Index of Species Information
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
Introductory
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Walkup, Crystal. 1991. Arctagrostis latifolia. In: Fire Effects
Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences
Laboratory (Producer). Available:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/graminoid/arclat/all.html [].
ABBREVIATION :
ARCLAT
SYNONYMS :
NO-ENTRY
SCS PLANT CODE :
ARLA2
COMMON NAMES :
wideleaf polargrass
polargrass
reed-arcticgrass
tall arcticgrass
TAXONOMY :
The currently accepted scientific name for wideleaf polargrass is Arctagrostis
latifolia (R. Br.) Griseb. There are two recognized varieties [10]:
Arctagrostis. latifolia var. latifolia
Arctagrostis latifolia var. arundinacea (Trin.) Griseb.
LIFE FORM :
Graminoid
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
No special status
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Wideleaf polargrass is a circumboreal species. In North America it occurs in
Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory [10].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES11 Spruce - fir
FRES19 Aspen - birch
FRES23 Fir - spruce
FRES44 Alpine
STATES :
AK NT YT
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
NO-ENTRY
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K015 Western spruce - fir forest
K052 Alpine meadows and barren
K094 Conifer bog
SAF COVER TYPES :
107 White spruce
201 White spruce
202 White spruce - paper birch
204 Black spruce
217 Aspen
251 White spruce - aspen
252 Paper birch
253 White spruce - black spruce
254 Black spruce - paper birch
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Wideleaf polargrass is an indicator species in the following plant associations
(pas):
Area Classification Authority
nw AK general veg. pas Hanson 1953
AK general veg. pas Viereck 1989
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Grizzly bears were observed grazing large quantities of vegetation
during June and July in northwest Canada. Wideleaf polargrass was selected over
other grasses [12]. Reindeer graze wideleaf polargrass in the Northwest
Territories [4].
PALATABILITY :
Wideleaf polargrass may be palatable to grizzly bears [13].
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
Wideleaf polargrass has high food value. Crude protein content averaged 17.8
percent over 2 years of sampling in one study [13]. In another study of
several collections of wideleaf polargrass, one accession contained 19.7 percent
crude protein (N), more than adequate amounts of all other elements tested
(P, K, Mg, Ca), and had 66 percent in vitro digestibility.
Elemental concentrations were good for the first harvest, but were often
lowest compared to other species for the second harvest [19].
COVER VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
Wideleaf polargrass is suitable for revegetation programs on continental tundra
regions of northwest Canada and permafrost soils in subarctic boreal
forest habitats in Alaska [12,16].
`Kenai' and `Alyeska' are currently the only improved cultivars of
wideleaf polargrass. 'Kenai' is recommended for revegetation mixes from lowlands
to alpine situations, but 'Alyeska' is a better choice for the
northernmost regions of Alaska. 'Kenai' does particularly well on
strongly acidic soils in areas with relatively cool, moist growing
seasons [18]. 'Alyeska' had higher production than local collections of
wideleaf polargrass planted on a simulated pipeline trench in the Northwest
Territories. Production of unfertilized 'Alyeska' was equal to
fertilized local collections [16].
The Alaska State Plant Materials Center is currently evaluating
wideleaf polargrass accessions for revegetating gravel till. Initial plantings
were unsuccessful, so experiments were initiated for developing
techniques to improve water and nutrient conditions [11]. Wideleaf polargrass
has naturally invaded and colonized abandoned oil well sites in Alaska
through tillering and seedling establishment [5,17].
The natural combustion of pyrite-bearing bituminous shale at the Smoking
Hills in the Yukon Territory has severely contaminated the atmosphere
and resulted in acid rain. The soil and water have become acidic in the
area of deposition. Wideleaf polargrass was dominant in moderately polluted
areas, indicating potential for use in revegetation of areas with
man-caused acidification, such as near coal smelters [7].
Wideleaf polargrass seeds are very small (2.3 million per pound [5 million/kg]),
resulting in poor seedling vigor. Early growth rates are also slow,
making it a poor candidate for providing initial erosion control.
Wideleaf polargrass is, however, very useful for long-term soil stabilization
[23]. Shallow sowing and low competition are required for successful
establishment [13]. Seeding rates of 5 pounds per acre (5.6 kg/ha) and
7 pounds per acre (7.8 kg/ha) are used for cultivars and local
collections, respectively [16].
