 1–5

 Kentucky bluegrass POPR 0 9/100 0 0 3/50 0 0–20

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 2/100 0 1/100 6/67 25/25 6/100 0–2

 ventenata VEDU 0 0 40/100 0 3/25 0 0

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 0 8/100 3/100 10/100 4/75 15/100 0–10

 red besseya BERU 0 3/67 0 0 1/25 0 0–5

 deerhorn CLPU 0 15/87 0 5/100 10/25 0 0–15

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 3/100 11/67 10/100 22/100 0 38/100 0–15

 red avens GETR 0 7/33 0 8/67 0 0 0–7

 cluster tarweed MAGL2 0 0 0 0 58/50 0 0

 slender tarweed MAGR3 0 0 0 0 5/25 20/50 0

 hairy owl–clover ORHI 0 0 0 3/67 0 1/100 0

 potentillas POTEN 0 7/100 0 0 20/25 0 0–10

 yellow salsify TRDU 0 1/33 0 1/67 1/75 0 0–1

 lupines LUPIN 10/100 13/67 0 15/100 5/25 15/50 0–25
64

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,690 3,900–6,550

Slope (percent) 12 2–30

Soil pH (n = 5) 6.0–6.8

Soil available water capacity 1.5–6 (very low to moderate)

 (inches, n = 5)

Depth to bedrock (inches, n = 10) 10–26

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 6) 722 338–1,444

Aspect (number of plots) NW (6), NE (1), SE (0), SW (5)

Lithology Basalt, andesite

Position Summit, shoulder

Slope shape Flat, convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D A + B

(n = 6) (n = 3) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 9 31 5 18 1 3–45

Bedrock 1 2 0 4 0 0–4

Rock 5 2 1 17 1 1–15

Gravel 4 0 0 0 40 0–15

Pavement 2 0 0 0 0 0–10

Mosses and lichens 5 10 18 3 25 0–12

Litter 30 55 70 58 1

Idaho fescue/prairie junegrass-ridge plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Koeleria cristata

FEID-KOCR (Ridge) GB5911 N = 12

Distribution— 

Northern and Central Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridgetop sites overlying 

andesites and basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 3,900 to 

6,550 ft elevation (mean 4,690 ft). Slopes were gentle (mean 

12 percent) with surfaces flat to convex. Soils consisted of 

a silt loam layer up to 8 in thick (sometimes absent), over a 

clay loam layer that usually contained gravel and could be 

extremely gravelly; bedrock occurred within about 2 ft of 

the surface. This plant association occurs on nonmounded ridgetops and shoulders. Aspects were mostly westerly. 

Herbage production ranged from 338 to 1,444 lb/ac (mean 

722 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Shrubs are virtually nonexistent in these bunchgrassdominated communities. Idaho fescue dominates, with 

prairie junegrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass always associated at low cover levels in undisturbed communities. Forbs 

that frequently occur are pale agoseris, red avens, lupines, 

yarrow, twin arnica, and creamy buckwheat. The latter 

three forbs increase with disturbances.

States and transitions— 

Five phases were defined as follows:

A Fescue and wheatgrass cover total >30 percent; 

bare ground cover 15 percent or less.

B Fescue and wheatgrass cover >30 percent but 

Sandberg’s bluegrass cover is >15 percent and 

often greater than fescue.

C1 Fescue and wheatgrass cover <30 percent; abundant 

annual grasses.

C2 Fescue and wheatgrass cover <30 percent; perennial 

forbs (yarrow, twin arnica, and creamy buckwheat) or 

Sandberg’s bluegrass cover high (over 20 percent).

D Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass <5 percent 

cover or absent; perennial forbs (yarrow and creamy 

buckwheat) abundant.

Long Creek Mountain, Blue Mountain RD, Malheur NF.
65

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the 

three deep-rooted bunchgrasses (fescue, wheatgrass, and 

junegrass) decline in vigor and foliar cover. Phase A represents the least disturbed site. In phase B, disturbance has 

suppressed fescue and allowed bluegrass to increase. Phase 

C results from further degradation with either perennial 

forbs (phase C1) or Sandberg’s bluegrass (phase C2) now 

dominant. In phase D, fescue has been eliminated and replaced by perennial forbs and junegrass.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates use these ridgetop and ridge shoulder 

sites heavily before grasses mature. If plant vigor is to be 

maintained, domestic livestock should not use these sites 

until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote germination by trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer. Bunchgrasses generally rebound quickly from fires, 

reaching levels similar to those before the fire in just 1 

year. However, fescue is often suppressed by severe burns 

in late summer, when root crowns are readily damaged or 

consumed; it usually returns to preburn cover within 

5 years after fire.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEID-KOCR association was first described by 

Poulton (1955) on the Deschutes-Umatilla Plateau of 

north-central Oregon. Tisdale (1979, 1986) subsequently 

described this vegetation as a FEID-KOCR habitat type. 

Johnson and Simon (1987) classified FEID-KOCR with 

topoedaphic breaks. They encountered the FEID-KOCRRidge plant association in the northern Wallowa Mountains and on ridgetops above the Snake, Imnaha, and 

Grande Ronde River canyons.

This description confirms the type first described by 

Poulton and extends the range into the Blue Mountains. 

It was found as far south as Long Creek Mountain on 

the northern Malheur NF.

Principal species—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D A + B

Species Code (n = 6) (n = 3) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 25/33 20/100 10/100 8/100 1/100 0–30

 annual bromes BROMU 0 3/33 26/100 0 0 0

 onespike oatgrass DAUN 2/33 2/67 0 1/100 5/100 0–3

 Idaho fescue FEID 40/100 18/100 15/100 15/100 0 9–55

 prairie junegrass KOCR 7/100 12/100 5/100 3/100 35/100 1–15

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 6/100 25/100 1/100 25/100 3/100 1–30

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 3/100 4/100 3/100 1/100 15/100 1–7

 pale agoseris AGGL 2/33 2/67 0 0 4/100 0–3

 pussytoes ANTEN 1/33 1/33 0 0 1/100 0–1

 twin arnica ARSO2 7/17 1/100 1/100 10/100 1/100 0–7

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 4/50 0 0 0 1/100 0–5

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 4/33 4/67 1/100 20/100 0 0–6

 red avens GETR 2/50 1/33 0 3/100 0 0–3

 lupines LUPIN 17/50 1/67 0 15/100 0 0–15

 pussy clover TRPL2 4/33 2/33 0 0 7/100 0–7
66

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-lupine plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum-Lupinus spp.

FEID-AGSP-LUPIN GB5916 N = 8

Distribution— 

Blue Mountains and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies upper ridge slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 4,110 to 5,540 ft elevation (mean 4,570 ft). Slopes were gentle to steep (mean 26 

percent) on mostly convex surfaces. All aspects were represented. Brief soil investigations (n = 4) suggest gravelly 

soils with bedrock or extremely gravelly material at 1 to 3 

ft depth. Herbage production ranged from 650 to 1,970 lb/ac 

(mean 993 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Bunchgrasses dominate and shrubs are nearly absent. 

Idaho fescue dominates with bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass always associated at low cover levels 

in undisturbed communities. Forbs that frequently occur 

are yarrow, lupines, and lomatiums.

States and transitions— 

Three phases were defined as follows:

A Fescue and wheatgrass cover total >50 percent; 

bare ground ≤5 percent.

B Fescue and wheatgrass cover ≤50 percent; bare 

ground percentage still low (5 to 20 percent).

C Fescue and wheatgrass cover <50 percent; bare 

ground percentage high (over 20 percent).

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild and 

domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the deeprooted bunchgrasses (fescue and wheatgrass ) decline in 

vigor and foliar cover. Phase A represents the least disturbed 

site. Phase B represents vegetation resulting from moderate ungulate disturbance; fescue tends to lose its dominance 

over bluebunch wheatgrass, and Sandberg’s bluegrass increases. Phase C results from further degradation with bare 

ground becoming dominant. Fescue and wheatgrass may 

decline below 20 percent cover.

Management considerations—

Wild ungulates use these ridgetop and ridge shoulder sites 

heavily before grasses mature. If plant vigor is to be maintained, domestic ungulates should not use these sites until 

after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote germination by 

trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer. Bunchgrasses generally rebound quickly from fires, reaching levels similar to those before the fire in just 1 year. However, 

fescue is often suppressed by severe burns in late summer, 

Mud Spring Ridge, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,570 4,110–5,540

Slope (percent) 26 5–64

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 7) 993 650–1,970

Aspect (number of plots) NW (1), NE (3), SE (2), SW (2)

Lithology Basalt

Position Backslope, shoulders 

Slope shape Convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C A + B

(n = 1) (n = 5) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 5 15 30 5–30

Bedrock 0 0 2 0

Rock 15 5 8 0–15

Gravel 0 6 10 0–25

Pavement 0 0 0 0

Mosses and lichens 10 3 3 0–11

Litter 20 47 20 3–80
67

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-arrowleaf balsamroot plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum-Balsamorhiza sagittata

FEID-AGSP-BASA3 GB5917 N = 3

Distribution— 

Northern Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies upper ridge shoulders 

and slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 3,930 

to 4,280 ft elevation (mean 4,113 ft). Slopes were steep 

(mean 56 percent) on mostly convex surfaces. Aspects 

were southerly.

Smoothing Iron Ridge, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

when root crowns are readily damaged or consumed; 

it usually returns to preburn cover within 5 years after fire.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEID-AGSP habitat type of Daubenmire (1970) 

is similar. Hall’s (1973) plant community type, “bunchgrass on deep soil, steep slopes,” is similar to this 

plant association. Tisdale (1979, 1986) classified a 

FEID-AGSP habitat type in the Snake River canyon 

that is similar. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified 

FEID-AGSP vegetation as forming the most common 

grassland in southwestern Montana. The FEID-AGSPLUSE4 plant association described by Johnson and 

Simon (1987) in the Wallowa Mountain-Snake River 

canyon is similar to this plant association.

Principal species—

Phase

A B C A + B

Species Code (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses: 

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 10/100 22/100 6/100 1–35

 Idaho fescue FEID 55/100 26/100 22/100 20–35

 bulbous bluegrass POBU 0 0 15/50 0

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 1/100 5/100 10/50 1–10

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 3/100 4/100 2/100 1–5

 pussytoes ANTEN 0 3/20 3/50 0–3

 deerhorn CLPU 0 1/20 10/50 0–1

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 0 1/80 0 0–3

 cleavers GAAP2 0 0 5/50 0

 lomatiums LOMAT 1/100 1/60 8/50 0–10

 lupines LUPIN 5/100 14/100 13/100 5–25

 mules’ ears WYAM 0 0 40/50 0

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,113 3,930–4,280

Slope (percent) 56 50–64

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (0), SE (1), SW (2)

Lithology Basalt

Position Shoulder, backslope

Slope shape Convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C A + B

(n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 1 20 5 1–20

Bedrock 0 1 0 0–1

Rock 10 25 1 10–25

Gravel 1 5 35 1–5

Pavement 0 0 0 0

Mosses and lichens 6 2 4 2–6

Litter 70 35 55 35–70
68

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Principal species—

Phase

A B C A + B

Species Code (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 20/100 25/100 20/100 20–25

 Idaho fescue FEID 30/100 15/100 10/100 15–30

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 10/100 15/100 5/100 10–15

 hairy brome BRCO4 5/100 10/100 0 5–10

 brome fescue FEBR4 0 5/100 0 0–5

 cheatgrass BRTE 0 3/100 1/100 0–3

 soft brome BRMO2 0 0 20/100 0

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 1/100 1/100 0 1–1

 ventenata VEDU 0 3/100 0 0–3

Forbs:

 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 10/100 5/100 5/100 5–10

 common yarrow ACMIL 1/100 3/100 1/100 1–3

 lupines LUPIN 1/100 1/100 5/100 1–1

 deer horn CLPU 1/100 0 10/100 0–1

 pink microsteris MIGR 0 0 30/100 0

 slender tarweed MAGR3 0 0 15/100 0

Vegetation composition— 

Idaho fescue is associated with bluebunch wheatgrass 

and Sandberg’s bluegrass. The dominant forb is arrowleaf 

balsamroot. Yarrow and lupines are usually present at 

low cover. Closely associated to FEID-AGSP-LUPIN, 

this plant association is more xeric as indicated by rockier 

sites and higher cover by Sandberg’s bluegrass and 

balsamroot (the latter is more indicative of warm, dry 

sites than are lupines).

States and transitions— 

Three phases were defined as follows:

A Fescue and wheatgrass total cover ≥50 percent.

B Fescue and wheatgrass total cover 30 to 50 percent.

C Fescue and wheatgrass total cover <30 percent.

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the 

deep-rooted bunchgrasses (fescue and wheatgrass) 

decline in vigor and foliar cover. Phase A represents 

the least disturbed site. In phase B, wheatgrass assumes dominance over fescue, and bluegrass increases. Phase C results from further degradation 

with fescue, wheatgrass, and bluegrass all declining 

and annuals assuming dominance. Informal observations suggest that severe overgrazing by domestic sheep has produced dense stands of balsamroot 

and mule’s ears (Wyethia), a potential phase D for 

this type.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates use these ridgetop and ridge 

shoulder sites heavily before grasses mature. If 

plant vigor is to be maintained, domestic livestock 

should not use these sites until after seed maturity. 

Ungulates can promote germination by trampling 

the seed into the soil after midsummer. Bunchgrasses generally rebound quickly from fires, 

reaching levels similar to those before the fire 

in just 1 year. However, fescue is often suppressed by 

severe burns in late summer when root crowns are readily 

damaged or consumed; it usually returns to preburn cover 

within 5 years after fire.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEID-AGSP habitat type of Daubenmire (1970) is 

similar. Hall’s (1973) plant community type, “bunchgrass on 

deep soil, steep slopes,” is also similar to this plant association. Tisdale (1979, 1986) classified a FEID-AGSP habitat 

type in the Snake River canyon that is similar. Mueggler and 

Stewart (1980) identified FEID-AGSP vegetation as forming 

the most common grassland in southwestern Montana. The 

FEID-AGSP-BASA3 plant association described by Johnson 

and Simon (1987) in the Wallowa Mountain-Snake River 

canyon is similar to this plant association.
69

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-phlox plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum-Phlox spp.

FEID-AGSP-PHLOX GB5931 N = 6

Distribution— 

Throughout the Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridge summits, shoulders, 

and slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 4,390 

to 5,640 ft elevation (mean 5,001 ft). Slopes were gentle to 

steep (mean 27 percent) on mostly convex surfaces. Aspects 

were westerly. Soils consisted of gravelly to very gravelly loamy or clay loamy material, with bedrock or extremely 

gravelly material within 1 ft of the surface.

Vegetation composition— 

Idaho fescue is associated with bluebunch wheatgrass 

and Sandberg’s bluegrass on dry, warm, rocky sites. 

Idaho fescue is the dominant bunchgrass where vegetation 

is undisturbed. The dominant forb is phlox. Yarrow and 

fleabanes are usually present at low cover. This plant 

association is more xeric than FEID-AGSP-BASA3, as 

indicated by rockier sites and higher cover by Sandberg’s 

bluegrass and phloxes.

States and transitions— 

Two phases were defined as follows:

A Fescue and wheatgrass total cover ≥35 percent.

B Fescue and wheatgrass total cover <35 percent.

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the 

deep-rooted bunchgrasses (fescue, wheatgrass) decline 

in vigor and foliar cover. Phase A represents the least 

disturbed site. Total foliar cover of fescue and wheatgrass 

has declined, and bare ground increased from ungulate 

disturbance in phase B.

Big Ridge, Blue Mountain RD, Malheur NF.

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B A + B

(n = 3) (n = 3) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 7 15 7–15

Bedrock 3 2 2–3

Rock 23 20 20–23

Gravel 3 3 3–3

Pavement 5 3 3–5

Mosses and lichens 3 7 3–7

Litter 50 15 15–50

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 5,001 4,390–5,640

Slope (percent) 27 6–70

Soil pH (n = 4) 6.0–7.0

Soil available water capacity 1–2 (very low)

 (inches, n = 3)

Depth to bedrock or extremely 0–10

 gravelly material (inches, n = 5)

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 6) 563 286–1,208

Aspect (number of plots) NW (3), NE (0), SE (0), SW (3)

Lithology Basalt

Position Summit, shoulder, slopes

Slope shape Convex
70

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Principal species—

Phase

A B A + B

Species Code (n = 3) (n = 3) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 25/100 9/100 9–25

 Idaho fescue FEID 16/100 17/100 16–17

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 9/100 11/100 9–11

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/100 2/100 2–2

 fleabanes ERIGE2 1/67 3/67 1–3

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 9/100 0 0–9

 phloxes PHLOX 11/100 7/100 7–11

 stonecrops SEDUM 5/33 1/33 1–5

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates use these ridgetop, shoulder, and slope 

sites heavily before grasses mature. If plant vigor is to be 

maintained, domestic livestock should not use these sites 

until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote germination by trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer. 

Bunchgrasses generally rebound quickly from fires, reaching levels similar to those before the fire in just 1 year. 

However, fescue is often suppressed by severe burns in late 

summer, when root crowns are readily damaged or consumed; it usually returns to preburn cover within 5 years 

after fire.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEID-AGSP habitat type of Daubenmire (1970) is 

similar. Hall’s (1973) plant community type, “bunchgrass 

on deep soil, steep slopes,” is also similar to this plant association. Tisdale (1979, 1986) classified a FEID-AGSP habitat type in the Snake River canyon that is similar. Mueggler 

and Stewart (1980) identified FEID-AGSP vegetation as 

forming the most common grassland in southwestern Montana. The FEID-AGSP-PHCO2 plant association described 

by Johnson and Simon (1987) on ridgetops and upper slopes 

in the canyon lands of the Snake and Imnaha Rivers is the 

ecological equivalent to this plant association of the Blue 

Mountains.
71

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass plant association

Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum

FEID-AGSP GB59 N = 32

Distribution— 

Throughout the Blue Mountains; Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridge summits, shoulders, 

and slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 3,900 

to 6,990 ft elevation (mean 4,784 ft). Slopes were gentle to 

steep (mean 29 percent) on mostly convex or flat surfaces. 

All aspects were represented (70 percent of the sites sampled were southwesterly).

Vegetation composition— 

Idaho fescue is codominant with bluebunch wheatgrass. 

Sandberg’s bluegrass is always present at lower cover levels. Prominent forbs are yarrow, creamy buckwheat, phloxes, and lomatiums. This plant association is more xeric than 

FEID-AGSP-BASA3 and FEID-AGSP-LUPIN as indicated 

by phloxes and hot rock penstemon. This is the most common bunchgrass plant association in the Blue Mountains. 

Herbage production ranges are wide owing primarily to the 

diversity in elevation and latitude. Herbage ranged from 

154 to 1,770 lb/ac (mean 549 lb/ac).

States and transitions— 

Five phases were defined as follows:

A Fescue and wheatgrass total cover ≥30 percent; 

little bare soil or annuals.

B Fescue and wheatgrass total cover minus cover 

by annuals and bare soil is 0 to 20 percent.

C1 Bare ground and annuals (forbs, annual bromegrasses, ventenata) collectively have greater 

cover than bunchgrasses.

C2 Fescue and wheatgrass total cover <35 percent; 

bare ground >10 percent; perennial forbs (such as 

yarrow, creamy buckwheat, milkvetch, and lomatiums) 

and Sandberg’s bluegrass collectively have cover 

similar to or greater than bunchgrasses.

D Fescue relict or absent (<5 percent cover); annual 

grasses (ventenata) dominant.

