Bunchgrass Plant Communities of the Blue and Ochoco Mountains

Book excerpt: A classification of bunchgrass vegetation is presented for the Malheur, Ochoco, Umatilla, and part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. It includes grassland vegetation as well as shrubland and forest land where the herbaceous layer is dominated by bunchgrasses. It is based on potential vegetation, with the plant association as the basic unit. Diagnostic keys and descriptions are presented for each type. Descriptions include information about plant species occurrence, environment and soils, states and transitions, forage productivity, management considerations, and relationships to other classifications.