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Wideleaf polargrass has several attributes that make it suitable for agronomic
use: excellent forage yield potential, high level of winter hardiness,
rapid spring growth, and succulent herbage containing markedly less
dry-matter than timothy (Phleum pratense) and smooth brome (Bromus
inermis). Once established wideleaf polargrass excels in earliness and vigor of
spring growth [13]. It also shows a greater tolerance of winter ponding
and icing conditions than timothy or smooth brome and has demonstrated
immunity to snow molds (Sclerotinia borealis) which adversely affect
timothy. Wideleaf polargrass generally does not surpass smooth brome for forage
purposes in areas where smooth brome is well-adapted, but it does
provide a forage option in strongly acidic soils [18].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Wideleaf polargrass is a perennial, native, sod-forming grass. Culms range from
1 to 4 feet (0.3-1.2 m) tall. Leaf blades are 1.6 to 11.8 inches (4-30
cm) long and 0.16 to 0.56 inch (4-14 mm) wide. Plants have a narrow,
somewhat open panicle that is 2.8 to 11 inches (7-28 cm) long. There is
one flower per spikelet, and spikelets range from 0.12 to 0.18 inch
(3-4.6 mm) long. The species is variable, but the typical form seldom
exceeds 1.8 feet (0.5 m) in height and has purple spikelets 4 mm long or
longer [10].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Geophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Wideleaf polargrass reproduces both sexually and vegetatively. Tillers spread
slowly, arising from rhizomes and forming dense clumps [18]. Seeds are
produced in all but the most northern latitudes [5].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Wideleaf polargrass grows in wet meadows, along rivers, on tundra, in freshwater
marshes, and in inland levees [9,10,21,24]. It is best adapted to cold,
boggy soils and mesic upland soils [18]. In freshwater marshes
wideleaf polargrass is more apparent on hummocks than in depressions [9]. The
inland levees are sandy and well-drained, and have a neutral pH.
Bluejoint-reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis) dominates in acidic, less
well-drained areas [21]. Along the Tanana River in Alaska, wideleaf polargrass
stands are always underlain by permafrost with shallow active layers,
commonly 127 to 152 inches (50 to 60 cm) thick [24].
Common overstory dominants include Sitka alder (Alnus sitchensis), white
spruce (Picea glauca), black spruce (P. mariana), paper birch (Betula
papyrifera), and dwarf alpine birch (B. nana). Understory associates
include Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), mountain cranberry
(Vaccinium vitis-idaea), flowering dogwood (Cornus canadensis),
horsetail (Equisetum arvense), northern comandra (Geocaulon lividum),
bluejoint-reedgrass, rough fescue (Festuca altaica), tall fescue (F.
arundinacea), and crowberry (Empetrum nigrum).
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Wideleaf polargrass codominates with other species in grassland tundra
communities. Evidence suggests that it occurs in the early stages of
succession following fire [2]. In succession on river floodplains,
however, it is abundant only in late successional mixed white and black
spruce stands [24].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
In the Matanuska Valley of Alaska, new panicles of wideleaf polargrass appear
between mid and late June. Anthesis is relatively inconspicuous,
occurring from early July to past the middle of the month. Seed is
mature between September 15 and 25 [13].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Wideleaf polargrass survives fire by sprouting from rhizomes [25].
FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find Fire Regimes".
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Wideleaf polargrass is top-killed by fire.
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
Wideleaf polargrass has been listed as one of the most dramatic increasers
following tundra and forest fires [3,25,26]. Two years after a tundra
fire, annual plant production on burned areas was greater than unburned
controls as a result of the high production of wideleaf polargrass and bluejoint
reedgrass. They were only minor species in adjacent unburned areas [3].
Wideleaf polargrass is found in the first stage of succession (1 to 20 years)
following fire in black spruce/bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum)
stands in northern Alaska [2].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia
REFERENCES :
1. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p.
[434]
2. Black, R. A.; Bliss, L. C. 1978. Recovery sequence of Picea mariana -
Vaccinium uliginosum forests after burning near Inuvik, Northwest
Territories, Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany. 56: 2020-2030. [7448]
3. Bliss, L. C.; Wein, R. W. 1972. Plant community responses to
disturbances in the western Canadian Arctic. Canadian Journal of Botany.