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the 

deep-rooted bunchgrasses (fescue and wheatgrass) decline in vigor and foliar cover. Phase A represents the least 

disturbed site. In phase B, total foliar cover of fescue and 

wheatgrass has declined while annuals and bare ground 

have increased. Phase C occurs when either annuals (phase 

Horse Heaven Ridge, Walla Walla RD, Umatilla NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,784 3,900–6,990

Slope (percent) 29 0–60

Soil pH (n = 11) 6.2–6.8

Soil available water capacity 1–5 (very low to moderate)

 (inches, n = 12)

Depth to bedrock (inches, n = 24) 8–26

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 18) 549 154–1,770 (outlier: 3,630)

Aspect (number of plots) NW (2), NE (5), SE (3), SW (22)

Lithology Basalt

Position Summit, shoulder, backslope

Slope shape Convex, flat

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D A + B

(n = 10) (n = 10) (n = 5) (n = 5) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 9 11 15 15 17 0–20

Bedrock 1 1 1 0 0 0–5

Rock 19 23 12 7 5 1–56

Gravel 3 8 6 21 10 0–35

Pavement 6 4 2 0 0 0–33

Mosses and lichens 13 8 4 15 10 0–45

Litter 35 35 63 42 58
72

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

C1) or perennial forbs (phase C2) dominate over the bunchgrasses. Phase D results after degradation of the site results 

in the loss of fescue, the most mesic bunchgrass member.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates (deer and elk) use these ridgetop, shoulder, and slope sites heavily before grasses mature. Use 

in late winter to early spring can displace saturated soils 

on slope sites with detrimental impacts to the bunchgrass 

plants. If bunchgrass vigor is to be maintained, domestic 

livestock should not use these sites until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote germination by trampling the 

seed into the soil after midsummer. Bunchgrasses generally 

rebound quickly from fires, reaching levels similar to those 

before the fire in just 1 year. However, fescue is often suppressed by severe burns in late summer when root crowns 

are readily damaged or consumed; it usually returns to 

preburn cover within 5 years after fire. Pocket gophers 

can cause considerable soil displacement in degenerated 

FEID-AGSP communities.

Relationship to other studies— 

The FEID-AGSP habitat type of Daubenmire (1970) is 

similar. Hall’s (1973) classification of AGSP-FEID differentiated by soil depths and slope steepness included AGSPPOSA12 and FEID-AGSP vegetation as differentiated in 

this classification. Tisdale (1979, 1986) classified a FEIDAGSP habitat type in the Snake River canyon that is similar. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified FEID-AGSP 

vegetation as forming the most common grassland in southwestern Montana. In the Wallowa Mountains and SnakeImnaha ridges, Johnson and Simon (1987) differentiated 

FEID-AGSP potential vegetation into three associations 

(FEID-AGSP/LUSE4, FEID-AGSP/BASA3, and FEIDAGSP/PHCO2). Several FEID-KOCR plant associations 

were also differentiated by using prairie junegrass as an indicator of a moister site. The present study generally parallels Johnson and Simon (1987) but retains a FEID-AGSP 

association that lacks other indicator species and thus is 

more narrowly defined than the FEID-AGSP in Johnson 

and Clausnitzer (1992).

Principal species—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D A + B

Species Code (n = 10) (n = 10) (n = 5) (n = 5) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 18/100 14/100 11/100 12/100 15/50 5–25

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 0 2/30 10/49 10/20 1/50 0–3

 Idaho fescue FEID 22/100 16/100 19/100 15/100 3/50 5–35

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 6/100 9/100 7/80 13/60 5/50 3–20

 ventenata VEDU 0 0 35/40 1/20 45/100 0

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/90 2/90 4/80 5/100 24/100 0–5

 Blue Mountain milkvetch ASRE5 1/20 1/30 1/20 8/40 0 0–1

 balsamroot BALSA 3/20 5/80 3/80 15/40 0 0–25

 tall annual willowherb EPPA2 0 5/30 12/60 6/40 0 0–10

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 12/30 5/80 12/60 18/60 0 0–18

 lomatiums LOMAT 1/60 4/70 3/40 18/50 12/60 0–7

 slender tarweed MAGR3 0 4/20 1/40 3/80 0 0–5

 hot rock penstemon PEDE4 1/10 2/60 0 2/40 0 0–3

 phloxes PHLOX 2/50 2/30 3/40 9/40 0 0–3 

Idaho fescue-onespike oatgrass plant community type

Festuca idahoensis-Danthonia unispicata

FEID-DAUN GB5932 N = 2

This community occurs on scablands where soils are shallow over impervious bedrock of basalt. Onespike oatgrass, 

serrated balsamroot, pussytoes, bighead clover, and phloxes are all indicative of these site conditions. Idaho fescue, 

bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, and Sandberg’s 

bluegrass are commonly present. The presence of deeper 

soil bunchgrasses (fescue, wheatgrass, and junegrass) along 

with soil erosion indicators suggests that these sites were 

once able to sustain Idaho-fescue-dominated communities. 

Bunchgrass plants on soil pedestals attest to past overuse 

by livestock with accelerated frost heaving and soil erosion. 

Ventenata can easily invade on these sites. These sites occur 

throughout the Blue and Ochoco Mountains.
73

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-lupine plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Lupinus spp.

AGSP-POSA12-LUPIN GB4119 N = 9

Low Ridge, Wehaha-Tucannon Wilderness, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Distribution— 

Northern Blue Mountains and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies shoulders and upper ridge 

slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 3,150 ft to 

4,720 ft (mean 4,042 ft). Slopes were steep (mean 55 percent) on flat to convex surfaces. Aspects of sampled plots 

were all southwesterly. Brief soil investigations (n = 5) 

suggests that soils are rich in coarse fragments, and that 

bedrock or extremely stoney material occurs between 

6 and 20 in of the surface. Herbage production ranged 

from 430 to 1,450 lb/ac (mean 931 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass occupy 

steep colluvial slopes with lupines (mostly Lupinus sulphureus). Rattlesnake brome is the most common annual grass. 

Perennial forbs commonly found are yarrow, brodiaea, hot 

rock penstemon, and creamy buckwheat. Annuals are common on the shifting colluvium (e.g., deerhorn, slender tarweed, and yellow salsify).

States and transitions— 

Two phases were defined as follows:

B Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass >20 percent; bare ground 

and gravel total <40 percent.

C Combined cover of wheatgrass and bluegrass 

>20 percent; bare ground and gravel percentages 

are high (>40 percent).

These states are the result of disturbances from wild and 

domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, bare ground 

and gravels increase. No sites were assigned to phase A 

(hypothetically where bare ground and gravel would total 

≤10 percent, and the bunchgrasses would account for a foliar 

cover of ≥30 percent). Phase B results from ungulate movement on the steep, unstable slopes resulting in increased 

bare ground and exposed gravels. Phase C results from 

further degradation where bare ground and gravels become 

dominant.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates use these steep, southerly slopes heavily before grasses mature in late winter to early spring. The 

most degraded sites are a result of combined use by elk and 

cattle in late spring to early summer. If plant vigor is to be 

maintained, domestic livestock should not use these sites until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote germination 

by trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer.

Ground surface features—

Phase

B C A + B

(n = 8) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 22 50 3–35

Bedrock 0 0 0–1

Rock 23 5 1–60

Gravel 7 15 0–20

Pavement 0 0 0

Mosses and lichens 6 0 0–21

Litter 38 25 20–90

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,042 3,150–4,720

Slope (percent, n = 3) 55 42–65

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 8) 931 430–1,450

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (0), SE (0), SW (9)

Lithology Basalt

Position Shoulder, backslope

Slope shape Flat, convex
74

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Principal species—

Phase

B C A + B

Species Code (n = 8) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 25/100 25/100 20–40

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 4/62 1/100 0–15

 soft brome BRMO2 8/38 0 0–20

 cheatgrass BRTE 5/25 0 0–10

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 3/100 1/100 1–10

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 3/88 1/100 0–5

 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 6/50 0 0–20

 Douglas’ brodiaea BRDO 1/62 0 0–3

 harsh paintbrush CAHI9 4/38 0 0–5

 deerhorn CLPU 8/62 3/100 0–25

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 1/62 0 0–1

 cleavers GAAP2 9/38 0 0–20

 swale desert-parsley LOAM 12/38 0 0–10

 lupines LUPIN 11/100 6/100 5–20

 slender tarweed MAGR3 2/38 0 0–5

 pink microsteris MIGR 12/38 0 0–20

 hot rock penstemon PEDE4 6/25 1/100 0–10

 yellow salsify TRDU 1/50 0 0–1

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 

vegetation as a habitat type in eastern Washington; Hall 

(1973) included AGSP-POSA12-LUPIN vegetation in the 

“bunchgrass on deep soil, steep slopes” plant community type for the Blue Mountains. Tisdale (1986) classified 

an AGSP-POSA12 habitat type in the Snake River canyon 

in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified AGSPPOSA12 vegetation in Montana. Johnson and Simon (1987) 

differentiated AGSP-POSA12 into eight plant associations 

in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands of northeastern 

Oregon. The AGSP-POSA12-LUPIN plant association has 

not been previously described.
75

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-arrowleaf balsamroot plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Balsamorhiza sagittata

AGSP-POSA12-BASA3 GB4123 N = 11

Distribution— 

Blue Mountains and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies upper ridge slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 2,140 ft elevation in the 

Crooked River National Grasslands to 4,680 ft elevation in 

the northern Blue Mountains (mean 3,869 ft). Slopes were 

moderate to steep (mean 48 percent) on mostly convex surfaces. All aspects were represented (the majority were 

southerly). Brief soil investigations (n = 6) suggest that soils 

are rich in coarse fragments and that bedrock or extremely 

stoney material occurs between 5 and 20 in of the surface. 

Herbage production ranged from 650 to 1,580 lb/ac (mean 

1,202 lb/ac).

Near Crite Spring, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass occupy steep colluvial slopes with arrowleaf balsamroot. Other 

forbs commonly found are yarrow and annuals that occupy 

the shifting colluvium (e.g., deerhorn, slender tarweed, and 

yellow salsify).

States and transitions— 

Four phases were defined as follows:

A Bluebunch wheatgrass cover >50 percent, arrowleaf 

balsamroot <10 percent; bare ground is 10 percent 

or less.

B Bluebunch wheatgrass cover is 20 to 50 percent; 

balsamroot cover is 10 to 25 percent; bare ground 

10 to 40 percent.

C Bluebunch wheatgrass cover 5 to 25 percent; cover 

by annuals is greater than that of wheatgrass; bare 

ground percentage is high (>40 percent).

D Bluebunch wheatgrass <5 percent cover or absent; 

cover by annuals >40 percent.

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, bluebunch wheatgrass declines in vigor and foliar cover. Sandberg’s bluegrass also declines from increased ungulate use 

resulting from soil surface movement. Phase A represents 

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 3,869 2,140–4,680

Slope (percent) 48 15–68

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 5) 1,202 650–1,580

Aspect (number of plots) NW (1), NE (1), SE (2), SW (7)

Lithology Basalt

Position Backslope

Slope shape Flat, convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C D A + B

(n = 1) (n = 7) (n = 1) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 7 15 45 42 1–30

Bedrock 3 1 0 0 0–5

Rock 3 18 15 15 1–70

Gravel 0 18 10 6 0–40

Pavement 0 0 0 0 0

Mosses and lichens 0 0 0 0 0

Litter 70 46 10 28
76

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

the least disturbed site. Phase B represents AGSP-POSA12-

BASA3 vegetation resulting from ungulate disturbance 

where the bunchgrasses decline. Phase C results from further degradation where bare ground and annuals become 

codominant with the bunchgrasses. Phase D results from 

sustained severe ungulate disturbance resulting in loss of 

bluebunch wheatgrass. Annual vegetation increases with 

soil displacement in phases C and D. Cryptanthas and blepharipappus are common annual forbs in the AGSP-POSA12-

BASA3 plant association.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates use these steep, 

southerly slopes heavily before grasses mature in late winter to early spring. 

The most degraded sites are a result of 

combined use by elk and cattle in late 

spring to early summer. If plant vigor 

is to be maintained, domestic ungulates 

should not use these sites until after 

seed maturity. Ungulates can promote 

germination by trampling the seed into 

the soil after midsummer.

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 vegetation as a 

habitat type in eastern Washington; 

Hall (1973) included AGSP-POSA12-

BASA3 vegetation in the “bunchgrass 

on deep soil, steep slopes” plant community type for the Blue Mountains. 

Tisdale (1986) classified an AGSP-POSA12 habitat type in 

the Snake River canyon in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart 

(1980) identified AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in Montana. 

Johnson and Simon (1987) differentiated AGSP-POSA12 

into eight plant associations in the Wallowa Mountains and 

canyon lands of northeastern Oregon. The AGSP-POSA12-

BASA3 plant association has not been previously described. 

It is similar to the AGSP-POSA12 (basalt) plant association 

found in the Wallowa Mountains.

Principal species—

Phase

A B C D A + B

Species Code (n = 1) (n = 7) (n = 1) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 65/100 29/100 20/100 1/50 20–65

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 0 2/43 1/100 4/100 0–1

 hairy brome BRCO4 0 20/14 0 35/50 0–20

 Japanese brome BRJA 0 5/14 0 3/50 0–5

 cheatgrass BRTE 0 14/71 20/100 1/50 0–40

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 20/100 6/71 3/100 8/100 0–20

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 1/100 7/100 0 1/100 1–10

 large-flowered agoseris AGGR 0 1/29 1/100 1/100 0–1

 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 7/100 12/100 30/100 25/100 5–20

 blepharipappus BLSC 0 2/29 15/100 25/100 0–3

 deerhorn CLPU 0 10/43 3/100 0 0–15

 common cryptantha CRIN8 0 5/14 15/100 4/100 0–5

 tall annual willowherb EPPA2 0 2/29 3/100 3/100 0–2

 slender tarweed MAGR3 0 2/43 1/100 10/50 0

 hairy owl-clover ORHI 0 0 0 10/50 0

 narrowleaf skullcap SCAN3 0 0 0 15/50 0

 yellow salsify TRDU 0 2/57 3/100 0 0–2
77

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-creamy buckwheat plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Eriogonum heracleoides

AGSP-POSA12-ERHE2 GB4124 N = 14

Distribution— 

Northern Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridgetops, shoulders, and 

upper ridge slopes on basalts. Sampled sites occurred from 

2,960 to 6,280 ft (mean 4,673 ft). Slopes were gentle to steep 

(mean 32 percent) on flat to convex surfaces. Aspects of 

sampled plots were mostly southerly. Brief soil investigations (n = 5) suggest that soils are rich in coarse fragments, 

and that bedrock or extremely stoney material occurs between 6 and 20 in of the surface. Herbage production ranged 

from 310 to 1,630 lb/ac (mean 842 lb/ac).

Moore Flat, Wehaha-Tucannon Wilderness, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass occupy steep colluvial slopes and gentle ridgetops with creamy 

buckwheat. Perennial forbs commonly found are yarrow and 

western groundsel. Prominent annuals are deerhorn and yellow salsify. Species richness is relatively low in this type.

States and transitions— 

Three phases were defined as follows:

B Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass >25 percent; bare ground 

<25 percent.

C Combined cover of wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass <25 percent; either bare ground percentage is 

high (>25 percent) or annual bromes (cheatgrass, 

hairy brome, Japanese brome) cover is high.

D Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass <5 percent; bare ground 

>25 percent; high coverage of annual plants (e.g., 

annuals bromes, tarweed).

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild and 

domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, bare ground 

increases. No sites were assigned to phase A (hypothetically where bare ground and gravel would total ≤10 percent, 

and bunchgrasses would have a foliar cover ≥30 percent). 

Phase B has increased bare ground resulting from ungulate 

grazing and trampling on the steep, unstable slopes. Phase 

C results from further degradation where bare ground and 

annuals become dominant. Phase D results from sustained 

severe ungulate disturbance resulting in loss of the bunchgrasses, increased bare ground, and a high cover by annuals.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates use these steep, southerly slopes heavily before grasses mature in late winter to early spring. The 

most degraded sites are a result of combined use by elk and 

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,673 2,960–6,280

Slope (percent) 32 4–72

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 10) 842 310–1,630

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (1), SE (6), SW (7)

Lithology Basalt

Position Shoulder, backslope

Slope shape Flat, convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

B C D A + B

(n = 10) (n = 3) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 14 28 30 1–25

Bedrock 1 1 1 0–5

Rock 19 20 15 1–45

Gravel 8 0 25 5–15

Pavement 0 1 0 0

Mosses and lichens 7 10 11 0–45

Litter 49 38 20
78

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Principal species—

Phase

B C D A + B

Species Code (n = 10) (n = 3) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 28/100 18/100 3/100 20–35

 hairy brome BRCO4 0 20/33 0 0

 Japanese brome BRJA 1/10 10/33 0 0–1

 soft brome BRMO2 0 0 15/100 

 cheatgrass BRTE 2/20 40/33 1/100 0–3

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 8/90 6/100 1/100 0–15

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/100 4/100 3/100 1–10

 deerhorn CLPU 2/20 3/67 3/100 0–3

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 14/100 27/100 15/100 5–30

 slender tarweed MAGR3 1/10 5/33 20/100 

 western groundsel SEIN2 5/50 0 0 0–15

 yellow salsify TRDU 1/40 5/67 1/100 0–1

cattle in late spring to early summer. If plant vigor 

is to be maintained, domestic ungulates should not 

use these sites until after seed maturity. Northern 

pocket gophers are prominent inhabitants beneath 

the soil surface in these communities and contribute to the bare ground in degraded communities.

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSPPOSA12 vegetation as a habitat type in eastern 

Washington. Tisdale (1986) classified an AGSPPOSA12 habitat type in the Snake River canyon 

in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified 

AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in Montana. Johnson 

and Simon (1987) differentiated AGSP-POSA12 

into eight plant associations in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands of northeastern Oregon. The 

AGSP-POSA12-ERHE2 plant association has not 

been previously described.

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-blue mountain milkvetch plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Astragalus reventus

AGSP-POSA12-ASRE5 GB4125 N = 5

Distribution— 

Northern and central Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies shoulders and backslopes 

on basaltic ridges. Sampled sites occurred from 4,500 to 

5,960 ft (mean 5,066 ft). Slopes were moderate (mean 20 

percent) with convex shape. Aspects were mostly southerly. 

Brief soil investigations (n = 5) suggests that soils are rich in 

coarse fragments and that bedrock or extremely stoney material occurs between 6 and 20 in of the surface. Herbage 

production ranged from 736 to 1,186 lb/ac (mean 961 lb/ac).

Alder Gulch, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 5,066 4,500–5,960

Slope (percent) 20 15–25

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 2) 961 736–1,186

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (1), SE (0), SW (4)

Lithology Basalt

Position Shoulder, backslope

Slope shape Convex
79

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass are the 

prominent perennial bunchgrasses. Annual bromes and 

needlegrass occupy disturbed areas. The type indicator, 

Blue Mountain milkvetch, is the most prominent perennial 

forb. Other forbs commonly found are yarrow, creamy buckwheat, lomatiums, tailcup lupine, and yellow salsify.

States and transitions— 

Four phases were defined as follows:

A Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass >35 percent.

B Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass <35 percent; bare ground 

percentage is low (<10 percent).

C Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass <35 percent; bare ground 

percentage is high (>25 percent).

D Bluebunch wheatgrass is absent or relict (<5 percent); 

bare ground >25 percent; cover by annuals is high.

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C D A + B

(n = 2) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 8 3 30 10 3–10

Bedrock 0 0 0 0 0

Rock 6 20 10 10 3–20

Gravel 0 10 15 3 0–10

Pavement 25 30 0 0 10–40

Mosses and lichens 2 35 16 6 0–30

Litter 33 1 30 70 1–35

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild and 

domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, bare ground 

increases. Phase A is the least disturbed with high cover by 

bunchgrasses. Phase B results from increased ungulate use 

of the bunchgrasses. Phase C results from further degradation where bare ground becomes dominant. Phase D results 

from sustained severe ungulate disturbance resulting in loss 

of bluebunch wheatgrass, increased bare ground, and a high 

cover by annuals.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates (especially elk) use these steep, southerly slopes heavily before grasses mature in late winter to early spring. The most degraded sites are a result of combined 

use by elk and cattle in late spring to early summer. If plant 

vigor is to be maintained, domestic ungulates should not use 

these sites until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote 

germination by trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer.

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 

vegetation as a habitat type in eastern Washington. Tisdale 

(1986) classified an AGSP-POSA12 habitat type in the Snake 

River canyon in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in Montana. Johnson and 

Simon (1987) differentiated AGSP-POSA12 into eight plant 

associations in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands 

of northeastern Oregon. The AGSP-POSA12-ASRE5 plant 

association has not been previously described.

