Montana Field Guide

This group occurs from montane to subalpine elevations where finely textured soils, snow deposition, or windswept conditions limit tree establishment. Patch sizes of these communities are generally small, though they range from small, forest openings to larger meadows. The type is common from Glacier National Park south to the mountains of southwest Montana extending east to the island mountain ranges of central Montana and south to the Beartooth and Pryor Mountains. Elevations range from 4,000-6,500 feet in the northern part of the state and from 7,000-9,500 feet in the mountains of southwestern Montana. These communities occur on gentle to moderate-gradient slopes and in relatively moist habitats.

Mesic herbaceous communities within this group vary widely in composition, structure and density. Some communities within this group are more heavily dominated by grasses, while others are forb-dominated. Graminoid-dominated meadows usually feature taxa with relatively broad and soft blades such as Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Mountain Brome (Bromus carinatus), Showy Oniongrass (Melica spectabilis), Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus), Bluejoint Reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis), and Sedges such as Carex geyeri, Carex hoodii, Carex raynoldsii, and Carex pachystachya. Forb dominated mesic meadows may be comprised of a wide diversity of genera and can be short to tall in stature with sparse to dense cover. This group is transitional to wet meadow types included in G521 Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh and additional review is likely needed to refine the distinction between the two groups.

This Group is equivalent to the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow Ecological System.

Herbaceous-dominated; Mesic to Seasonally Wet Sites; Montane and Subalpine Zones, Rocky Mountain Region

Typical Dominants: Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Showy Oniongrass (Melica spectabilis), Mountain Brome (Bromus carinatus), Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus), Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis), Mountain Fescue (Festuca viridula), Carex hoodii, Carex microptera

In Montana, this group occurs in mountainous areas on both sides of the Continental Divide. It is common from Glacier National Park south to the mountains of southwest Montana extending east to the island mountain ranges of central Montana and south to the Beartooth and Pryor Mountains.

In MT, G271 occurs within these Level III Ecoregions: 15 (Northern Rockies), 16 (Idaho Batholith), 17 (Middle Rockies), 41 (Canadian Rockies), and the very western portion of 42 (Northwestern Glaciated Plains).

In Montana, G271 occurs within these Major Land Resource Areas: 43A - Northern Rocky Mountains, 43B - Central Rocky Mountains, 44B - Central Rocky Mountain Valleys, and 46 - Northern and Central Rocky Mountain Foothills.

Small Patch and Large Patch

This group occurs from montane to subalpine elevations where finely textured soils, snow deposition, or windswept conditions limit tree establishment. Many occurrences are small patches, often found in mosaics within forests, dense shrublands, or just below alpine communities. Elevations range from 4,000-6,500 feet in the northern part of the state and from 7,000-9,500 feet) in the mountains of southwestern Montana. These communities occur on gentle to moderate-gradient slopes and in relatively moist habitats. Soils are typically seasonally moist to saturated in the spring, but dry out later in the growing season. At montane elevations, soils are usually clays or silt loams with an A horizon greater than 10 centimeters (4 inches), and some occurrences may have inclusions of hydric soils in low, depressional areas. At subalpine elevations, soils are derived from a variety of parent materials, and are usually rocky or gravelly with good aeration and drainage, but with a well-developed organic layer. Forb communities found on talus and scree slopes with subsurface moisture are also included within this group.

Mesic herbaceous communities within this group vary widely in composition, structure and density. Some communities within this group are more heavily dominated by grasses, while others are forb-dominated. Patch sizes of these communities are generally small, though range from small, forest openings to larger meadows. Graminoid-dominated meadows usually feature taxa with relatively broad and soft blades such as Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Mountain Brome (Bromus carinatus), Showy Oniongrass (Melica spectabilis), Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus), Bluejoint Reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis), and Sedges such as Carex geyeri, Carex microptera, Carex hoodii, Carex raynoldsii, and Carex pachystachya. At subalpine elevations, Tufted Hairgrass, Alpine Timothy (Phleum alpinum), Timber Oatgrass (Danthonia intermedia) and Mountain Hairgrass (Vahlodea atropurpurea) become more common components of the graminoid layer. Forb dominated mesic meadows may be comprised of a wide diversity of genera and can be short to tall in stature with sparse to dense cover. Characteristic species within these forb dominated communities include Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum), Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis), False Hellebore (Veratrum viride) and Beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax). Forb-dominated communities vary from species’ poor sites with very few species to diverse meadows. Other forbs common to certain sites within this group include Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), Arnica chamissonis, Common Camas (Camassia quamash), Aspen Fleabane (Erigeron speciosus), Subalpine Fleabane (Erigeron peregrinus), Aster spp (Eucephalus and Symphyotrichum species), Bluebells (Mertensia species), Stickseeds (Hackelia species), Small-flower Beardtongue (Penstemon procerus), Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia), Mountain Deathcamas (Zigadenus elegans), Western Meadowrue (Thalictrum occidentale), Arrowleaf Groundsel (Senecio triangularis), Tall Groundsel (Senecio hydrophiloides) and Tall Groundsel (Senecio serra).

Under natural disturbance regimes at montane elevations, sites in early successional stages may be dominated by Fireweed, Horsemint (Agastache urticifolia), Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and other forbs, as well as small amounts of mesic grasses such as Mountain Brome. Activity by burrowing mammals is prevalent at some sites and can increase the forb diversity.

In Montana, this group is represented by 7 Associations grouped into 3 Alliances within the National Vegetation Classification. In general, the diversity of vegetation types is likely greater than what is currently described or attributed to Montana and those that are currently attributed to the state require additional documentation and description. Some Associations in G521 probably belong here.

Many of the communities associated with this group are adapted to soils that are f saturated in the early growing season. Typically, these associations are tolerant of moderate-intensity ground fires and late-season livestock grazing (Kovalchik 1987). Most appear to be relatively stable types, although in some areas they may be impacted by intensive livestock grazing.

Herbaceous, mesic meadows that have experienced disturbances like intensive grazing are often susceptible or have already experienced invasion by non-native species such as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis) and Common Timothy (Phleum pratense). Once established, these species will usually persist long-term on the site even after removal of the grazing pressure or other disturbance. Forbs such as Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) often replace native forb diversity in areas of continued disturbance. Common camas (Camassia quamash), a culturally important plant dominates some mesic meadows in western and central Montana. These meadows were important food gathering sites for indigenous people.

In areas of moderate disturbance, this system can be restored by eliminating or limiting grazing for two to three seasons. Areas that contain noxious species must be managed for these species prior to and after restoration practices.

Tufted hairgrass has been successfully established by seeding on higher elevation disturbances such as mined lands. Seeds from locally adapted populations have been most successful (Chambers and others 1990). For disturbances on well-developed soils containing minimum amounts of toxic substances, seeds can be selected from a broad range of relatively well-adapted populations. On sites with limiting soil characteristics, selection from metal and/or acid tolerant populations is more successful (Brown and Chambers 1990). Late fall seeding is most successful; seedling establishment is improved if seeds are exposed to cold dormancy over winter (Chambers and others 1987). Tufted hairgrass has high potential for long term revegetation due to its soil stabilization characteristics, persistence, and ability to reproduce on harsh sites at high elevations (Brown and others 1988; Chambers and others 1990).

M.S. Reid, T. Luna, K.A. Schulz 2016

S. Mincemoyer, T. Luna, L. Vance

12/4/2024