50: 1097-1109. [14877]
4. Cody, W. J. 1965. Plants of the Mackenzie River Delta and Reindeer
Grazing Preserve. Ottawa, ON: Canada Department of Agriculture, Research
Branch, Plant Research Institute. 56 p. [13122]
5. Ebersole, James J. 1987. Short-term vegetation recovery at an Alaskan
arctic coastal plain site. Arctic and Alpine Research. 19(4): 442-450.
[9476]
6. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
7. Freedman, B.; Zobens, V.; Hutchinson, T. C.; Gizyn, W. I. 1990. Intense,
natural pollution affects arctic tundra vegetation at the Smoking Hills,
Canada. Ecology. 71(2): 492-503. [17281]
8. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others].
1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range
ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
9. Hanson, Herbert C. 1953. Vegetation types in northwestern Alaska and
comparisons with communities in other arctic regions. Ecology. 34(1):
111-140. [9781]
10. Hulten, Eric. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories.
Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1008 p. [13403]
11. Joyce, Michael R.; Jorgenson, M. Torre. 1990. Land rehabilitation
research on the arctic slope of Alaska. Restoration & Management Notes.
8(2): 129-130. [14224]
12. Kershaw, G. Peter; Kershaw, Linda J. 1987. Successful plant colonizers
on disturbances in tundra areas of northwestern Canada. Arctic and
Alpine Research. 19(4): 451-460. [6115]
13. Klebesadel, L. J. 1969. Agronomic characteristics of... Arctagrostis
latifolia var. arundinacea (Trin.) Griseb., and a proposed common name,
tall arcticgrass. Agronomy Journal. 61: 45-49. [16171]
14. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Manual to accompany the map of potential vegetation
of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
American Geographical Society. 77 p. [1384]
15. Lyon, L. Jack; Stickney, Peter F. 1976. Early vegetal succession
following large northern Rocky Mountain wildfires. In: Proceedings, Tall
Timbers fire ecology conference and Intermountain Fire Research Council
fire and land management symposium; 1974 October 8-10; Missoula, MT. No.
14. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 355-373. [1496]
16. Maslen, Lynn; Kershaw, G. Peter. 1989. First year results of
revegetation trials using selected native plant species on a simulated
pipeline trench, Fort Norman, N.W.T., Canada. In: Walker, D. G.; Powter,
C. B.; Pole, M. W., compilers. Reclamation, a global perspective:
Proceedings of the conference; 1989 August 27-31; Calgary, AB. Rep. No.
RRTAC 89-2. Vol. 1. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Land Conservation and
Reclamation Council: 81-90. [14363]
17. McKendrick, Jay D. 1987. Plant succession on disturbed sites, North
Slope, Alaska, U.S.A. Arctic and Alpine Research. 19(4): 554-565.
[6077]
18. Mitchell, William W. 1987. Notice of release of 'Kenai' polargrass.
Agroborealis. 19(1): 5. [16519]
19. Mitchell, W. W. 1982. Forage yield and quality of indigenous and
introduced grasses at Palmer, Alaska. Agronomy Journal. 74: 899-905.
[16172]
20. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
21. Thilenius, John F. 1990. Woody plant succession on earthquake-uplifted
coastal wetlands of the Copper River Delta, Alaska. Forest Ecology and
Management. 33/34: 439-462. [11803]
22. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982.
National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names.
SCS-TP-159. Washington, DC. 416 p. [11573]
23. Vaartnou, Manivalde. 1988. The potential of native populations of
grasses in northern revegetation. In: Kershaw, Peter, ed. Northern
environmental disturbances. Occas. Publ. No. 24. Edmonton, AB:
University of Alberta, Boreal Institute for Northern Studies: 31-41.
[14418]
24. Viereck, Leslie A. 1989. Flood-plain succession and vegetation
classification in interior Alaska. In: Ferguson, Dennis E.; Morgan,
Penelope; Johnson, Frederic D., compilers. Proceedings--land
classifications based on vegetation: applications for resource
management; 1987 November 17-19; Moscow, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-257.
Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain
Research Station: 197-203. [6959]
25. Wein, R. W. 1974. Recovery of vegetation in arctic regions after
burning. Rep. 74-6. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Task Force on Northern Oil
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26. Wein, R. W. 1975. Vegetation recovery in arctic tundra and forest-tundra
after fire. ALUR Rep. 74-75-62. Ottawa, ON: Department of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development, Arctic Land Use Research Program. 62 p.
[12990]
27. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species originating in northern
Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of
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Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 7 p. [20090]
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