Principal species—

Phase

A B C D A + B

Species Code (n = 2) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 32/100 10/100 25/100 3/100 10–35

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 1/50 0 1/100 0 0–1

 hairy brome BRCO4 10/50 0 3/100 0 0–10

 cheatgrass BRTE 3/50 0 0 0 0–3

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 5/100 0 3/100 10/100 0–5

 western needlegrass STOC2 10/50 0 0 0 0–10

 ventenata VEDU 0 0 0 55/100 0

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/100 1/100 3/100 5/100 1–10

 Blue Mountain milkvetch ASRE5 12/100 10/100 15/100 10/100 10–15

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 5/50 0 1/100 0 0–5

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 8/100 3/100 0 0 1–15

 western hawkweed HIAL 3/50 0 0 0 0–3

 lomatiums LOMAT 3/50 15/100 3/100 0 0–15

 tailcup lupine LUCA 10/50 1/100 0 0 0–10

 narrowleaf skullcap SCAN3 5/50 0 0 0 0–5

 yellow salsify TRDU 2/100 0 1/100 1/100 0–3
80

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-bighead clover plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Trifolium macrocephalum

AGSP-POSA12-TRMA3 GB4126 N = 4

Distribution— 

Blue and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridgetop shoulders and 

backslopes. Sampled sites occurred from 3,460 to 4,000 ft 

(mean 3,980 ft). This type was found on basalts and andesites. Slopes varied from gentle to steep (mean 27 percent) on 

convex, undulating, and flat surfaces. Aspects were mostly southwesterly. Soils consisted of about 5 in of gravelly to 

very gravelly loamy soil over very to extremely gravelly clay 

loam, with bedrock at a depth of 10 to 20 in. Herbage production ranged from 203 to 620 lb/ac (mean 428 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass are 

the prominent perennial bunchgrasses. Idaho fescue may 

occur as an incidental species at low cover. Bottlebrush 

squirreltail frequently occurs and increases on disturbed 

areas. Bighead clover is the dominant perennial forb. 

Other forbs commonly found are yarrow, low pussytoes, 

creamy buckwheat, phloxes, and lomatiums.

States and transitions— 

Three phases were defined as follows:

A Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass >40 percent.

B Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass 20 to 40 percent.

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild 

and domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the 

bluebunch wheatgrass declines and bare ground increases. 

Phase A is the least disturbed with high cover by bunchgrasses. Phase B results from increased ungulate use of 

the bunchgrasses.

Near Rager Spring, Paulina RD, Ochoco NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 3,980 3,460–4,000

Slope (percent) 27 5–80

Soil pH (n = 3) 6.2–7.0 

Soil available water capacity 1–3 (very low to low)

 (inches, n = 3)

Depth to bedrock or extremely 10–20

 gravelly material (inches, n = 5)

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 4) 428 203–620

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (1), SE (0), SW (4)

Lithology Basalt, andesite

Position Shoulder, backslope

Slope shape Convex, flat, undulating

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B A + B

(n = 2) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 8 11 7–15

Bedrock 4 2 0–5

Rock 36 40 29–50

Gravel 0 8 0–15

Pavement 6 4 0–12

Mosses and lichens 13 23 10–31

Litter 33 1
81

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Management considerations— 

The most degraded sites are a result of combined use by 

elk and cattle in late spring to early summer. If plant vigor is to be maintained, domestic ungulates should not use 

these sites until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote 

germination by trampling the seed into the soil after midsummer. Fire is a stimulant to the bunchgrasses. Highly degraded AGSP-POSA12 sites are prime locations for invasive 

colonization by medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae).

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 

vegetation as a habitat type in eastern Washington. Hall 

(1973) included AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in his “bunchgrasses on steep, gentle, deep and shallow” plant community types of the Blue Mountains. Tisdale (1986) classified 

an AGSP-POSA12 habitat type in the Snake River canyon 

in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified AGSPPOSA12 vegetation in Montana. Johnson and Simon (1987) 

differentiated AGSP-POSA12 into eight plant associations 

in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands of northeastern Oregon. Johnson and Clausnitzer (1992) described the 

AGSP-POSA12 plant association in the Blue and Ochoco 

Mountains. The AGSP-POSA12-TRMA3 plant association 

has not been previously described.

Principal species—

Phase

A B A + B

Species Code (n = 2) (n = 2) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 30/100 16/100 13–30

 Idaho fescue FEID 2/50 1/50 0–2

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 16/100 12/100 3–20

 bottlebrush squirreltail SIHY 1/50 0 0–1

 ventenata VEDU 0 3/50 0–3

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/100 0 0–3

 pale agoseris AGGL 1/50 1/50 0–1

 tapertip onion ALAC4 1/50 3/50 0–3

 low pussytoes ANDI2 2/100 0 0–2

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 2/50 3/50 0–3

 blepharipappus BLSC 0 10/50 0–10

 hawksbeards CREPI 1/50 0 0–1

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 10/50 0 0–10

 lomatiums LOMAT 2/100 6/100 1–10

 lupines LUPIN 5/50 1/50 0–5

 phlox PHLOX 8/50 1/50 0–8

 bighead clover TRMA3 8/100 16/100 6–20
82

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass 

is the prominent perennial 

bunchgrass. Sandberg’s 

bluegrass is usually present 

at low cover owing to the 

instability of the site. Skullcap is the indicative forb 

owing to its ability to anchor 

in the talus with long rhizomes that extend deep to 

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-narrowleaf skullcap plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Scutellaria angustifolia

AGSP-POSA12-SCAN3 GB4112 N = 3

Distribution— 

Northern Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occurs on steep basaltic slopes 

where shifting gravels make plant occupancy difficult. Sampled sites occurred from 2,000 ft to 4,920 ft (mean 3,070 ft). 

Slopes were steep (mean 54 percent) on flat surfaces. Aspects were mostly southwesterly. Herbage production ranged 

from 1,000 to 1,270 lb/ac (mean 1,100 lb/ac). Herbage was 

among the highest of the bluebunch wheatgrass plant associations owing to the rank growth afforded by low-elevation, 

warm sites in the Wenaha River canyon.

Wenaha River Canyon, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, Pomeroy RD, 

Umatilla NF.

tap subsurface moisture. Other perennial forbs commonly 

found are yarrow, arrowleaf balsamroot, swale desert-parsley, and large-flowered agoseris. Annuals that thrive on the 

disturbance are tall annual willowherb and deerhorn.

States and transitions— 

Only one phase was identified (phase A). Our sample 

plots probably approximate the PNV of the plot with light 

grazing impacts.

As these communities degenerate from natural or 

animal-induced surface movements, bluebunch wheatgrass will decline. Skullcap and deerhorn typically 

increase as bare ground increases.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 3,070 2,000–4,920

Slope (percent) 54 50–58

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 3) 1,100 1,000–1,270

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (0), SE (1), SW (2)

Lithology Basalt

Position Steep slopes

Slope shape Flat

Ground surface features—

Phase A A + B

(n = 3) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 5 1–10

Bedrock 1 0–3

Rock 15 10–20

Gravel 33 10–50

Pavement 0 0

Mosses and 1 0–1

 lichens

Litter 42 25–70

Principal species—

Species Code Phase A (n = 3) A + B range

 Cover (%)/ Cover (%) constancy (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 37/100 20–65

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 4/67 0–5

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/67 0–3

 large-flowered agoseris AGGR 2/67 0–3

 spreading dogbane APAN2 3/33 0–3

 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 4/67 0–5

 deerhorn CLPU 10/33 0–10

 tall annual willowherb EPPA2 4/100 1–10

 swale desert-parsley LOAM 14/100 1–25

 narrowleaf skullcap SCAN3 5/100 5–5

 bighead clover TRMA3 10/33 0–10

Management considerations— 

The most degraded sites are a result of combined use by 

elk and cattle in late spring to early summer. If plant vigor is to be maintained, domestic ungulates should not use 

these sites until after seed maturity. Fires do not carry well 

in these communities owing to lack of fuel. Burns tend to be 

light in severity.

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 

vegetation as a habitat type in eastern Washington. Tisdale 

(1986) classified an AGSP-POSA12 habitat type in the Snake 

River canyon in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in Montana. Johnson and Simon (1987) differentiated AGSP-POSA12 into eight plant 

associations in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands of 

northeastern Oregon. One of these was the AGSP-POSA12-

SCAN3 plant association. The AGSP-POSA12-SCAN3 plant 

association has not been previously described in the Blue 

Mountains.
83

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-spreading dogbane plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Apocynum androsaemifolium

AGSP-POSA12-APAN2 GB4127 N = 4

Distribution— 

Northern Blue Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occurs on steep basaltic slopes 

where shifting gravels make plant occupancy difficult. Sampled sites occurred from 3,200 to 3,870 ft (mean 3,493 ft). 

Slopes varied from moderate to steep (mean 53 percent) on 

convex and flat surfaces. Aspects were mostly southwesterly. Soil data were not available, but we can infer that soils 

are high in coarse fragments and have very low to low available water capacity. Herbage production ranged from 700 to 

1,250 lb/ac (mean 975 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass is the prominent perennial bunchgrass. Sandberg’s bluegrass is usually present at low cover owing to the instability of the site. Spreading dogbane is 

the dominant forb owing to its ability to anchor in the talus 

with long rhizomes. Other perennial forbs commonly found 

are yarrow, arrowleaf balsamroot, harsh paintbrush, and 

silverleaf phacelia. Annuals that thrive on the disturbance 

are pale allysum, thymeleaf sandwort, cluster tarweed, and 

cryptanthas.

Low Ridge, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, Pomeroy RD, Umatilla NF.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 3,493 3,200–3,870

Slope (percent) 53 35–65

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 2) 975 700–1,250

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (0), SE (1), SW (3)

Lithology Basalt

Position Steep slopes

Slope shape Convex, flat

Ground surface features—

Phase

B (n = 3) D (n = 1) A + B range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 8 30 5–15

Bedrock 1 0 0–1

Rock 17 10 15–20

Gravel 18 45 10–30

Pavement 0 0 0

Mosses and lichens 0 0 0–1

Litter 52 15 40–65

Principal species—

Phase

B D A + B

Species Code (n = 3) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 33/100 3/100 30–40

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 3/33 15/100 0–3

 Japanese brome BRJA 5/33 0 0–5

 cheatgrass BRTE 1/33 25/100 0–1

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 2/100 0 1–3

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/100 3/100 1–3

 pale allysum ALAL3 0 35/100 0

 spreading dogbane APAN2 18/100 15/100 10–25

 thymeleaf sandwort ARSE2 30/33 0 0–30

 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 1/100 1/100 1–3

 harsh paintbrush CAHI9 8/100 1/100 1–20

 deerhorn CLPU 1/67 1/100 0–1

 Torrey’s cryptantha CRTO4 1/67 3/100 0–1

 cluster tarweed MAGL2 1/33 25/100 0–1

 nodding microseris MINU 1/67 1/100 0–1

 silverleaf phacelia PHHA 1/33 5/100 0–1

States and transitions— 

Two phases were defined as follows:

B Bluebunch wheatgrass cover >30 percent.

D Bluebunch wheatgrass absent or relict (<5 percent).

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild and 

domestic ungulates as well as natural slope movement. As 

disturbances increase, the bunchgrasses decline with an increase in gravels and bare ground. Phase B is the least disturbed with high cover by bluebunch wheatgrass. Phase D 

results from increased ungulate use of the bunchgrasses and 

movement of the ground surface owing to animal trampling 

on the steep, unstable slopes.

Management considerations— 

The most degraded sites are a result of use by elk and 

cattle in late spring to early summer. If plant vigor is to be 
84

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

maintained, domestic ungulates should not use these sites 

until after seed maturity. Fires do not carry well in these 

communities owing to lack of fuel. Burns tend to be light 

in severity.

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 

vegetation as a habitat type in eastern Washington. Tisdale 

(1986) classified an AGSP-POSA12 habitat type in the Snake 

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-onespike oatgrass plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii-Danthonia unispicata

AGSP-POSA12-DAUN GB4911 N = 4

Distribution— 

Blue and Ochoco Mountains.

Near Huckleberry Mountain, Walla Walla RD, Umatilla NF.

River canyon in Idaho. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) identified AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in Montana. Johnson and 

Simon (1987) differentiated AGSP-POSA12 into eight plant 

associations in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands of 

northeastern Oregon. Johnson and Clausnitzer (1992) described the AGSP-POSA12 plant association in the Blue 

and Ochoco Mountains. The AGSP-POSA12-APAN2 plant 

association has not been previously described.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridgetop summits and plateau flats. Sampled sites occurred from 3,500 to 5,150 ft 

(mean 4,297 ft). This type was found on basalts and volcanic 

tuffs. Slopes varied from gentle to moderate (mean 10 percent) on convex and flat surfaces. Aspects were southerly. 

Soils consisted of about 5 in of gravelly loamy soil over very 

to extremely gravelly clay loam, with bedrock at a depth of 

6 to 20 in. Herbage production ranged from 250 to 548 lb/ac 

(mean 408 lb/ac).

Ground surface features—

Phases B + C 

(n = 4)

Cover (%)

Bare ground 14

Bedrock 1

Rock 24

Gravel 8

Pavement 2

Mosses and lichens 9

Litter 28

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,297 3,500–5,150

Slope (percent) 10 3–15

Soil pH (n = 2) 6.2–7.0 

Soil available water capacity 1–3 (very low to low)

 (inches, n = 2)

Depth to bedrock or extremely 6–20

 gravelly material (inches, n = 4)

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 3) 408 250–548

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (0), SE (3), SW (1)

Lithology Basalt, tuff

Position Summit

Slope shape Convex
85

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Principal species—

Phases B + C 

Species Code (n = 4)

Cover (%)/constancy (%)

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 22/100

 onespike oatgrass DAUN 8/100

 prairie junegrass KOCR 5/25

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 15/100

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/75

 tapertip onion ALAC4 3/50

 fringed onion ALFI 5/25

 basalt milkvetch ASFI 10/25

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 2/50

 western hawksbeard CROC 5/25

 scabland fleabane ERBL 1/50

 dwarf yellow fleabane ERCH4 1/25

 golden buckwheat ERFL4 3/25

 lomatiums LOMAT 2/100

 false agoseris MITR5 6/25

 phloxes PHLOX 5/50

 lanceleaf stonecrop SELA 7/25

 wormleaf stonecrop SEST2 3/25

 bighead clover TRMA3 8/50

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg’s bluegrass, and onespike oatgrass are the prominent perennial bunchgrasses. 

The bluegrass and oatgrass occupy shallow soils (scabland) 

with bluebunch wheatgrass penetrating deeper soils through 

fractures in the underlying bedrock. Perennial forbs commonly found are yarrow, tapertip onion, serrate balsamroot, 

scabland fleabane, bighead clover, phloxes, and lomatiums.

States and transitions— 

No phases were defined because of the small sample 

size and our lack of knowledge of the potential for these 

sites. All four plots sampled were judged to have some 

grazing-related degradation. The AGSP-POSA12-DAUN 

plant association occupies sites with shallow soils overlying fractured bedrock permitting bluebunch wheatgrass 

to exist. Some of the communities with this composition 

have resulted from degradation of FEID-AGSP and AGSPPOSA12 sites by severe overgrazing and trampling. Soil 

loss and compaction make the effects of drought more severe; Idaho fescue can no longer be sustained and bluebunch wheatgrass is reduced, allowing establishment of 

onespike oatgrass.

Management considerations— 

Trampling is the principal cause of degradation in these 

communities. It reduces the grass-forb-moss/lichen cover and promotes compaction, soil loss, and erosion pavement. Use by livestock has less of an impact after soils 

have lost moisture saturation from the late winter snowmelt 

and spring precipitation. Ideally flowering and seed set by 

the bunchgrasses should have culminated prior to domestic grazing.

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to define AGSP-POSA12 

vegetation as a habitat type in eastern Washington. Hall 

(1973) included AGSP-POSA12-DAUN vegetation in his 

“bunchgrasses on gentle slopes and shallow soils” plant 

community type of the Blue Mountains. Johnson and 

Clausnitzer (1992) described an AGSP-POSA12-DAUN 

plant community type in the Blue and Ochoco Mountains. 

This work now elevates the type to plant association status.
86

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass plant association

Agropyron spicatum-Poa sandbergii

AGSP-POSA12 GB4121 N = 29

Distribution— 

Blue and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridgetop shoulders, backslopes, and footslopes. Sampled sites occurred from 2,540 to 

5,850 ft (mean 4,153 ft). This type was found on basalts, andesites, and rhyolites. Slopes varied from gentle, moderate, 

to steep (mean 44 percent) on convex and flat surfaces. Soils 

consisted of 5 to 10 in of silt loam or loam (usually gravelly), 

over gravelly to very gravelly clay loam or silty clay loam. 

Bedrock or extremely gravelly material occurred at a depth 

of 6 to 30 in, and available water capacity was low or very 

low. Aspects were mostly southerly. Herbage production 

ranged from 100 to 1,460 lb/ac (mean 592 lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass are the 

prominent perennial bunchgrasses. Annual bromes (especially soft brome and cheatgrass) occupy disturbed areas. 

Perennial forbs commonly found are yarrow, creamy buckwheat, lomatiums, and yellow salsify. Forbs are scattered or 

sparse in this plant association.

States and transitions— 

Four phases were defined as follows:

A Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass >40 percent.

B Combined cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and 

Sandberg’s bluegrass 20 to 40 percent.

C Cover by bare ground or annuals is high 

(>25 percent).

D Bluebunch wheatgrass is absent or relict 

(<5 percent cover); annuals dominate.

South Fork of Spring Creek, La Grande RD, Wallowa-Whitman NF.

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C D A + B

(n = 8) (n = 9) (n = 9) (n = 3) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 12 11 26 10 1–30

Bedrock 3 1 2 0 0–5

Rock 13 38 18 10 0–60

Gravel 3 8 18 2 1–50

Pavement 7 6 7 3 0–29

Mosses and lichens 7 3 12 5 0–26

Litter 30 32 22 60 20–60

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,153 2,540–5,850

Slope (percent) 44 1–80

Soil pH (n = 16) 6.2–7.2 

Soil available water capacity 1–4 (very low to low)

 (inches, n = 15)

Depth to bedrock or extremely 6–30

 gravelly material (inches, n = 22)

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 24) 592 100–1,460

Aspect (number of plots) NW (0), NE (2), SE (11), SW (16)

Lithology Basalt, andesite, rhyolite

Position Backslope, footslopes, shoulders

Slope shape Convex, flat
87

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

These phases are the result of disturbances from wild and 

domestic ungulates. As ungulate use increases, the bunchgrasses decline and bare ground increases. Phase A is the 

least disturbed with high cover by bunchgrasses. Phase B results from increased ungulate use. Phase C results from further degradation where bare ground and annuals become 

prominent. Phase D results from sustained severe ungulate 

disturbance resulting in the loss of bluebunch wheatgrass 

and complete takeover of the site by annual weeds.

Management considerations— 

Wild ungulates (especially elk) use these steep, southerly 

slopes heavily before grasses mature in late winter to early 

Principal species—

Phase

A B C D A + B

Species Code (n = 8) (n = 9) (n = 9) (n = 3) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Shrubs:

 gray rabbitbrush CHNA2 0 1/22 2/11 2/67 0–1

Grasses:

 bluebunch wheatgrass AGSP 39/100 21/100 20/100 2/100 15–65

 rattlesnake brome BRBR7 0 2/33 1/11 5/33 0–3

 soft brome BRMO2 0 0 0 25/33 0

 cheatgrass BRTE 0 3/33 3/22 30/67 0–5

 medusahead ELCA13 0 0 0 2/67 0

 prairie junegrass KOCR 8/50 3/11 2/22 0 0–20

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 11/100 6/100 5/100 1/67 1–20

 bottlebrush squirreltail SIHY 1/12 1/11 1/22 10/33 0–1

Forbs:

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/75 2/78 1/22 1/33 0–5

 low pussytoes ANDI2 1/38 1/11 3/11 0 0–1

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 3/12 2/33 0 1/33 0–3

 creamy buckwheat ERHE2 2/75 2/22 3/11 0 0–3

 lomatiums LOMAT 4/38 5/44 3/56 4/33 0–5

 lanceleaf stonecrop SELA 2/25 2/22 1/11 1/33 0–3

 yellow salsify TRDU 0 1/11 1/22 1/67 0–1

spring. The most degraded sites are a 

result of combined use by elk and cattle in late spring to early summer. The 

southerly slopes, commonly frequented by elk concentrations in early spring 

when soils are saturated with moisture, 

are prone to increase of bare ground 

from trampling. Plant loss from uprooting owing to use by animals and 

slope movement is especially high at 

this time. If plant vigor is to be maintained, domestic ungulates should not 

use these sites until after seed maturity. Ungulates can promote germination 

by trampling the seed into the soil after 

midsummer. Highly degraded AGSPPOSA12 sites are prime locations for 

invasive colonization by yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis).

