Home/Species/ Ice Grass

Phippsia algida

(Phipps) R. Br.

Ice Grass

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.131896

Element CodePMPOA4T010

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

IUCNLeast concern

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderCyperales

FamilyPoaceae

GenusPhippsia

Synonyms

Phippsia algida ssp. algida

Other Common Names

Frigid Phippsia (EN) icegrass (EN) Icegrass (EN) Phippsie arctique (FR)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2016-08-02

Change Date1991-08-05

Range Extent Comments

Circumpolar, south in N. America to AK, Que., and Lab., isolated in MT, WY, and CO. Disjunct.

Ecology & Habitat

Description

Ice Grass is a glabrous perennial with fibrous roots and densely tufted stems that are up to 7 cm high. The narrow leaves have a boat-shaped tip. The 1-flowered spikelets are borne in a narrow, terminal inflorescence that is ca. 1/3 the length of the stem. Each spikelet has 2 small glumes. The thin, 3-nerved lemma is ca. 1.5 mm long and is blunt with a short point. The palea is slightly smaller and has a shallowly-toothed margin.

Diagnostic Characteristics

From CNHP Wetland Guide 2012: Main Characteristics:
·Diminutive grass with succulent stems
·Found only in alpine zone at edges of snowmelt areas

Other Nations (2)

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Alaska	S3	Yes
Montana	S2	Yes
Wyoming	S1	Yes
Colorado	S2	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Labrador	S2	Yes
British Columbia	S4	Yes
Northwest Territories	S4	Yes
Quebec	S3	Yes
Yukon Territory	S3	Yes
Nunavut	S5	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (1)

Wyoming (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Beartooth Proposed Wilderness	Shoshone National Forest	16,837

References (4)

Grulke, N. E. and L. C. Bliss. 1983. A note on winter seed rain in the High Arctic. Arctic and Alpine Research 15(2):261-265.
Grulke, N. E. and L. C. Bliss. 1988. Comparative life history characteristics of two high Arctic grasses, Northwest Territories. Ecology 69(2):484-496.
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Lesica, P. 1993g. Vegetation and flora of the Line Creek Plateau area, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report to USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 30 pp.