Relationship to other studies— 

Daubenmire (1970) was the first to 

define AGSP-POSA12 vegetation as 

a habitat type in eastern Washington. Hall (1973) included AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in his “bunchgrasses on steep, 

gentle, deep and shallow” plant community types of the 

Blue Mountains. Tisdale (1986) classified an AGSP-POSA12 

habitat type in the Snake River canyon in Idaho. Mueggler 

and Stewart (1980) identified AGSP-POSA12 vegetation in 

Montana. Johnson and Simon (1987) differentiated AGSPPOSA12 into eight plant associations in the Wallowa Mountains and canyon lands of northeastern Oregon. Johnson and 

Clausnitzer (1992) described the AGSP-POSA12 plant association in the Blue and Ochoco Mountains.

Bluebunch wheatgrass-mountain brome plant community type

Agropyron spicatum-Bromus carinatus

AGSP-BRCA5 GB4131 N = 2

These plant communities occur in the Blue Mountains on 

Columbia River basalts at elevations above 4,000 ft. Brief 

soil investigations suggest a higher moisture-holding 

capacity than on most sites in the bluebunch wheatgrass 

series. Bluebunch wheatgrass is the dominant bunchgrass 

with Sandberg’s bluegrass and mountain brome usually 

associated at lower cover levels. Annual bromes also are 

found on disturbed sites within the community. The most 

prominent are rattlesnake brome and hairy brome. Forbs 

that are often associated are yarrow, large-flowered agoseris, 

arrowleaf balsamroot, creamy buckwheat, and Cusick’s 

peavine. The common annual forb that increases with 

disturbances is blepharipappus.
88

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Bluebunch wheatgrass-sulfur-flower buckwheat plant community type

Agropyron spicatum-Eriogonum umbellatum

AGSP-ERUM GB4132 N = 3

These plant communities occur in the northern Blue 

Mountains on Columbia River basalts at elevations above 

5,000 ft. The sites are on moderate to steep slopes. Herbage 

production is low (350 to 600 lb/ac) owing to the rockygravelly nature of the sites. Rock-gravel cover ranged from 

45 to 75 percent. Because of the instability of these steep 

slopes, Sandberg’s bluegrass is unable to establish. Bluebunch wheatgrass is the sole bunchgrass. Plants adapted 

for hot, dry sites are found with the sulfur-flower buckwheat. These perennials are yarrow, scarlet gilia, mountain monardella, Blue Mountain penstemon, and silverleaf 

phacelia. The annual plant increasing on disturbed sites in 

these communities is common cryptantha.

Bluebunch wheatgrass-turpentine cymopterus plant community type

Agropyron spicatum-Cymopterus terebinthinus var. foeniculaceus

AGSP-CYTEF GB4133 N = 2

These plant communities occur in the northern Blue Mountains on Columbia River basalts at elevations ranging from 

3,000 to 5,000 ft. The sites are on steep to moderately steep 

slopes (mean 55 percent) where rock and gravels dominate. 

Rock-gravel averaged 60 percent. Owing to the instability 

of these gravelly slopes, Sandberg’s bluegrass was only able 

to persist on stable patches behind large rocks. The dominant bunchgrass was bluebunch wheatgrass. Forbs were few. 

Cymopterus dominated with penstemons, lomatiums, and 

Douglas’ knotweed also associated.

Douglas’ buckwheat-Sandberg’s bluegrass plant community type

Eriogonum douglasii-Poa sandbergii

ERDO-POSA12 FM9111 N = 1

This plant community type occurs on the ridgetops north 

of the Wallowa Mountains on Columbia River basalts between 4,400 and 5,400 ft elevation. The type was also 

found in the northern Blue Mountains (near Oregon Butte) 

on the Wenaha Basalt Formation at 5,300 ft elevation. 

Erosion pavement dominated (60 percent) over a shallow 

soil. The dominant plant was Douglas’ buckwheat. 

Other dry, scabland perennial plants associated were 

bighead clover, ballhead sandwort, lanceleaf stonecrop, and serrate balsamroot. Bluebunch wheatgrass 

and Sandberg’s bluegrass were low in cover (<5 percent each).

Bulbous bluegrass-cluster tarweed plant community type

Poa bulbosa-Madia glomerata

POBU-MAGL2 GB4411 N = 1

This highly disturbed site was found in the northern 

Blue Mountains on Columbia River basalts. In 1962, 

bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass were 

present on the site. By 2003, all vestiges of the bunchgrasses were gone. Now dominating were bulbous 

bluegrass (60 percent cover), cluster tarweed (40 percent 

cover), yarrow (25 percent cover), and mountain brome 

(10 percent cover). These highly degraded sites occur 

in the northern Blue Mountains on old domestic sheep 

driveways and bedding areas.
89

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Onespike oatgrass-slenderfruit lomatium plant association

Danthonia unispicata-Lomatium leptocarpum

DAUN-LOLE2 GB9114 N = 9

Near Heister Creek, Paulina RD, Ochoco NF.

Distribution— 

Central Blue and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies ridgetop summits and plateau flats. Sampled sites occurred 

from 4,440 ft to 5,670 ft (mean 4,853 ft). This 

type was found on basalts and andesites. Slopes 

were gentle (mean 5 percent) on convex and flat 

surfaces. All aspects were represented. Soils consisted of cobbly to very cobbly loamy or clay 

loamy material just 5 to 12 in thick, over bedrock. 

These soils are often saturated in spring owing to 

perching of water over bedrock and clay, but their 

capacity to store water is very low. Herbage production ranged from 200 to 450 lb/ac (mean 325 

lb/ac).

Vegetation composition— 

Onespike oatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass are the 

prominent perennial bunchgrasses. The bluegrass and 

oatgrass occupy shallow soils (scabland) with rushes (primarily slender rush, Juncus tenuis) occupying seepage 

areas of greater moisture abundance. Hummocks are often abundant from frost heaving. Along with the rushes, common camas is frequently found owing to the 

perched water table in early spring. Other scabland forbs 

of prominence are serrate balsamroot, lanceleaf stonecrop, bighead clover, and slenderfruit lomatium. Rushes 

and slenderfruit lomatium are key indicators of this mesic 

scabland type.

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 4,853 4,440–5,670

Slope (percent) 5 0–12

Soil pH (n = 3) 6.0–7.2

Soil available water capacity 0.5–2 (very low)

 (inches, n = 3)

Depth to bedrock or extremely 5–12

 gravelly material (inches, n = 7)

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 2) 325 200–450

Aspect (number of plots) NW (2), NE (2), SE (2), SW (3)

Lithology Basalt, andesite

Position Summit

Slope shape Flat, convex

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D1 D2 A + B

(n = 2) (n = 2) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 2) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 15 22 1 — 0 50 5–39

Bedrock 0 1 0 — 0 0 0–2

Rock 12 28 5 — 22 3 5–50

Gravel 10 2 0 — 0 5 0–20

Pavement 2 0 0 — 0 5 0–5

Mosses and lichens 19 12 36 — 30 25 2–35

Litter 38 1 1 — 42 1 

— = no data.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Principal species—

Phase

A B C1 C2 D1 D2 A + B

Species Code (n = 2) (n = 2) (n = 1) (n = 1) (n = 2) (n = 1) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 onespike oatgrass DAUN 68/100 22/100 45/100 5/100 35/100 0 20–70

 bulbous bluegrass POBU 0 0 0 0 0 30/100 0

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 3/100 15/100 5/100 15/100 2/100 10/100 1–20

 bottlebrush squirreltail SIHYH 2/100 0 0 0 0 0 0–3

 western needlegrass STOC2 0 0 0 5/100 0 15/100 0

 ventenata VEDU 0 1/50 20/100 0 30/100 0 0–1

Grasslikes:

 rushes JUNCU 1/50 1/100 1/100 0 1/100 0 0–1

Forbs:

 agoseris AGOSE 1/50 1/50 1/100 1/100 1/50 1/100 0–1

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 9/100 1/50 0 0 1/50 1/100 0–15

 common camas CAQU2 15/50 2/100 3/100 1/100 0 3/100 0–15

 slenderfruit lomatium LOLE2 6/100 5/50 3/100 10/100 1/50 1/100 0–10

 lomatiums LOMAT 0 8/50 0 0 1/50 0 0–7

 slender tarweed MAGR3 0 0 0 0 5/50 0 0

 western burnet SAOC2 0 1/50 1/100 1/100 0 10/100 0–1

 lanceleaf stonecrop SELA 1/100 3/50 0 3/100 0 0 0–3

 bighead clover TRMA3 5/50 20/50 0 5/100 1/100 1/100 0–20

States and transitions— 

Six phases were defined:

A Onespike oatgrass cover >50 percent; Sandberg’s 

bluegrass subordinate to oatgrass.

B Oatgrass and bluegrass cover total 30 to 50 percent; 

bluegrass and oatgrass codominant.

C1 Oatgrass dominant; ventenata invasive.

C2 Oatgrass and bluegrass cover total <30 percent; 

perennial forbs dominant.

D1 Oatgrass dominant; bluegrass relict to absent; 

ventenata invasive.

D2 Oatgrass relict to absent; bulbous bluegrass and 

western needlegrass invasive.

The phases are based on the dominance of onespike oatgrass when moisture is abundant and retained during the 

summer months to support it (phase A), the emergence of 

Sandberg’s bluegrass as the site loses its ability to retain adequate moisture for oatgrass (phase B), the decrease of both 

bunchgrasses as site deterioration continues (phase C), and 

the loss of the bunchgrasses as the site loses its ability to 

sustain them (phase D). Transition from phase A to B and 

so forth is due primarily to grazing ungulates when soils 

are saturated and the community is most vulnerable.

Management considerations— 

Trampling and use of the early greening bluegrass in late 

winter to early spring are the primary causes of site degradation in this plant association. Elk and deer use can reduce 

the grass-rock-moss/lichen cover and promote compaction, 

soil loss, erosion pavement, and increased bare ground. Use 

by livestock has less of an impact after soils have lost moisture saturation from the late winter snowmelt and spring 

precipitation. Ideally flowering and seed set by the bunchgrasses should have culminated prior to the onset of domestic grazing. When the cover by grass, mosses, and lichens 

is reduced and bare ground is exposed, ventenata, bulbous 

bluegrass, and western needlegrass readily colonize.

Relationship to other studies— 

Hall (1973) described this vegetation as part of his “bluegrass scabland plant community type” in the Blue Mountains. Volland (1976) also described “bluegrass scabland 

plant community type” on the pumice of central Oregon 

with similar characteristics. Johnson and Simon (1987) incorporated this more mesic vegetation type into their 

POSA12-DAUN plant association in the Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon. Johnson and Clausnitzer (1992) 

retained the DAUN-LOLE2 vegetation as part of POSA12-

DAUN for the Blue and Ochoco Mountains. This work 

differentiates the more mesic DAUN-LOLE2 as a plant 

association for the Blue and Ochoco Mountains.
91

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Sandberg’s bluegrass-onespike oatgrass plant association

Poa sandbergii-Danthonia unispicata

POSA12-DAUN GB9111 N = 13

Distribution— 

Blue and Ochoco Mountains.

Environmental features— 

This plant association occupies scabland ridgetops and 

shoulders as well as plateau flats. Sampled sites occurred 

from 3,800 to 6,950 ft (mean 5,157 ft). This type was found 

on basalts and andesites. Slopes were gentle (mean 6 percent) on convex and flat surfaces. All aspects were represented. Soils consisted of cobbly to very cobbly loamy 

or clay loamy material just 4 to 10 in thick, over bedrock. 

These soils are often saturated in spring owing to perching 

of water over bedrock and clay, but their capacity to store 

water is very low. Herbage production ranged from 45 to 

486 lb/ac (mean 184 lb/ac).

Above Cougar Canyon, La Grande RD, Wallowa-Whitman NF.

Vegetation composition— 

Onespike oatgrass and Sandberg’s bluegrass occupy 

shallow soils over impervious, nonfractured bedrock. Bottlebrush squirreltail is the other bunchgrass that frequently occurs at low coverage. Scabland forbs of prominence are 

yarrow, low pussytoes, serrate balsamroot, stonecrops, and 

lomatiums.

States and transitions— 

Four phases were defined:

A—Sandberg’s bluegrass, onespike oatgrass, and 

moss cover total >75 percent.

B—Sandberg’s bluegrass, onespike oatgrass, and 

moss cover total 50 to 75 percent.

D—Sandberg’s bluegrass, onespike oatgrass, and 

moss cover total <50 percent; DAUN relict to 

absent.

Phase A is based on the dominance of Sandberg’s bluegrass and onespike oatgrass with high moss cover retarding 

soil desiccation during the summer months. As surface 

disturbance increases from ungulate trampling, bare ground 

Ground surface features—

Phase

A B D A + B

(n = 2) (n = 3) (n = 8) range

Cover (%)

Bare ground 14 23 35 7–38

Bedrock 2 1 1 0–3

Rock 20 22 16 5–35

Gravel 0 3 6 0–10

Pavement 0 2 11 0–5

Mosses and lichens 40 20 10 20–60

Litter 24 5 21

Mean Range

Elevation (feet) 5,157 3,800–6,950

Slope (percent) 6 1–15

Soil pH (n = 9) 6.0–7.0

Soil available water capacity 0.5–1.5 (very low)

 (inches, n = 7)

Depth to bedrock or extremely 4–10

 gravelly material (inches, n = 7)

Herbage (pounds/acre, n = 11) 184 45–486

Aspect (number of plots) NW (1), NE (2), SE (6), SW (4)

Lithology Basalt, andesite

Position Summit, shoulder

Slope shape Convex, flat

Fred Hall

Fred Hall Fred Hall
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

increases, soil loss occurs, and bunchgrasses become 

“pedestalled” with a resultant decline in the bunchgrass 

and moss cover (phase B). In phase D, the bunchgrasses 

can no longer survive the drought of the hot, dry summer 

months. They are relict as the plant-moss-rock matrix is 

lost to bare ground dominance from ungulate trampling 

in the saturated soil period of the year.

Principal species—

Phase

A B D A + B

Species Code (n = 2) (n = 3) (n = 8) range

Cover (%)/constancy (%) Cover (%)

Grasses:

 onespike oatgrass DAUN 32/100 15/67 1/50 0–60

 Sandberg’s bluegrass POSA12 19/100 22/100 11/100 3–35

 bottlebrush squirreltail SIHYH 0 1/67 2/50 0–1

 western needlegrass STOC2 0 7/33 3/12 0–7

Forbs: 

 common yarrow ACMIL 2/100 2/100 3/50 1–3

 low pussytoes ANDI2 0 3/67 6/50 0–3

 serrate balsamroot BASE2 0 10/67 13/38 0–20

 lomatiums LOMAT 1/100 4/67 8/60 0–5

 stonecrops SEDUM 2/50 4/100 2/50 0–10

 bighead clover TRMA3 0 0 16/25 0

Management considerations— 

Trampling and use of the early greening bluegrass in late winter to early spring are the primary 

causes of site degradation in this plant association. 

Elk and deer use can reduce the grass-rock-moss/

lichen cover and promote compaction, soil loss, 

erosion pavement, and increased bare ground. Use 

by livestock has less of an impact after soils have 

lost moisture saturation from the late winter snowmelt and spring precipitation. Ideally flowering and 

seed set by the bunchgrasses should have culminated prior to domestic grazing. When the cover 

by grass, mosses, and lichens is reduced and bare 

ground is exposed, these sites may be irreparably 

damaged.

Relationship to other studies— 

Hall (1973) described this vegetation as part of 

his “bluegrass scabland plant community type” in the Blue 

Mountains. Volland (1976) also described “bluegrass 

scabland plant community type” on the pumice of central 

Oregon with similar characteristics. Johnson and Simon 

(1987) described a POSA12-DAUN plant association in the 

Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon. Johnson and 

Clausnitzer (1992) also classified a POSA12-DAUN plant 

association for the Blue and Ochoco Mountains.
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Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Glossary

andesite—A fine-grained igneous rock of intermediate 

composition between rhyolite and basalt.

argillite—A sedimentary rock resembling shale but 

hardened by heat, pressure, or chemical cementing agents.

ash (volcanic)—Fine-grained material deposited from 

volcanic eruption by airfall.

aspect (slope)—The horizontal direction that a slope 

faces, usually expressed in a compass azimuth or cardinal 

direction.

basalt—A dark-colored, fine-grained igneous rock rich in 

magnesium and iron.

batholith—A large body of intruded igneous rock.

bunchgrass—A grass (member of the family Poaceae) 

with tufted growth form, as opposed to a sod-forming 

grass.

climax (community)—The stable community, in an 

ecological succession, that is able to reproduce itself 

indefinitely under existing environmental conditions in the 

absence of disturbance. The final stage of succession.

climax (species)—Species that are self-perpetuating in the 

absence of disturbance.

colluvium—Unconsolidated earth material deposited on 

or at the base of slopes by mass wasting (direct 

gravitational action) or local unconcentrated runoff.

constancy—The percentage of of plots on which the 

species occurred in the sampled population.

cover—The percentage of ground area included in a 

vertical projection of individual plant canopies by a given 

species.

disclimax—A stable community that differs from the 

theoretical climax for the site as a result of ongoing 

disturbance or severe disturbance in the past followed by 

invasion of exotic species.

dominant—A plant or group of plants which by their 

collective size, mass, or number exert the most influence 

on other components of the ecosystem.

forb—A herbaceous plant other than a sedge, grass, or 

other plant with similar grasslike foliage.

graminoid—An herbaceous grass or grasslike plant.

granite—A coarse-grained igneous rock rich in quartz, 

feldspar, and mica.

grass—A plant of the family Poaceae (formerly 

Gramineae), characterized by jointed stems, sheathing 

leaves, flower spikelets, and fruit consisting of a seedlike 

grain or caryopsis.

grassland—vegetation dominated by grasses (Poaceae) 

and lacking either a tree or shrub cover of 10 percent or 

more.

graywacke—A sandstone rich in feldspar or rock 

fragments.

habitat type—An aggregation of all land areas capable 

of supporting similar plant associations at climax.

herb—A plant that dies back to the ground surface 

each year.

igneous rock—A rock formed by the eruption or 

subsurface intrusion of molten rock.

indicator species—A plant species that is sensitive to 

environmental features of a site and has a high fidelity and 

constancy to a type.

layer (vegetation)—A plant physiognomic level such as 

overstory tree or shrub.

lithology—Rock type.

loess—Fine-grained, wind-deposited material 

predominantly of silt-sized particles.

metasedimentary—Sedimentary rock that has been 

altered by heat and pressure.

noncalcareous—Soil or sediment that lacks measurable 

quantities of calcium carbonate.

perching—Water pooling over impenetrable rock or 

soil layer.

phase (plant community)—A plant community, often 

one of several, that is an identifiable component of a state. 

Transitions between phases within a state are readily 

reversible.

plant association—A unit of vegetation classification 

based on the projected late-seral community. Plant 

associations have a characteristic range in species 

composition, specific diagnostic species, and a defined 

range in habitat conditions, physiognomy, and structure.

plant community—An assemblage of plants living 

together and interacting among themselves in a common 

spatial arrangement.

plant community type—An aggregation of all plant 

communities with similar structure and floristic 

composition placed in a classification unit.

rhyolite—A fine-grained igneous rock rich in silica.
94

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

savanna—A type of vegetation in which widely spaced 

trees are scattered over a landscape otherwise covered by 

low-growing plants.

sedimentary rock—A rock formed by deposition of 

particles in the air or water or by precipitation from 

solution in surface bodies of water.

seral—A stage of temporary communities in a 

successional sequence.

series—An aggregation of taxonomically related plant 

communities that takes the name of the climax species that 

dominates the uppermost layer.

shale—A sedimentary rock composed of small (silt- and 

clay-sized) particles.

shrubland—vegetation where total canopy cover of shrubs 

is 10 percent or more and tree cover is less than 10 percent.

state—A recognizable, resilient complex of soil and 

vegetation. One or more vegetation communities (phases), 

connected by reversible transitions, may occur within a 

state. Transitions between states involve crossing ecologic 

thresholds and are typically difficult to reverse.

succession—The change in species composition resulting 

from the replacement of one community with another, 

driven by internal processes in the ecosystem such as plant 

competition and soil development.

transition—Change in ecosystems between states or 

phases, driven by natural events such as succession or by 

management actions such as grazing or seeding.

tuff—An igneous rock composed of volcanic ash and other 

volcanic material deposited by airfall.

ultramafic—Refers to rock that is very high in magnesium 

and iron; examples are serpentinite and peridotite.

ungulate—Cloven-hoofed animal.

zone—A geographic area of uniform macroclimate where 

the plant associations share the same dominant species.

Acknowledgments

Fred Hall (retired U.S. Forest Service Region 6 senior 

plant ecologist) laid the foundation for this study through 

his fundamental vegetation classification work in the Blue 

Mountain area beginning in the 1950s. Our data set was 

greatly enhanced by incorporation of 186 of his plots, which 

account for nearly 40 percent of the total. The authors gratefully acknowledge technical review comments by Stephen 

C. Bunting (Professor of Rangeland Ecology, University of 

Idaho), Paul S. Doescher (Professor of Forest Resources, 

Oregon State University), Tom DeMeo (Regional Ecologist, 

U.S. Forest Service Region 6), Richard F. Miller (Professor of 

Rangeland Resources, Oregon State University), and editorial review by Lynn Starr (U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station). Thanks also to Kathy Hottle (U.S. 

Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest) for word 

processing and Keith Routman (U.S. Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station) for the final layout.

Metric and English Equivalents

When you know: Multiply by: To find:

Inches (in) 2.54 Centimeters (cm)

Inches (in) .254 Decimeters (dm)

Feet (ft) .3048 Meters (m)

Miles (mi) 1.609 Kilometers (km)

Square feet (ft2

) .093 Square meters (m2)

Acres (ac) .405 Hectares (ha)

Pounds (lb) .454 Kilograms (kg)

Pounds per acre (lb/ac) 1.12 Kilograms per 

 hectare (kg/ha)

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98

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

Trees:

 Abies lasiocarpa ABLA ABLA2 Subalpine fir

 Juniperus occidentalis JUOC JUOC Western juniper

 Pinus albicaulis PIAL PIAL Whitebark pine

 Pinus contorta PICO PICO Lodgepole pine

 Pinus ponderosa PIPO PIPO Ponderosa pine

 Pseudotsuga menziesii PSME PSME Douglas-fir

Shrubs:

 Amelanchier alnifolia AMAL2 AMAL Western serviceberry

 Artemisia arbuscula ARAR8 ARAR Low sagebrush

 Artemisia rigida ARRI2 ARRI Stiff sagebrush

 Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana ARTRV ARTRV Mountain big sagebrush

 Artemisia tripartita ARTR4 ARTR2 Threetip sagebrush

 Berberis repens BERE BERE Creeping Oregon grape

 Ceanothus velutinus CEVE CEVE Snowbrush ceanothus

 Cercocarpus ledifolius CELE3 CELE Curlleaf mountain mahogany

 Chrysothamnus nauseosus CHNA2 CHNA Gray rabbitbrush

 Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. nanus CHNAN2 CHNAN Gray rabbitbrush

 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus CHVI8 CHVI Green rabbitbush

 Holodiscus discolor HODI HODI Creambush ocean-spray

 Leptodactylon pungens LEPU LEPU2 Leptodactylon

 Peraphyllum ramosissimum PERA4 PERA3 Squaw apple

 Philadelphus lewisii PHLE4 PHLE2 Lewis’ mock-orange

 Physocarpus malvaceus PHMA5 PHMA Mallow ninebark

 Prunus PRUNU PRUNU Cherry

 Prunus virginiana PRVI PRVI Common chokecherry

 Purshia tridentata PUTR2 PUTR Bitterbrush

 Rhamnus purshiana RHPU RHPU Cascara

 Ribes RIBES RIBES Currant or gooseberry

 Ribes aureum RIAU RIAU Golden currant

 Ribes cereum RICE RICE Wax currant

 Ribes montigenum RIMO2 RIMO Mountain gooseberry

 Ribes viscosissimum RIVI3 RIVI Sticky currant

 Rosa ROSA5 ROSA Rose

 Rosa gymnocarpa ROGY ROGY Baldhip rose

 Rosa nutkana RONU RONU Nootka rose

 Sambucus cerulea SACE3 SACE Blue elderberry

 Spiraea betulifolia SPBE2 SPBE Birchleaf spiraea

 Symphoricarpos albus SYAL SYAL Common snowberry

 Symphoricarpos oreophilus SYOR2 SYOR Mountain snowberry

 Tetradymia canescens TECA2 TECA Gray horsebrush

 Tetradymia glabrata TEGL TEGL Littleleaf horsebrush

Grasses:

 Agropyron cristatum AGCR AGCR Crested wheatgrass

 Agropyron intermedium AGIN2 AGIN2 Intermediate wheatgrass

 Agropyron spicatum AGSP AGSP Bluebunch wheatgrass

 Agropyron trichophorum AGTR6 AGTR2 Pubescent wheatgrass

 Agrostis AGROS2 AGROS Bentgrass

 Agrostis exarata AGEX AGEX Spike bentgrass

 Agrostis interrupta AGIN4 AGIN3 Interrupted bentgrass

 Alopecurus pratensis ALPR3 ALPR Meadow foxtail

 Bromus BROMU BROMU Brome

Appendix A: Plants Listed by Life Form and Scientific Name
99

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Bromus brizaeformis BRBR7 BRBR Rattlesnake brome

 Bromus carinatus BRCA5 BRCA Mountain brome

 Bromus commutatus BRCO4 BRCO Hairy brome

 Bromus inermis BRIN2 BRIN Smooth brome

 Bromus japonicus BRJA BRJA Japanese brome

 Bromus mollis BRMO2 BRMO Soft brome

 Bromus secalinus BRSE BRSE Ryebrome

 Bromus tectorum BRTE BRTE Cheatgrass

 Calamagrostis CALAM CALAM Reedgrass or pinegrass

 Calamagrostis rubescens CARU CARU Pinegrass

 Dactylis glomerata DAGL DAGL Orchardgrass

 Danthonia DANTH DANTH Oatgrass

 Danthonia californica DACA3 DACA California oatgrass

 Danthonia unispicata DAUN DAUN Onespike oatgrass

 Deschampsia danthonioides DEDA DEDA Annual hairgrass

 Elymus caput-medusae ELCA13 ELCA2 Medusahead

 Elymus cinereus ELCI2 ELCI Basin wildrye

 Elymus glaucus ELGL ELGL Blue wildrye

 Festuca bromoides FEBR4 FEBR Brome fescue

 Festuca idahoensis FEID FEID Idaho fescue

 Festuca megalura FEME FEME Foxtail fescue

 Festuca microstachys FEMI2 FEMI Small fescue

 Festuca myuros FEMY2 FEMY Rat-tail fescue

 Festuca ovina FEOV FEOV Sheep fescue

 Festuca ovina var. rydbergii FEOVR FEOVR Sheep fescue

 Festuca viridula FEVI FEVI Green fescue

 Hordeum jubatum HOJU HOJU Foxtail barley

 Koeleria cristata KOCR KOCR Prairie junegrass

 Melica MELIC MELIC Oniongrass

 Melica bulbosa MEBU MEBU Oniongrass

 Melica fugax MEFU MEFU Little oniongrass

 Melica spectabilis MESP MESP Showy oniongrass

 Muhlenbergia mexicana MUME2 MUME Wirestem muhly

 Oryzopsis webberi ORWE ORWE Webber’s ricegrass

 Phleum pratense PHPR3 PHPR Common timothy

 Poa POA POA Bluegrass

 Poa bulbosa POBU POBU Bulbous bluegrass

 Poa cusickii POCU3 POCU Cusick’s bluegrass

 Poa cusickii var. cusickii POCUC4 POCUC Cusick’s bluegrass

 Poa nervosa PONE2 PONE Wheeler’s bluegrass

 Poa nervosa var. wheeleri PONEW PONEW Wheeler’s bluegrass

 Poa pratensis POPR POPR Kentucky bluegrass

 Poa sandbergii POSA12 POSA3 Sandberg’s bluegrass

 Poa scabrella POSC POSC Pine bluegrass

 Poa secunda POSE POSE Sandberg’s bluegrass

 Poa secunda var. juncifolia POSEJ POSEJ Alkali bluebrass

 Poa vaseyochloa POVA POVA Leiberg’s bluegrass

 Sitanion hystrix SIHY SIHY Bottlebrush squirreltail

 Sitanion hystrix var. hordeoides SIHYH SIHYH Bottlebrush squirreltail

 Sitanion jubatum SIJU SIJU Big squirreltail

 Stipa STIPA STIPA Needlegrass

 Stipa lemmonii STLE2 STLE2 Lemmon’s needlegrass

 Stipa lettermanii STLE4 STLE Letterman’s needlegrass

 Stipa occidentalis STOC2 STOC Western needlegrass

 Stipa occidentalis var. occidentalis STOC2 STOCO Western needlegrass
100

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Stipa thurberiana STTH2 STTH Thurber’s needlegrass

 Ventenata dubia VEDU VEDU Ventenata

Sedges and rushes:

 Carex CAREX CAREX Sedge

 Carex eurycarpa CAEU2 CAEU Widefruit sedge

 Carex filifolia CAFI CAFI Threadleaf sedge

 Carex geyeri CAGE2 CAGE Elk sedge

 Carex hoodii CAHO5 CAHO Hood’s sedge

 Carex multicostata CAMU6 CAMU Many-ribbed sedge

 Carex phaeocephala CAPH2 CAPH Dunhead sedge

 Carex praegracilis CAPR5 CAPR5 Clustered field sedge

 Carex pyrenaica CAPY3 CAPY Pyrenaean sedge

 Carex raynoldsii CARA6 CARA Raynolds’ sedge

 Carex rossii CARO5 CARO Ross’ sedge

 Juncus JUNCU JUNCU Rush

 Juncus balticus JUBA JUBA Baltic rush

 Juncus confusus JUCO2 JUCO Colorado rush

 Juncus drummondii JUDR JUDR Drummond’s rush

 Juncus parryi JUPA JUPA Parry’s rush

 Juncus tenuis JUTE JUTE Slender rush

 Juncus tenuis var. tenuis JUTE JUTET Slender rush

Forbs:

Achillea millefolium var. lanulosa ACMIL ACMIL Common yarrow

 Agastache urticifolia AGUR AGUR Nettleleaf horsemint

 Agoseris AGOSE AGOSE Agoseris

 Agoseris glauca AGGL AGGL Pale agoseris

 Agoseris glauca var. laciniata AGGLL AGGLL Pale agoseris

 Agoseris grandiflora AGGR AGGR Large-flowered agoseris

 Agoseris heterophylla AGHE2 AGHE Annual agoseris

 Allium ALLIU ALLIU Wild onion

 Allium acuminatum ALAC4 ALAC Tapertip onion

 Allium brandegei ALBR ALBR Brandegee’s onion

 Allium fibrillum ALFI ALFI Fringed onion

 Allium tolmiei ALTO ALTO Tolm’s onion

 Alyssum alyssoides ALAL3 ALAL Pale alyssum

 Amsinckia AMSIN AMSIN Fiddleneck

 Amsinckia retrorsa AMRE2 AMRE2 Rigid fiddleneck

 Amsinckia tessellata AMTE3 AMTE Bristly fiddleneck

 Angelica arguta ANAR3 ANAR2 Sharptooth angelica

 Antennaria ANTEN ANTEN Pussytoes

 Antennaria alpina ANAL4 ANAL Alpine pussytoes

 Antennaria anaphaloides ANAN2 ANAN Tall pussytoes

 Antennaria dimorpha ANDI2 ANDI Low pussytoes

 Antennaria luzuloides ANLU2 ANLU Woodrush pussytoes

 Antennaria microphylla ANMI3 ANMI2 Rosy pussytoes

 Antennaria rosea ANRO2 ANRO Rosy pussytoes

 Antennaria stenophylla ANST2 ANST Narrowleaf pussytoes

 Antennaria umbrinella ANUM ANUM Brown pussytoes

 Anthriscus scandicina ANSC8 ANSC2 Chervil

 Apocynum androsaemifolium APAN2 APAN Spreading dogbane

 Apocynum androsaemifolium var. pumilum APANP APANP Spreading dogbane

Arabis ARABI2 ARABI Rockcress

 Arabis aculeolata ARAC4 ARAC Wall rockcress

 Arabis hirsuta ARHI ARHI Hairy rockcress
101

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Arabis holboellii ARHO2 ARHO Holboell’s rockcress

 Arabis holboellii var. retrofracta ARHOR ARHOR Holboell’s rockcress

 Arabis perelegans ARPE11 ARPE Hairystem rockcress

 Arabis sparsiflora ARSP ARSP2 Elegant rockcress

 Arenaria ARENA ARENA Sandwort

 Arenaria aculeata ARAC2 ARAC2 Prickly sandwort

 Arenaria capillaris ARCA7 ARCA2 Threadleaf sandwort

 Arenaria congesta ARCO5 ARCO2 Ballhead sandwort

 Arenaria macrophylla ARMA18 ARMA3 Bigleaf sandwort

 Arenaria nuttallii var. fragilis ARNUF ARNUF Nuttall’s sandwort

 Arenaria serpyllifolia ARSE2 ARSE Thymeleaf sandwort

 Arnica cordifolia ARCO9 ARCO Heartleaf arnica

 Arnica fulgens ARFU3 ARFU Orange arnica

 Arnica sororia ARSO2 ARSO Twin arnica

 Artemisia ludoviciana ARLU ARLU Western mugwort

 Asclepias fascicularis ASFA ASFA2 Mexican milkweed

 Aspidotis densa ASDE6 ASDE Podfern

 Aster ASTER ASTER Aster

 Aster alpigenus var. haydenii ASALH2 ASALH Alpine aster

 Aster conspicuus ASCO3 ASCO Showy aster

 Aster integrifolius ASIN3 ASIN Thickstem aster

 Astragalus ASTRA ASTRA Locoweed or milkvetch

 Astragalus conjunctus ASCO11 ASCO3 Stiff milkvetch

 Astragalus filipes ASFI ASFI Basalt milkvetch

 Astragalus purshii ASPU9 ASPU Woollypod milkvetch

 Astragalus purshii var. lagopinus ASPUL ASPUL Woollypod milkvetch

 Astragalus reventus ASRE5 ASRE Blue Mountain milkvetch

 Astragalus reventus var. reventus ASRE5 ASRER Longleaf milkvetch

 Astragalus reventus var. sheldonii ASRES ASRES Sheldon’s milkvetch

 Astragalus whitneyi ASWH ASWH Balloon milkvetch

 Astragalus whitneyi var. sonneanus ASWHS2 ASWHS Balloon milkvetch

 Balsamorhiza BALSA BALSA Balsamroot

 Balsamorhiza hirsuta BAHI BAHI Hairy balsamroot

 Balsamorhiza incana BAIN BAIN Hoary balsamroot

 Balsamorhiza sagittata BASA3 BASA Arrowleaf balsamroot

 Balsamorhiza serrata BASE2 BASE Serrate balsamroot

 Besseya rubra BERU BERU Red besseya

 Blepharipappus scaber BLSC BLSC Blepharipappus

 Brassica hirta BRHI2 BRHI White mustard

 Brodiaea BRODI BRODI Brodiaea

 Brodiaea douglasii BRDO BRDO Douglas’ brodiea

 Calochortus CALOC CALOC Sego lily

 Calochortus eurycarpus CAEU CAEU2 Wide fruit mariposa

 Calochortus macrocarpus CAMA5 CAMA Sagebrush mariposa

 Camassia CAMAS CAMAS Camas

 Camassia cusickii CACU2 CACU Cusick’s camas

 Camassia quamash CAQU2 CAQU Common camas

 Cardamine pulcherrima CAPU4 CAPU2 Slender toothwort

 Castilleja CASTI2 CASTI Paintbrush

 Castilleja applegatei CAAP4 CAAP2 Wavy-leaved paintbrush

 Castilleja cusickii CACU7 CACU3 Cusick’s paintbrush

 Castilleja hispida CAHI9 CAHI2 Harsh paintbrush

 Castilleja hispida var. acuta CAHIA2 CAHIA Harsh paintbrush

Castilleja linariaefolia CALI4 CALI2 Wyoming Indian paintbrush

 Castilleja miniata CAMI12 CAMI2 Scarlet paintbrush
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Castilleja oresbia CAOR4 CAOR3 Pale Wallowa paintbrush

 Castilleja pilosa CAPI3 CAPI2 Hairy penstemon

 Castilleja pruinosa CAPR14 CAPR4 Frosted Indian paintbrush

 Centaurea solstitialis CESO3 CESO Yellow star-thistle

 Cerastium arvense CEAR4 CEAR Field chickweed

 Chaenactis douglasii CHDO CHDO Hoary chaenactis

 Chaenactis douglasii var. achilleaefolia CHDOA CHDOA Hoary chaenactis

 Cirsium CIRSI CIRSI Thistle

 Cirsium brevifolium CIBR CIBR Palouse thistle

 Cirsium canovirens CICA6 CICA2 Gray-green thistle

 Cirsium utahense CIUT CIUT Utah thistle

 Cirsium vulgare CIVU CIVU Bull thistle

 Clarkia pulchella CLPU CLPU Deerhorn

 Clematis hirsutissima CLHI CLHI Sugar bowls

 Collinsia parviflora COPA3 COPA Small flowered blue-eyed Mary

 Collomia grandiflora COGR4 COGR2 Large-flowered collomia

 Collomia linearis COLI2 COLI2 Narrow-leaved collomia

 Collomia tenella COTE COTE Diffuse collomia

 Cordylanthus ramosus CORA5 CORA Bushy birdbeak

 Crepis CREPI CREPI Hawksbeard

 Crepis acuminata CRAC2 CRAC Tapertip hawksbeard

 Crepis atrabarba CRAT CRAT Slender hawksbeard

 Crepis atrabarba var. originalis CRATO CRATO Slender hawksbeard

 Crepis bakeri CRBA2 CRBA Baker’s hawksbeard

 Crepis intermedia CRIN4 CRIN Gray hawksbeard

 Crepis modocensis CRMO4 CRMO3 Siskiyou hawksbeard

 Crepis occidentalis CROC CROC Western hawksbeard

 Crepis occidentalis var. costata CROCC2 CROCC Western hawksbeard

 Cryptantha CRYPT CRYPT2 Cryptantha

 Cryptantha affinis CRAF CRAF Slender cryptantha

 Cryptantha ambigua CRAM3 CRAM Obscure cryptantha

 Cryptantha celosioides CRCE CRCE Cockscomb cryptantha

 Cryptantha intermedia CRIN8 CRIN2 Common cryptantha

 Cryptantha torreyana CRTO4 CRTO Torrey’s cryptantha

 Cryptogramma crispa CRCRA2 CRCR Rockbrake

 Cymopterus nivalis CYNI3 CYNI Snowline cymopterus

 Cymopterus terebinthinus CYTE9 CYTE Turpentine cymopterus

 Cymopterus terebinthinus var. foeniculaceus CYTEF CYTEF Turpentine cymopterus

 Cynoglossum officinale CYOF CYOF Common houndstongue

 Cystopteris fragilis CYFR2 CYFR Brittle bladderfern

 Delphinium DELPH DELPH Larkspur

 Delphinium depauperatum DEDE2 DEDE Slim larkspur

 Delphinium menziesii DEME DEME Menzies larkspur

 Delphinium nuttallianum DENU2 DENU3 Upland larkspur

 Descurainia DESCU DESCU Tansymustard

 Dodecatheon DODEC DODEC Shootingstar

 Dodecatheon conjugens DOCO DOCO Slimpod shootingstar

 Dodecatheon cusickii DOCU2 DOCU Cusick’s shootingstar

 Draba densifolia DRDE DRDE Nuttall’s draba

 Epilobium EPILO EPILO Willowherb

 Epilobium angustifolium EPAN2 EPAN Fireweed

 Epilobium glandulosum EPGL4 EPGL2 Common willowherb

 Epilobium minutum EPMI EPMI Small-flowered willowherb

 Epilobium paniculatum EPPA2 EPPA Tall annual willowherb

 Erigeron ERIGE2 ERIGE Fleabane
103

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Erigeron acris ERAC13 ERAC Bitter fleabane

 Erigeron aphanactis ERAP ERAP Rayless fleabane

 Erigeron bloomeri ERBL ERBL Scabland fleabane

 Erigeron chrysopsidis ERCH4 ERCH Dwarf yellow fleabane

 Erigeron chrysopsidis var. brevifolius ERCHB ERCHB Alpine dwarf yellow fleabane

 Erigeron compositus ERCO4 ERCO Cutleaf daisy

 Erigeron corymbosus ERCO5 ERCO3 Foothill daisy

 Erigeron divergens ERDI4 ERDI Spreading fleabane

 Erigeron eatonii EREA EREA Eaton’s daisy

 Erigeron filifolius ERFI2 ERFI Threadleaf fleabane

 Erigeron linearis ERLI ERLI Desert yellow daisy

 Erigeron poliospermus ERPO2 ERPO Cushion fleabane

 Erigeron pumilus ERPU2 ERPU Shaggy fleabane

 Erigeron pumilus var. intermedius ERPUI ERPUI Shaggy fleabane

 Erigeron pumilus ssp. intermedius var. gracilior ERPUG ERPUG Shaggy fleabane

 Erigeron speciosus ERSP4 ERSP Showy fleabane

 Eriogonum ERIOG ERIOG Eriogonum

 Eriogonum caespitosum ERCA8 ERCA Cushion buckwheat

 Eriogonum compositum ERCO12 ERCO5 Heart-leaved buckwheat

 Eriogonum douglasii ERDO ERDO Douglas’ buckwheat

 Eriogonum flavum ERFL4 ERFL Golden buckwheat

 Eriogonum flavum var. piperi ERFLP ERFLP Golden buckwheat

 Eriogonum heracleoides ERHE2 ERHE Creamy buckwheat

 Eriogonum heracleoides var. angustifolium ERHEA2 ERHEA Creamy buckwheat

 Eriogonum microthecum var. laxiflorum ERMIL5 ERMIL Slender buckwheat

 Eriogonum ovalifolium EROV EROV Oval-leaved eriogonum

 Eriogonum sphaerocephalum ERSP7 ERSP3 Rock buckwheat

 Eriogonum strictum ERST4 ERST2 Strict buckwheat

 Eriogonum strictum var. proliferum ERSTP ERSTP Strict buckwheat

 Eriogonum strictum ssp. proliferum var. anserinum ERSTA3 ERSTA3 Strict buckwheat

 Eriogonum umbellatum ERUM ERUM Sulfur-flower buckwheat

 Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum ERUMP3 ERUMP Sulfur-flower buckwheat

 Eriogonum umbellatum var. stellatum ERUMS5 ERUMS Sulfur-flower buckwheat

 Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum ERUMU2 ERUMU Sulfur-flower buckwheat

 Eriogonum vimineum ERVI5 ERVI Broom buckwheat

 Eriophyllum lanatum ERLA6 ERLA Woolly eriophyllum

 Erodium cicutarium ERCI6 ERCI Crane’s-bill

 Erysimum asperum ERAS2 ERAS Rough wallflower

 Erythronium grandiflorum ERGR9 ERGR Dogtooth violet

 Fragaria virginiana FRVI FRVI Virginia strawberry

 Fragaria virginiana var. platypetala FRVIP2 FRVIP Virginia strawberry

 Frasera albicaulis FRAL2 FRAL2 Whitestem frasera

 Frasera albicaulis var. cusickii FRALC2 FRALC Cusick’s frasera

 Frasera albicaulis var. nitida FRALN2 FRALN Shiny frasera

 Gaillardia aristata GAAR GAAR Blanket flower

 Galium aparine GAAP2 GAAP Cleavers

 Galium multiflorum GAMU2 GAMU Shrubby bedstraw

 Gayophytum GAYOP GAYOP Groundsmoke

 Gayophytum diffusum GADI2 GADI Spreading groundsmoke

 Gayophytum ramosissimum GARA2 GARA Hairstem groundsmoke

 Geranium viscosissimum GEVI2 GEVI Sticky geranium

 Geum triflorum GETR GETR Red avens

 Geum triflorum var. ciliatum GETRC2 GETRC2 Red avens

 Gilia aggregata GIAG GIAG Scarlet gilia

 Gilia congesta GICO2 GICO Ballhead gilia
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Gnaphalium microcephalum GNMI GNMI Slender cudweed

 Grindelia nana GRNA GRNA Low gumweed

 Grindelia squarrosa GRSQ GRSQ Curlycup gumweed

 Hackelia floribunda HAFL2 HAFL Manyflower stickseed

 Hackelia jessicae HAJE HAJE Blue stickseed

 Haplopappus acaulis HAAC HAAC Stemless goldenweed

 Haplopappus carthamoides HACA5 HACA Largeflower goldenweed

 Haplopappus greenei HAGR6 HAGR Green’s goldenweed

 Haplopappus lanuginosus HALA3 HALA Woolly goldenweed

 Haplopappus stenophyllus HAST HAST2 Narrowleaf goldenweed

 Helianthella uniflora HEUN HEUN Little sunflower

 Hesperochiron pumilis HEPU6 HEPU Dwarf hesperochiron

 Heuchera cylindrica HECY2 HECY Roundleaf alumroot

 Heuchera cylindrica alpina HECYA HECYA Alpine roundleaved alumroot

 Heuchera grossulariifolia HEGR8 HEGR Gooseberryleaf alumroot

 Heuchera grossulariifolia var. grossulariifolia HEGRG HEGRG Gooseberryleaf alumroot

 Hieracium HIERA HIERA Hawkweed

 Hieracium albertinum HIAL HIAL2 Western hawkweed

 Hieracium albiflorum HIAL2 HIAL White hawkweed

 Hieracium scouleri HISC2 HISC Woolly-weed

 Hydrophyllum capitatum HYCA4 HYCA Waterleaf

 Hymenoxys grandiflora HYGR5 HYGR Old man of the mountains

 Hypericum perforatum HYPE HYPE Common St. John’s wort

 Iris missouriensis IRMI IRMI Rocky Mountain iris

 Lactuca serriola LASE LASE Prickly lettuce

 Lagophylla ramosissima LARA LARA Hareleaf

 Lathyrus LATHY LATHY Peavine

 Lathyrus lanszwertii LALA3 LALA2 Thick-leaved peavine

 Lathyrus nevadensis LANE3 LANE Sierran peavine

 Lathyrus nevadensis ssp. cusickii LANEC LANEC Cusick’s peavine

 Lathyrus pauciflorus LAPA5 LAPA2 Fewflower peavine

 Lathyrus rigidus LARI LARI Rigid peavine

 Leucocrinum montanum LEMO4 LEMO Sand lily

 Lewisia rediviva LERE7 LERE Bitterroot

 Ligusticum LIGUS LIGUS Lovage

 Ligusticum canbyi LICA2 LICA2 Canby’s lovage

 Ligusticum filicinum LIFI LIFI Fernleaf lovage

 Linanthastrum nuttallii LINU4 LINU Nuttall’s linanthastrum

 Linanthus harknessii LIHA LIHA Harkness’ linanthus

 Linanthus septentrionalis LISE LISE Northern linanthus

 Linum perenne var. lewisii LIPEL3 LIPEL Wild blue flax

 Lithophragma bulbifera LIBU2 LIBU Bulbiferous fringecup

 Lithophragma parviflora LIPAP3 LIPA Smallflower fringecup

 Lithospermum ruderale LIRU4 LIRU Wayside gromwell

 Lomatium LOMAT LOMAT Biscuitroot

 Lomatium ambiguum LOAM LOAM Swale desert-parsley

 Lomatium cous LOCO4 LOCO2 Cous biscuitroot

 Lomatium dissectum LODI LODI2 Fern-leaved lomatium

 Lomatium dissectum var. eatonii LODIE LODIE Fern-leaved lomatium

 Lomatium dissectum var. multifidum LODIM LODIM Fern-leaved lomatium

 Lomatium donnellii LODO2 LODO Donnell’s lomatium

 Lomatium gormanii LOGO LOGO Gorman’s biscuitroot

 Lomatium grayi LOGR LOGR Gray’s lomatium

 Lomatium hendersonii LOHE2 LOHE Henderson’s lomatium

 Lomatium leptocarpum LOLE2 LOLE Slenderfruit lomatium
105

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Lomatium macrocarpum LOMA3 LOMA Large-fruited lomatium

 Lomatium nudicaule LONU2 LONU Barestem lomatium

 Lomatium triternatum LOTR2 LOTR Nineleaf lomatium

 Lomatium triternatum var. platycarpum LOTRP LOTRP Nineleaf lomatium

 Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum LOTRT LOTRT Nineleaf lomatium

 Lomatium vaginatum LOVA LOVA Broadsheath lomatium

 Lupinus LUPIN LUPIN Lupine

 Lupinus caudatus LUCA LUCA Tailcup lupine

 Lupinus holosericeus LUHO2 LUHO Little-flowered lupine

 Lupinus laxiflorus LULA3 LULA2 Spurred lupine

 Lupinus laxiflorus var. laxiflorus LULAA LULAL3 Spurred lupine

 Lupinus laxiflorus var. pseudoparviflorus LULAP5 LULAP Spurred lupine

 Lupinus lepidus LULE2 LULE2 Prairie lupine

 Lupinus lepidus var. utahensis LULEU2 LULEU Prairie lupine

 Lupinus leucophyllus LULE3 LULE Velvet lupine

 Lupinus leucophyllus var. leucophyllus LULEL4 LULEL Velvet lupine

 Lupinus leucophyllus var. tenuispicus LULET LULET Velvet lupine

 Lupinus saxosus LUSA2 LUSA Rock lupine

 Lupinus sericeus LUSE4 LUSE Silky lupine

 Lupinus sericeus var. sericeus LUSES2 LUSES Silky lupine

 Lupinus sulphureus LUSU5 LUSU Sulphur lupine

 Lupinus wyethii LUWY LUWY Wyeth’s lupine

 Madia MADIA MADIA Tarweed

 Madia citriodora MACI2 MACI Lemon-scented tarweed

 Madia glomerata MAGL2 MAGL Cluster tarweed

 Madia gracilis MAGR3 MAGR Slender tarweed

 Madia minima MAMI MAMI Small-head tarweed

 Medicago sativa MESA MESA Alfalfa

 Mentzelia albicaulis MEAL6 MEAL2 Whitestem mentzelia

 Mentzelia dispersa MEDI MEDI Bush mentzelia

 Microseris MICRO6 MICRO3 Microseris

 Microseris linearifolia MILI MILI Lindley’s microseris

 Microseris nutans MINU MINU Nodding microseris

 Microseris troximoides MITR5 MITR False agoseris

 Microsteris gracilis MIGR MIGR Pink microsteris

 Mimulus guttatus MIGU MIGU Yellow monkeyflower

 Mimulus nanus MINA MINA Dwarf purple monkeyflower

 Mitella stauropetala MIST3 MIST2 Side-flowered mitrewort

 Monardella odoratissima MOOD MOOD Mountain monardella

 Montia linearis MOLI4 MOLI Narrowleaf miner’s lettuce

 Montia perfoliata MOPE3 MOPE Miner’s lettuce

 Myosotis micrantha MYMI MYMI Blue scorpion grass

 Navarretia intertexta NAIN2 NAIN Needleleaf navarretia

 Navarretia intertexta var. propinqua NAINP3 NAINP Pin cushion plant

 Nemophila breviflora NEBR NEBR Great Basin nemophila

 Nemophila parviflora NEPA NEPA Smallflower nemophila

 Oenothera heterantha OEHE OEHE Longleaf evening-primrose

 Orobanche uniflora ORUN ORUN Naked broomrape

 Orobanche uniflora purpurea ORUNP ORUNP Naked broomrape

 Orthocarpus hispidus ORHI ORHI Hairy owl-clover

 Orthocarpus tenuifolius ORTE2 ORTE Thinleaf owl-clover

 Osmorhiza OSMOR OSMOR Sweet-cicely

 Osmorhiza chilensis OSCH OSCH Mountain sweet-cicely

 Osmorhiza occidentalis OSOC OSOC Western sweetroot

 Paeonia brownii PABR PABR Brown’s peony
106

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Pedicularis contorta PECO PECO2 Coiled lousewort

 Penstemon PENST PENST Penstemon

 Penstemon attenuatus PEAT3 PEAT Sulfur penstemon

 Penstemon attenuatus var. militaris PEATM PEATM Sulfur penstemon

 Penstemon attenuatus var. pseudoprocerus PEATP2 PEATP Sulfur penstemon

 Penstemon davidsonii var. menziesii PEDAM PEDAM Davidson’s penstemon

 Penstemon deustus PEDE4 PEDE Hot rock penstemon

 Penstemon deustus var. variabilis PEDEV PEDEV Hot rock penstemon

 Penstemon gairdneri PEGA PEGA Gairdner’s penstemon

 Penstemon gairdneri var. oreganus PEGAO2 PEGAO Gairdner’s penstemon

 Penstemon humilis PEHU PEHU Low penstemon

 Penstemon pennellianus PEPE11 PEPE3 Blue Mountain penstemon

 Penstemon rydbergii PERY PERY Rydberg’s penstemon

 Penstemon speciosus PESP PESP Showy penstemon

 Penstemon venustus PEVE2 PEVE Blue Mountain penstemon

 Perideridia PERID PERID Yampah

 Perideridia bolanderi PEBO2 PEBO Bolander’s yampah

 Perideridia gairdneri PEGA3 PEGA2 Gairdner’s yampah

 Phacelia PHACE PHACE Phacelia

 Phacelia hastata PHHA PHHA Silverleaf phacelia

 Phacelia hastata var. alpina PHHAA PHHAA Silverleaf phacelia

 Phacelia hastata var. leucophylla PHHAL PHHAL Silverleaf phacelia

 Phacelia heterophylla PHHE2 PHHE Varileaf phacelia

 Phacelia linearis PHLI PHLI Threadleaf phacelia

 Phacelia sericea PHSE PHSE Silky phacelia

Phlox PHLOX PHLOX Phlox

 Phlox austromontana PHAU3 PHAU Mountain phlox

 Phlox caespitosa PHCA7 PHCA2 Tufted phlox

 Phlox diffusa PHDI3 PHDI Spreading phlox

 Phlox hoodii PHHO PHHO Hood’s phlox

 Phlox longifolia PHLO2 PHLO Longleaf phlox

 Phlox multiflora PHMU3 PHMU Many-flowered phlox

 Phlox pulvinata PHPU5 PHPU Cushion phlox

 Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides PHCH PHCH Daggerpod

 Physaria oregana PHOR2 PHOR Oregon twinpod

 Plectritis macrocera PLMA4 PLMA3 White plectritis

 Polygonum POLYG4 POLYG Knotweed

 Polygonum bistortoides POBI6 POBI American bistort

 Polygonum douglasii PODO4 PODO Douglas’ knotweed

 Polygonum majus POMA9 POMA2 Wiry knotweed

 Polygonum phytolaccaefolium POPH POPH Alpine fleeceflower

 Polygonum polygaloides POPO4 POPO White-margined knotweed

 Potentilla POTEN POTEN Cinquefoil

 Potentilla glandulosa POGL9 POGL Sticky cinquefoil

 Potentilla gracilis POGR9 POGR Slender cinquefoil

 Potentilla gracilis var. glabrata POGRG POGRG Slender cinquefoil

 Ranunculus populago RAPO RAPO Blue Mountain buttercup

 Rigiopappus leptocladus RILE2 RILE Rigiopappus

 Rumex acetosella RUAC3 RUAC Sheep sorrel

 Sanguisorba occidentalis SAOC2 SAOC Annual burnet

 Sanicula graveolens SAGR5 SAGR Sierra sanicle

 Saxifraga fragosa SAFR7 SAFR Swamp saxifrage

Saxifraga integrifolia SAIN4 SAIN Swamp saxifrage

 Saxifraga integrifolia var. columbiana SAINC2 SAINC Swamp saxifrage

 Saxifraga rhomboidea SARH2 SARH Diamondleaf saxifrage
107

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3 Common name

 Scutellaria angustifolia SCAN3 SCAN Narrowleaf skullcap

 Sedum SEDUM SEDUM Stonecrop

 Sedum douglasii SEDO3 SEDO Wormleaf stonecrop

 Sedum lanceolatum SELA SELA2 Lanceleaf stonecrop

 Sedum stenopetalum SEST2 SEST Wormleaf stonecrop

 Senecio SENEC SENEC Groundsel

 Senecio canus SECA2 SECA Woolly groundsel

 Senecio integerrimus SEIN2 SEIN Western groundsel

 Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus SEINE SEINE Western groundsel

 Senecio streptanthifolius SEST3 SEST2 Rocky Mountain butterweed

 Sidalcea oregana SIOR SIOR Oregon checker-mallow

 Silene SILEN SILEN Campion

 Silene douglasii SIDO SIDO2 Douglas’ campion

 Silene oregana SIOR3 SIOR2 Oregon catchfly

 Silene scaposa SISC SISC2 Scapose silene

 Sisyrinchium inflatum SIIN15 SIIN2 Grasswidow

 Smilacina racemosa SMRA SMRA Western false solomon’s seal

 Solidago canadensis SOCA6 SOCA Canada goldenrod

 Solidago missouriensis SOMI2 SOMI Missouri goldenrod

 Spraguea umbellata SPUM SPUM Pussypaws

 Taraxacum officinale TAOF TAOF Common dandelion

 Thalictrum occidentale THOC THOC Western meadowrue

 Thysanocarpus curvipes THCU THCU Lacepod

 Tragopogon TRAGO TRAGO Salsify

 Tragopogon dubius TRDU TRDU Yellow salsify

 Trifolium TRIFO TRIFO Clover

 Trifolium eriocephalum var. piperi TRERP2 TRERP Woollyhead clover

 Trifolium longipes TRLO TRLO Longstalk clover

 Trifolium macrocephalum TRMA3 TRMA Bighead clover

 Trifolium plumosum TRPL2 TRPL Pussy clover

Valerianella locusta VALO VALO Valerianella

 Veratrum californicum VECA2 VECA California false hellebore

 Veronica arvensis VEAR VEAR Common speedwell

 Vicia americana VIAM VIAM American vetch

 Vicia cracca VICR VICR Cracca’s vetch

 Viola VIOLA VIOLA Violet

 Viola purpurea VIPU4 VIPU Goosefoot violet

 Woodsia oregana WOOR WOOR Oregon cliff fern

 Wyethia amplexicaulis WYAM WYAM Northern mule’s ears

 Zigadenus ZIGAD ZIGAD Deathcamas

 Zigadenus paniculatus ZIPA2 ZIPA Panicled deathcamas

 Zigadenus venenosus ZIVE ZIVE Meadow deathcamus

 Zigadenus venenosus var. gramineus ZIVEG ZIVEG Meadow deathcamus

1 Hitchcock and Cronquist 1973.

2 USDA, NRCS 2004b.

3 Garrison and Skovlin 1976.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Appendix B: Plants Listed by Common Name

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Agoseris Agoseris AGOSE AGOSE

Alfalfa Medicago sativa MESA MESA

Alkali bluebrass Poa secunda var. juncifolia POSEJ POSEJ

Alpine aster Aster alpigenus var. haydenii ASALH2 ASALH

Alpine dwarf yellow fleabane Erigeron chrysopsidis var. brevifolius ERCHB ERCHB

Alpine fleeceflower Polygonum phytolaccaefolium POPH POPH

Alpine pussytoes Antennaria alpina ANAL4 ANAL

Alpine roundleaved alumroot Heuchera cylindrica var. alpina HECYA HECYA

American bistort Polygonum bistortoides POBI6 POBI

American vetch Vicia americana VIAM VIAM

Annual agoseris Agoseris heterophylla AGHE2 AGHE

Annual burnet Sanguisorba occidentalis SAOC2 SAOC

Annual hairgrass Deschampsia danthonioides DEDA DEDA

Arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata BASA3 BASA

Aster Aster ASTER ASTER

Baker’s hawksbeard Crepis bakeri CRBA2 CRBA

Baldhip rose Rosa gymnocarpa ROGY ROGY

Ballhead gilia Gilia congesta GICO2 GICO

Ballhead sandwort Arenaria congesta ARCO5 ARCO2

Balloon milkvetch Astragalus whitneyi ASWH ASWH

Balloon milkvetch Astragalus whitneyi var. sonneanus ASWHS2 ASWHS

Balsamroot Balsamorhiza BALSA BALSA

Baltic rush Juncus balticus JUBA JUBA

Barestem lomatium Lomatium nudicaule LONU2 LONU

Basalt milkvetch Astragalus filipes ASFI ASFI

Basin wildrye Elymus cinereus ELCI2 ELCI

Bentgrass Agrostis AGROS2 AGROS

Big squirreltail Sitanion jubatum SIJU SIJU

Bighead clover Trifolium macrocephalum TRMA3 TRMA

Bigleaf sandwort Arenaria macrophylla ARMA18 ARMA3

Birchleaf spiraea Spiraea betulifolia SPBE2 SPBE

Biscuitroot Lomatium LOMAT LOMAT

Bitter fleabane Erigeron acris ERAC13 ERAC

Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata PUTR2 PUTR

Bitterroot Lewisia rediviva LERE7 LERE

Blanket flower Gaillardia aristata GAAR GAAR

Blepharipappus Blepharipappus scaber BLSC BLSC

Blue elderberry Sambucus cerulea SACE3 SACE

Blue Mountain buttercup Ranunculus populago RAPO RAPO

Blue Mountain milkvetch Astragalus reventus ASRE5 ASRE

Blue Mountain penstemon Penstemon venustus PEVE2 PEVE

Blue Mountain penstemon Penstemon pennellianus PEPE11 PEPE3

Blue scorpion grass Myosotis micrantha MYMI MYMI

Blue stickseed Hackelia jessicae HAJE HAJE

Blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ELGL ELGL

Bluebunch wheatgrass Agropyron spicatum AGSP AGSP

Bluegrass Poa POA POA

Bolander’s yampah Perideridia bolanderi PEBO2 PEBO

Bottlebrush squirreltail Sitanion hystrix SIHY SIHY

Bottlebrush squirreltail Sitanion hystrix var. hordeoides SIHYH SIHYH

Brandegee’s onion Allium brandegei ALBR ALBR

Bristly fiddleneck Amsinckia tessellata AMTE3 AMTE

Brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis CYFR2 CYFR
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Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Broadsheath lomatium Lomatium vaginatum LOVA LOVA

Brodiaea Brodiaea BRODI BRODI

Brome Bromus BROMU BROMU

Brome fescue Festuca bromoides FEBR4 FEBR

Broom buckwheat Eriogonum vimineum ERVI5 ERVI

Brown pussytoes Antennaria umbrinella ANUM ANUM

Brown’s peony Paeonia brownii PABR PABR

Bulbiferous fringecup Lithophragma bulbifera LIBU2 LIBU

Bulbous bluegrass Poa bulbosa POBU POBU

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare CIVU CIVU

Bush mentzelia Mentzelia dispersa MEDI MEDI

Bushy birdbeak Cordylanthus ramosus CORA5 CORA

California false hellebore Veratrum californicum VECA2 VECA

California oatgrass Danthonia californica DACA3 DACA

Camas Camassia CAMAS CAMAS

Campion Silene SILEN SILEN

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis SOCA6 SOCA

Canby’s lovage Ligusticum canbyi LICA2 LICA2

Cascara Rhamnus purshiana RHPU RHPU

Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum BRTE BRTE

Cherry Prunus PRUNU PRUNU

Chervil Anthriscus scandicina ANSC8 ANSC2

Cinquefoil Potentilla POTEN POTEN

Cleavers Galium aparine GAAP2 GAAP

Clover Trifolium TRIFO TRIFO

Cluster tarweed Madia glomerata MAGL2 MAGL

Clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis CAPR5 CAPR5

Cockscomb cryptantha Cryptantha celosioides CRCE CRCE

Coiled lousewort Pedicularis contorta PECO PECO2

Colorado rush Juncus confusus JUCO2 JUCO

Common camas Camassia quamash CAQU2 CAQU

Common chokecherry Prunus virginiana PRVI PRVI

Common cryptantha Cryptantha intermedia CRIN8 CRIN2

Common dandelion Taraxacum officinale TAOF TAOF

Common houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale CYOF CYOF

Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus SYAL SYAL

Common speedwell Veronica arvensis VEAR VEAR

Common St. John’s wort Hypericum perforatum HYPE HYPE

Common timothy Phleum pratense PHPR3 PHPR

Common willowherb Epilobium glandulosum EPGL4 EPGL2

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium var. lanulosa ACMIL ACMIL

Cous biscuitroot Lomatium cous LOCO4 LOCO2

Cracca’s vetch Vicia cracca VICR VICR

Crane’s-bill Erodium cicutarium ERCI6 ERCI

Creambush ocean-spray Holodiscus discolor HODI HODI

Creamy buckwheat Eriogonum heracleoides ERHE2 ERHE

Creamy buckwheat Eriogonum heracleoides var. angustifolium ERHEA2 ERHEA

Creeping Oregon grape Berberis repens BERE BERE

Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum AGCR AGCR

Cryptantha Cryptantha CRYPT CRYPT2

Curlleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius CELE3 CELE

Curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa GRSQ GRSQ

Currant or gooseberry Ribes RIBES RIBES

Cushion buckwheat Eriogonum caespitosum ERCA8 ERCA

Cushion fleabane Erigeron poliospermus ERPO2 ERPO
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Cushion phlox Phlox pulvinata PHPU5 PHPU

Cusick’s bluegrass Poa cusickii POCU3 POCU

Cusick’s bluegrass Poa cusickii var. cusickii POCUC4 POCUC

Cusick’s camas Camassia cusickii CACU2 CACU

Cusick’s frasera Frasera albicaulis var. cusickii FRALC2 FRALC

Cusick’s paintbrush Castilleja cusickii CACU7 CACU3

Cusick’s peavine Lathyrus nevadensis spp. cusickii LANEC LANEC

Cusick’s shootingstar Dodecatheon cusickii DOCU2 DOCU

Cutleaf daisy Erigeron compositus ERCO4 ERCO

Daggerpod Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides PHCH PHCH

Davidson’s penstemon Penstemon davidsonii var. menziesii PEDAM PEDAM

Deathcamas Zigadenus ZIGAD ZIGAD

Deerhorn Clarkia pulchella CLPU CLPU

Desert yellow daisy Erigeron linearis ERLI ERLI

Diamondleaf saxifrage Saxifraga rhomboidea SARH2 SARH

Diffuse collomia Collomia tenella COTE COTE

Dogtooth violet Erythronium grandiflorum ERGR9 ERGR

Donnell’s lomatium Lomatium donnellii LODO2 LODO

Douglas’ brodiea Brodiaea douglasii BRDO BRDO

Douglas’ buckwheat Eriogonum douglasii ERDO ERDO

Douglas’ campion Silene douglasii SIDO SIDO2

Douglas’ knotweed Polygonum douglasii PODO4 PODO

Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii PSME PSME

Drummond’s rush Juncus drummondii JUDR JUDR

Dunhead sedge Carex phaeocephala CAPH2 CAPH

Dwarf hesperochiron Hesperochiron pumilis HEPU6 HEPU

Dwarf purple monkeyflower Mimulus nanus MINA MINA

Dwarf yellow fleabane Erigeron chrysopsidis ERCH4 ERCH

Eaton’s daisy Erigeron eatonii EREA EREA

Elegant rockcress Arabis sparsiflora ARSP ARSP2

Elk sedge Carex geyeri CAGE2 CAGE

Eriogonum Eriogonum ERIOG ERIOG

False agoseris Microseris troximoides MITR5 MITR

Fernleaf lovage Ligusticum filicinum LIFI LIFI

Fern-leaved lomatium Lomatium dissectum LODI LODI2

Fern-leaved lomatium Lomatium dissectum var. eatonii LODIE LODIE

Fern-leaved lomatium Lomatium dissectum var. multifidum LODIM LODIM

Fewflower peavine Lathyrus pauciflorus LAPA5 LAPA2

Fiddleneck Amsinckia AMSIN AMSIN

Field chickweed Cerastium arvense CEAR4 CEAR

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium EPAN2 EPAN

Fleabane Erigeron ERIGE2 ERIGE

Foothill daisy Erigeron corymbosus ERCO5 ERCO3

Foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum HOJU HOJU

Foxtail fescue Festuca megalura FEME FEME

Fringed onion Allium fibrillum ALFI ALFI

Frosted Indian paintbrush Castilleja pruinosa CAPR14 CAPR4

Gairdner’s penstemon Penstemon gairdneri PEGA PEGA

Gairdner’s penstemon Penstemon gairdneri var. oreganus PEGAO2 PEGAO

Gairdner’s yampah Perideridia gairdneri PEGA3 PEGA2

Golden buckwheat Eriogonum flavum ERFL4 ERFL

Golden buckwheat Eriogonum flavum var. piperi ERFLP ERFLP

Golden currant Ribes aureum RIAU RIAU

Gooseberryleaf alumroot Heuchera grossulariifolia HEGR8 HEGR

Gooseberryleaf alumroot Heuchera grossulariifolia var. grossulariifolia HEGRG HEGRG
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Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Goosefoot violet Viola purpurea VIPU4 VIPU

Gorman’s biscuitroot Lomatium gormanii LOGO LOGO

Grasswidow Sisyrinchium inflatum SIIN15 SIIN2

Gray hawksbeard Crepis intermedia CRIN4 CRIN

Gray horsebrush Tetradymia canescens TECA2 TECA

Gray rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus CHNA2 CHNA

Gray rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. nanus CHNAN2 CHNAN

Gray-green thistle Cirsium canovirens CICA6 CICA2

Gray’s lomatium Lomatium grayi LOGR LOGR

Great Basin nemophila Nemophila breviflora NEBR NEBR

Green fescue Festuca viridula FEVI FEVI

Green rabbitbush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus CHVI8 CHVI

Green’s goldenweed Haplopappus greenei HAGR6 HAGR

Groundsel Senecio SENEC SENEC

Groundsmoke Gayophytum GAYOP GAYOP

Hairstem groundsmoke Gayophytum ramosissimum GARA2 GARA

Hairy balsamroot Balsamorhiza hirsuta BAHI BAHI

Hairy brome Bromus commutatus BRCO4 BRCO

Hairy owl-clover Orthocarpus hispidus ORHI ORHI

Hairy penstemon Castilleja pilosa CAPI3 CAPI2

Hairy rockcress Arabis hirsuta ARHI ARHI

Hairystem rockcress Arabis perelegans ARPE11 ARPE

Hareleaf Lagophylla ramosissima LARA LARA

Harkness’ linanthus Linanthus harknessii LIHA LIHA

Harsh paintbrush Castilleja hispida CAHI9 CAHI2

Harsh paintbrush Castilleja hispida var. acuta CAHIA2 CAHIA

Hawksbeard Crepis CREPI CREPI

Hawkweed Hieracium HIERA HIERA

Heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia ARCO9 ARCO

Heart-leaved buckwheat Eriogonum compositum ERCO12 ERCO5

Henderson’s lomatium Lomatium hendersonii LOHE2 LOHE

Hoary balsamroot Balsamorhiza incana BAIN BAIN

Hoary chaenactis Chaenactis douglasii CHDO CHDO

Hoary chaenactis Chaenactis douglasii var. achilleaefolia CHDOA CHDOA

Holboell’s rockcress Arabis holboellii ARHO2 ARHO

Holboell’s rockcress Arabis holboellii var. retrofracta ARHOR ARHOR

Hood’s phlox Phlox hoodii PHHO PHHO

Hood’s sedge Carex hoodii CAHO5 CAHO

Hot rock penstemon Penstemon deustus PEDE4 PEDE

Hot rock penstemon Penstemon deustus var. variabilis PEDEV PEDEV

Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis FEID FEID

Intermediate wheatgrass Agropyron intermedium AGIN2 AGIN2

Interrupted bentgrass Agrostis interrupta AGIN4 AGIN3

Japanese brome Bromus japonicus BRJA BRJA

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis POPR POPR

Knotweed Polygonum POLYG4 POLYG

Lacepod Thysanocarpus curvipes THCU THCU

Lanceleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum SELA SELA2

Largeflower goldenweed Haplopappus carthamoides HACA5 HACA

Large-flowered agoseris Agoseris grandiflora AGGR AGGR

Large-flowered collomia Collomia grandiflora COGR4 COGR2

Large-fruited lomatium Lomatium macrocarpum LOMA3 LOMA

Larkspur Delphinium DELPH DELPH

Leiberg’s bluegrass Poa vaseyochloa POVA POVA

Lemmon’s needlegrass Stipa lemmonii STLE2 STLE2
112

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Lemon-scented tarweed Madia citriodora MACI2 MACI

Leptodactylon Leptodactylon pungens LEPU LEPU2

Letterman’s needlegrass Stipa lettermanii STLE4 STLE

Lewis’ mock-orange Philadelphus lewisii PHLE4 PHLE2

Lindley’s microseris Microseris linearifolia MILI MILI

Little oniongrass Melica fugax MEFU MEFU

Little sunflower Helianthella uniflora HEUN HEUN

Little-flowered lupine Lupinus holosericeus LUHO2 LUHO

Littleleaf horsebrush Tetradymia glabrata TEGL TEGL

Locoweed or milkvetch Astragalus ASTRA ASTRA

Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta PICO PICO

Longleaf evening-primrose Oenothera heterantha OEHE OEHE

Longleaf milkvetch Astragalus reventus var. reventus ASRE5 ASRER

Longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia PHLO2 PHLO

Longstalk clover Trifolium longipes TRLO TRLO

Lovage Ligusticum LIGUS LIGUS

Low gumweed Grindelia nana GRNA GRNA

Low penstemon Penstemon humilis PEHU PEHU

Low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha ANDI2 ANDI

Low sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula ARAR8 ARAR

Lupine Lupinus LUPIN LUPIN

Mallow ninebark Physocarpus malvaceus PHMA5 PHMA

Manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda HAFL2 HAFL

Many-flowered phlox Phlox multiflora PHMU3 PHMU

Many-ribbed sedge Carex multicostata CAMU6 CAMU

Meadow deathcamus Zigadenus venenosus ZIVE ZIVE

Meadow deathcamus Zigadenus venenosus var. gramineus ZIVEG ZIVEG

Meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis ALPR3 ALPR

Medusahead Elymus caput-medusae ELCA13 ELCA2

Menzies larkspur Delphinium menziesii DEME DEME

Mexican milkweed Asclepias fascicularis ASFA ASFA2

Microseris Microseris MICRO6 MICRO3

Miner’s lettuce Montia perfoliata MOPE3 MOPE

Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis SOMI2 SOMI

Mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana ARTRV ARTRV

Mountain brome Bromus carinatus BRCA5 BRCA

Mountain gooseberry Ribes montigenum RIMO2 RIMO

Mountain monardella Monardella odoratissima MOOD MOOD

Mountain phlox Phlox austromontana PHAU3 PHAU

Mountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus SYOR2 SYOR

Mountain sweet-cicely Osmorhiza chilensis OSCH OSCH

Naked broomrape Orobanche uniflora ORUN ORUN

Naked broomrape Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea ORUNP ORUNP

Narrowleaf goldenweed Haplopappus stenophyllus HAST HAST2

Narrowleaf miner’s lettuce Montia linearis MOLI4 MOLI

Narrowleaf pussytoes Antennaria stenophylla ANST2 ANST

Narrowleaf skullcap Scutellaria angustifolia SCAN3 SCAN

Narrow-leaved collomia Collomia linearis COLI2 COLI2

Needlegrass Stipa STIPA STIPA

Needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta NAIN2 NAIN

Nettleleaf horsemint Agastache urticifolia AGUR AGUR

Nineleaf lomatium Lomatium triternatum LOTR2 LOTR

Nineleaf lomatium Lomatium triternatum var. platycarpum LOTRP LOTRP

Nineleaf lomatium Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum LOTRT LOTRT

Nodding microseris Microseris nutans MINU MINU
113

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Nootka rose Rosa nutkana RONU RONU

Northern linanthus Linanthus septentrionalis LISE LISE

Northern mule’s ears Wyethia amplexicaulis WYAM WYAM

Nuttall’s draba Draba densifolia DRDE DRDE

Nuttall’s linanthastrum Linanthastrum nuttallii LINU4 LINU

Nuttall’s sandwort Arenaria nuttallii var. fragilis ARNUF ARNUF

Oatgrass Danthonia DANTH DANTH

Obscure cryptantha Cryptantha ambigua CRAM3 CRAM

Old man of the mountains Hymenoxys grandiflora HYGR5 HYGR

Onespike oatgrass Danthonia unispicata DAUN DAUN

Oniongrass Melica MELIC MELIC

Oniongrass Melica bulbosa MEBU MEBU

Orange arnica Arnica fulgens ARFU3 ARFU

Orchardgrass Dactylis glomerata DAGL DAGL

Oregon catchfly Silene oregana SIOR3 SIOR2

Oregon checker-mallow Sidalcea oregana SIOR SIOR

Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana WOOR WOOR

Oregon twinpod Physaria oregana PHOR2 PHOR

Oval-leaved eriogonum Eriogonum ovalifolium EROV EROV

Paintbrush Castilleja CASTI2 CASTI

Pale agoseris Agoseris glauca AGGL AGGL

Pale agoseris Agoseris glauca var. laciniata AGGLL AGGLL

Pale alyssum Alyssum alyssoides ALAL3 ALAL

Pale Wallowa paintbrush Castilleja oresbia CAOR4 CAOR3

Palouse thistle Cirsium brevifolium CIBR CIBR

Panicled deathcamas Zigadenus paniculatus ZIPA2 ZIPA

Parry’s rush Juncus parryi JUPA JUPA

Peavine Lathyrus LATHY LATHY

Penstemon Penstemon PENST PENST

Phacelia Phacelia PHACE PHACE

Phlox Phlox PHLOX PHLOX

Pin cushion plant Navarretia intertexta var. propinqua NAINP3 NAINP

Pine bluegrass Poa scabrella POSC POSC

Pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens CARU CARU

Pink microsteris Microsteris gracilis MIGR MIGR

Podfern Aspidotis densa ASDE6 ASDE

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa PIPO PIPO

Prairie junegrass Koeleria cristata KOCR KOCR

Prairie lupine Lupinus lepidus LULE2 LULE2

Prairie lupine Lupinus lepidus var. utahensis LULEU2 LULEU

Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola LASE LASE

Prickly sandwort Arenaria aculeata ARAC2 ARAC2

Pubescent wheatgrass Agropyron trichophorum AGTR6 AGTR2

Pussy clover Trifolium plumosum TRPL2 TRPL

Pussypaws Spraguea umbellata SPUM SPUM

Pussytoes Antennaria ANTEN ANTEN

Pyrenaean sedge Carex pyrenaica CAPY3 CAPY

Rat-tail fescue Festuca myuros FEMY2 FEMY

Rattlesnake brome Bromus brizaeformis BRBR7 BRBR

Rayless fleabane Erigeron aphanactis ERAP ERAP

Raynolds’ sedge Carex raynoldsii CARA6 CARA

Red avens Geum triflorum GETR GETR

Red avens Geum triflorum var. ciliatum GETRC2 GETRC2

Red besseya Besseya rubra BERU BERU

Reedgrass or pinegrass Calamagrostis CALAM CALAM
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Rigid fiddleneck Amsinckia retrorsa AMRE2 AMRE2

Rigid peavine Lathyrus rigidus LARI LARI

Rigiopappus Rigiopappus leptocladus RILE2 RILE

Rock buckwheat Eriogonum sphaerocephalum ERSP7 ERSP3

Rock lupine Lupinus saxosus LUSA2 LUSA

Rockbrake Cryptogramma crispa CRCRA2 CRCR

Rockcress Arabis ARABI2 ARABI

Rocky Mountain butterweed Senecio streptanthifolius SEST3 SEST2

Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis IRMI IRMI

Rose Rosa ROSA5 ROSA

Ross’ sedge Carex rossii CARO5 CARO

Rosy pussytoes Antennaria microphylla ANMI3 ANMI2

Rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea ANRO2 ANRO

Rough wallflower Erysimum asperum ERAS2 ERAS

Roundleaf alumroot Heuchera cylindrica HECY2 HECY

Rush Juncus JUNCU JUNCU

Rydberg’s penstemon Penstemon rydbergii PERY PERY

Ryebrome Bromus secalinus BRSE BRSE

Sagebrush mariposa Calochortus macrocarpus CAMA5 CAMA

Salsify Tragopogon TRAGO TRAGO

Sand lily Leucocrinum montanum LEMO4 LEMO

Sandberg’s bluegrass Poa sandbergii POSA12 POSA3

Sandberg’s bluegrass Poa secunda POSE POSE

Sandwort Arenaria ARENA ARENA

Scabland fleabane Erigeron bloomeri ERBL ERBL

Scapose silene Silene scaposa SISC SISC2

Scarlet gilia Gilia aggregata GIAG GIAG

Scarlet paintbrush Castilleja miniata CAMI12 CAMI2

Sedge Carex CAREX CAREX

Sego lily Calochortus CALOC CALOC

Serrate balsamroot Balsamorhiza serrata BASE2 BASE

Shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus ERPU2 ERPU

Shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus var. intermedius ERPUI ERPUI

Shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus ssp. intermedius var. gracilior ERPUG ERPUG

Sharptooth angelica Angelica arguta ANAR3 ANAR2

Sheep fescue Festuca ovina FEOV FEOV

Sheep fescue Festuca ovina var. rydbergii FEOVR FEOVR

Sheep sorrel Rumex acetosella RUAC3 RUAC

Sheldon’s milkvetch Astragalus reventus var. sheldonii ASRES ASRES

Shiny frasera Frasera albicaulis var. nitida FRALN2 FRALN

Shootingstar Dodecatheon DODEC DODEC

Showy aster Aster conspicuus ASCO3 ASCO

Showy fleabane Erigeron speciosus ERSP4 ERSP

Showy oniongrass Melica spectabilis MESP MESP

Showy penstemon Penstemon speciosus PESP PESP

Shrubby bedstraw Galium multiflorum GAMU2 GAMU

Side-flowered mitrewort Mitella stauropetala MIST3 MIST2

Sierra sanicle Sanicula graveolens SAGR5 SAGR

Sierran peavine Lathyrus nevadensis LANE3 LANE

Silky lupine Lupinus sericeus LUSE4 LUSE

Silky lupine Lupinus sericeus var. sericeus LUSES2 LUSES

Silky phacelia Phacelia sericea PHSE PHSE

Silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata PHHA PHHA

Silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata var. alpina PHHAA PHHAA

Silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata var. leucophylla PHHAL PHHAL
115

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Siskiyou hawksbeard Crepis modocensis CRMO4 CRMO3

Slender buckwheat Eriogonum microthecum var. laxiflorum ERMIL5 ERMIL

Slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis POGR9 POGR

Slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis var. glabrata POGRG POGRG

Slender cryptantha Cryptantha affinis CRAF CRAF

Slender cudweed Gnaphalium microcephalum GNMI GNMI

Slender hawksbeard Crepis atrabarba CRAT CRAT

Slender hawksbeard Crepis atrabarba var. originalis CRATO CRATO

Slender rush Juncus tenuis JUTE JUTE

Slender rush Juncus tenuis var. tenuis JUTE JUTET

Slender tarweed Madia gracilis MAGR3 MAGR

Slender toothwort Cardamine pulcherrima CAPU4 CAPU2

Slenderfruit lomatium Lomatium leptocarpum LOLE2 LOLE

Slim larkspur Delphinium depauperatum DEDE2 DEDE

Slimpod shootingstar Dodecatheon conjugens DOCO DOCO

Small fescue Festuca microstachys FEMI2 FEMI

Small flowered blue-eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora COPA3 COPA

Smallflower fringecup Lithophragma parviflora LIPAP3 LIPA

Smallflower nemophila Nemophila parviflora NEPA NEPA

Small-flowered willowherb Epilobium minutum EPMI EPMI

Small-head tarweed Madia minima MAMI MAMI

Smooth brome Bromus inermis BRIN2 BRIN

Snowbrush ceanothus Ceanothus velutinus CEVE CEVE

Snowline cymopterus Cymopterus nivalis CYNI3 CYNI

Soft brome Bromus mollis BRMO2 BRMO

Spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata AGEX AGEX

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium APAN2 APAN

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium var. pumilum APANP APANP

Spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens ERDI4 ERDI

Spreading groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum GADI2 GADI

Spreading phlox Phlox diffusa PHDI3 PHDI

Spurred lupine Lupinus laxiflorus LULA3 LULA2

Spurred lupine Lupinus laxiflorus var. laxiflorus LULAA LULAL3

Spurred lupine Lupinus laxiflorus var. pseudoparviflorus LULAP5 LULAP

Squaw apple Peraphyllum ramosissimum PERA4 PERA3

Stemless goldenweed Haplopappus acaulis HAAC HAAC

Sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa POGL9 POGL

Sticky currant Ribes viscosissimum RIVI3 RIVI

Sticky geranium Geranium viscosissimum GEVI2 GEVI

Stiff milkvetch Astragalus conjunctus ASCO11 ASCO3

Stiff sagebrush Artemisia rigida ARRI2 ARRI

Stonecrop Sedum SEDUM SEDUM

Strict buckwheat Eriogonum strictum ERST4 ERST2

Strict buckwheat Eriogonum strictum var. proliferum ERSTP ERSTP

Strict buckwheat Eriogonum strictum ssp. proliferum var. anserinum ERSTA3 ERSTA3

Subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa ABLA ABLA2

Sugar bowls Clematis hirsutissima CLHI CLHI

Sulfur penstemon Penstemon attenuatus PEAT3 PEAT

Sulfur penstemon Penstemon attenuatus var. militaris PEATM PEATM

Sulfur penstemon Penstemon attenuatus var. pseudoprocerus PEATP2 PEATP

Sulfur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum ERUM ERUM

Sulfur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum ERUMP3 ERUMP

Sulfur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum var. stellatum ERUMS5 ERUMS

Sulfur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum ERUMU2 ERUMU

Sulphur lupine Lupinus sulphureus LUSU5 LUSU
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Swale desert-parsley Lomatium ambiguum LOAM LOAM

Swamp saxifrage Saxifraga fragosa SAFR7 SAFR

Swamp saxifrage Saxifraga integrifolia SAIN4 SAIN

Swamp saxifrage Saxifraga integrifolia var. columbiana SAINC2 SAINC

Sweet-cicely Osmorhiza OSMOR OSMOR

Tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus LUCA LUCA

Tall annual willowherb Epilobium paniculatum EPPA2 EPPA

Tall pussytoes Antennaria anaphaloides ANAN2 ANAN

Tansymustard Descurainia DESCU DESCU

Tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata CRAC2 CRAC

Tapertip onion Allium acuminatum ALAC4 ALAC

Tarweed Madia MADIA MADIA

Thick-leaved peavine Lathyrus lanszwertii LALA3 LALA2

Thickstem aster Aster integrifolius ASIN3 ASIN

Thinleaf owl-clover Orthocarpus tenuifolius ORTE2 ORTE

Thistle Cirsium CIRSI CIRSI

Threadleaf fleabane Erigeron filifolius ERFI2 ERFI

Threadleaf phacelia Phacelia linearis PHLI PHLI

Threadleaf sandwort Arenaria capillaris ARCA7 ARCA2

Threadleaf sedge Carex filifolia CAFI CAFI

Threetip sagebrush Artemisia tripartita ARTR4 ARTR2

Thurber’s needlegrass Stipa thurberiana STTH2 STTH

Thymeleaf sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia ARSE2 ARSE

Tolm’s onion Allium tolmiei ALTO ALTO

Torrey’s cryptantha Cryptantha torreyana CRTO4 CRTO

Tufted phlox Phlox caespitosa PHCA7 PHCA2

Turpentine cymopterus Cymopterus terebinthinus CYTE9 CYTE

Turpentine cymopterus Cymopterus terebinthinus var. foeniculaceus CYTEF CYTEF

Twin arnica Arnica sororia ARSO2 ARSO

Upland larkspur Delphinium nuttallianum DENU2 DENU3

Utah thistle Cirsium utahense CIUT CIUT

Valerianella Valerianella locusta VALO VALO

Varileaf phacelia Phacelia heterophylla PHHE2 PHHE

Velvet lupine Lupinus leucophyllus LULE3 LULE

Velvet lupine Lupinus leucophyllus var. leucophyllus LULEL4 LULEL

Velvet lupine Lupinus leucophyllus var. tenuispicus LULET LULET

Ventenata Ventenata dubia VEDU VEDU

Violet Viola VIOLA VIOLA

Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana FRVI FRVI

Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana var. platypetala FRVIP2 FRVIP

Wall rockcress Arabis aculeolata ARAC4 ARAC

Waterleaf Hydrophyllum capitatum HYCA4 HYCA

Wavy-leaved paintbrush Castilleja applegatei CAAP4 CAAP2

Wax currant Ribes cereum RICE RICE

Wayside gromwell Lithospermum ruderale LIRU4 LIRU

Webber’s ricegrass Oryzopsis webberi ORWE ORWE

Western false solomon’s seal Smilacina racemosa SMRA SMRA

Western groundsel Senecio integerrimus SEIN2 SEIN

Western groundsel Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus SEINE SEINE

Western hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis CROC CROC

Western hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis var. costata CROCC2 CROCC

Western hawkweed Hieracium albertinum HIAL HIAL2

Western juniper Juniperus occidentalis JUOC JUOC

Western meadowrue Thalictrum occidentale THOC THOC

Western mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ARLU ARLU
117

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Common name Scientific name1 PLANTS code2 R6 code3

Western needlegrass Stipa occidentalis STOC2 STOC

Western needlegrass Stipa occidentalis var. occidentalis STOC2 STOCO

Western serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia AMAL2 AMAL

Western sweetroot Osmorhiza occidentalis OSOC OSOC

Wheeler’s bluegrass Poa nervosa PONE2 PONE

Wheeler’s bluegrass Poa nervosa var. wheeleri PONEW PONEW

White hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum HIAL2 HIAL

White mustard Brassica hirta BRHI2 BRHI

White plectritis Plectritis macrocera PLMA4 PLMA3

Whitebark pine Pinus albicaulis PIAL PIAL

White-margined knotweed Polygonum polygaloides POPO4 POPO

Whitestem frasera Frasera albicaulis FRAL2 FRAL2

Whitestem mentzelia Mentzelia albicaulis MEAL6 MEAL2

Wide fruit mariposa Calochortus eurycarpus CAEU CAEU2

Widefruit sedge Carex eurycarpa CAEU2 CAEU

Wild blue flax Linum perenne var. lewisii LIPEL3 LIPEL

Wild onion Allium ALLIU ALLIU

Willowherb Epilobium EPILO EPILO

Wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana MUME2 MUME

Wiry knotweed Polygonum majus POMA9 POMA2

Woodrush pussytoes Antennaria luzuloides ANLU2 ANLU

Woolly eriophyllum Eriophyllum lanatum ERLA6 ERLA

Woolly goldenweed Haplopappus lanuginosus HALA3 HALA

Woolly groundsel Senecio canus SECA2 SECA

Woollyhead clover Trifolium eriocephalum var. piperi TRERP2 TRERP

Woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii ASPU9 ASPU

Woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii var. lagopinus ASPUL ASPUL

Woolly-weed Hieracium scouleri HISC2 HISC

Wormleaf stonecrop Sedum douglasii SEDO3 SEDO

Wormleaf stonecrop Sedum stenopetalum SEST2 SEST

Wyeth’s lupine Lupinus wyethii LUWY LUWY

Wyoming Indian paintbrush Castilleja linariaefolia CALI4 CALI2

Yampah Perideridia PERID PERID

Yellow monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus MIGU MIGU

Yellow salsify Tragopogon dubius TRDU TRDU

Yellow star-thistle Centaurea solstitialis CESO3 CESO

1 Hitchcock and Cronquist 1973.

2 USDA, NRCS 2004b.

3 Garrison and Skovlin 1976.
118

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-641

Ecoclass

code Short name Long name Level1 PAG2

CJG111 JUOC/FEID-AGSP Western juniper/Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass PA Hot moist UW

CJG113 JUOC/AGSP Western juniper/bluebunch wheatgrass PCT Hot dry UW

CJS112 JUOC/ARAR8/FEID Western juniper/low sagebrush/Idaho fescue PA Hot dry UW

CJS321 JUOC/PUTR2/FEID-AGSP Western juniper/bitterbrush/Idaho fescue- PA Hot moist UW

 bluebunch wheatgrass

CJS41 JUOC/CELE3/FEID-AGSP Western juniper/mountain mahogany/Idaho fescue- PA Hot moist UW

 bluebunch wheatgrass

CJS811 JUOC/ARRI2-Scab Western juniper/stiff sagebrush PCT Hot dry UW

CPC212 PIPO-JUOC/CELE3-SYOR2 Ponderosa pine-western juniper/mountain mahogany- PCT Hot dry UF

 mountain snowberry

CPG111 PIPO/AGSP Ponderosa pine/bluebunch wheatgrass PA Hot dry UF

CPG112 PIPO/FEID Ponderosa pine/Idaho fescue PA Hot dry UF

CPS131 PIPO/ARTRV/FEID-AGSP Ponderosa pine/mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue- PA Hot dry UF

 bluebunch wheatgrass

CPS226 PIPO/PUTR2/FEID-AGSP Ponderosa pine/bitterbrush/Idaho fescue- PA Hot dry UF bluebunch wheatgrass

CPS229 PIPO/PUTR2/AGSP-POSA12 Ponderosa pine/bitterbrush/bluebunch wheatgrass- PA Hot dry UF

 Sandberg’s bluegrass

CPS233 PIPO/CELE3/PONEW Ponderosa pine/mountain mahogany/Wheeler’s bluegrass PA Hot dry UF

CPS234 PIPO/CELE3/FEID-AGSP Ponderosa pine/mountain mahogany/Idaho fescue- PA Hot dry UF

 bluebunch wheatgrass

CPS8 PIPO/PERA4 Ponderosa pine/squaw apple PCT Hot dry UF

FM9111 ERDO-POSA12 Douglas’ buckwheat-Sandberg’s bluegrass PCT Hot dry UH

GB4112 AGSP-POSA12-SCAN3 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 narrowleaf skullcap

GB4119 AGSP-POSA12-LUPIN Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass-lupine PA Hot dry UH

GB4121 AGSP-POSA12 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass PA Hot dry UH

GB4123 AGSP-POSA12-BASA3 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 arrowleaf balsamroot

GB4124 AGSP-POSA12-ERHE2 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 creamy buckwheat

GB4125 AGSP-POSA12-ASRE5 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 Blue Mountain milkvetch

GB4126 AGSP-POSA12-TRMA3 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 bighead clover

GB4127 AGSP-POSA12-APAN2 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 spreading dogbane

GB4131 AGSP-BRCA5 Bluebunch wheatgrass-mountain brome PCT Warm moist UH

GB4132 AGSP-ERUM Bluebunch wheatgrass-sulfur-flower buckwheat PCT Hot dry UH

GB4133 AGSP-CYTEF Bluebunch wheatgrass-turpentine cymopterus PCT Hot dry UH

GB4411 POBU-MAGL2 Bulbous bluegrass–cluster tarweed PCT Hot dry UH

GB4911 AGSP-POSA12-DAUN Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg’s bluegrass- PA Hot dry UH

 onespike oatgrass

GB4915 BERE/AGSP-APAN2 Creeping Oregon grape/bluebunch wheatgrass- PCT Warm dry US

 spreading dogbane

GB5011 MEBU-STOC2 Oniongrass-western needlegrass PCT Warm dry UH

GB59 FEID-AGSP Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass PA Warm moist UH

GB5911 FEID-KOCR (Ridge) Idaho fescue-prairie junegrass (ridge) PA Cool moist UH

GB5912 FEID-KOCR (Mound) Idaho fescue-prairie junegrass (mound) PA Cool moist UH

GB5916 FEID-AGSP-LUPIN Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-lupine PA Warm moist UH

GB5917 FEID-AGSP-BASA3 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-arrowleaf balsamroot PA Warm moist UH

GB5923 FEID-GETR Idaho fescue-red avens PCT Cool moist UH

Appendix C: Vegetation Types by Ecoclass Code
119

Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains: A Guide for Managers

Ecoclass

code Short name Long name Level1 PAG2

GB5925 FEID-AGSP-CYTEF Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-cymopterus PA Warm dry UH

GB5926 FEID-AGSP-FRALC2 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-Cusick’s frasera PA Cool moist UH

GB5931 FEID-AGSP-PHLOX Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass-phlox PA Warm moist UH

GB5932 FEID-DAUN Idaho fescue-onespike oatgrass PCT Warm dry UH

GB9111 POSA12-DAUN Sandberg’s bluegrass-onespike oatgrass PA Hot dry UH

GB9114 DAUN-LOLE2 Onespike oatgrass-slenderfruit lomatium PA Hot moist UH

GS1112 FEVI-LULA3 Green fescue-spurred lupine PA Cold moist UH

GS1113 FEVI-JUPA Green fescue-Parry’s rush PA Cold dry UH

GS1115 FEVI-PENST Green fescue-penstemon PCT Cold moist UH

GS50 STOC2-SIHY (Alpine) Western needlegrass-squirreltail PCT Warm dry UH

SD1911 ARAR8/FEID-AGSP Low sagebrush/Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass PA Warm moist US

SD1924 ARAR8/AGSP Low sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass PA Warm dry US

SD2401 ARTR4/POSA12-DAUN Threetip sagebrush/Sandberg’s bluegrass- PCT Warm dry US

 onespike oatgrass

SD2911 ARTRV/FEID-AGSP Mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue- PA Warm moist US

 bluebunch wheatgrass

SD2917 ARTRV-SYOR2/BRCA5 Mountain big sagebrush-mountain snowberry/ PCT Warm moist US mountain brome

SD2918 ARTRV/AGSP-POSA12 Mountain big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass- PA Warm dry US

 Sandberg’s bluegrass

SD2919 ARTRV-SYOR2 Mountain big sagebrush-mountain snowberry PCT Warm moist US

SD2929 ARTRV/FEID-KOCR Mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue-prairie junegrass PA Warm moist US

SD3010 ARTRV-PERA4 Mountain big sagebrush–squaw apple PCT Warm moist US

SD3011 ARTRV/ELCI2 Mountain big sagebrush/giant wildrye PCT Warm moist US

SD3111 PUTR2/FEID-AGSP Bitterbrush/Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass PA Warm moist US

SD3124 PUTR2-ARTRV/FEID-AGSP Bitterbrush-mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue- PA Warm moist US

 bluebunch wheatgrass

SD3125 PUTR2-ARTRV/FEID Bitterbrush-mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue PCT Warm moist US

SD3126 PUTR2/ERDO Bitterbrush/Douglas’ buckwheat PCT Warm dry US

SD4111 CELE3/FEID-AGSP Mountain mahogany/Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass PA Warm moist US

SD4112 CELE3/AGSP Mountain mahogany/bluebunch wheatgrass PCT Warm dry US

SD4115 CELE3-PUTR2/AGSP Mountain mahogany-bitterbrush/bluebunch wheatgrass PCT Warm moist US

SD4114 CELE3/PONEW Mountain mahogany/ Wheeler’s bluegrass PCT Warm dry US

SD9111 ARRI2/POSA12 Stiff sagebrush/Sandberg’s bluegrass PA Warm dry US

SD9141 ARRI2/PEGA Stiff sagebrush/Gairdner’s penstemon PCT Warm dry US

SD9221 ARAR8/POSA12 Low sagebrush/Sandberg’s bluegrass PA Warm dry US

SM32 SYOR2 Mountain snowberry PCT Warm moist US

SS4914 ARTRV/BRCA5 Mountain big sagebrush/mountain brome PCT Warm moist US

1 PA = plant association, PCT = plant community type.

2 Plant association group: UW = upland woodland, UF = upland forest, UH = upland herbland, US = upland shrubland.

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