(No author)  

AI Overview

Floristic Quality Indices (FQI) in field studies typically range from 0 to over 50, depending on the level of degradation, habitat type, and regional assessment methods. High-quality, relatively undisturbed natural areas frequently achieve FQI scores above 35, while restored or moderately disturbed sites often fall between 20 and 35.

Typical FQI Values by Site Type

• High Quality/Remnant Areas: FQI > 35, often exceeding 50+ in mature ecosystems (e.g., prairies, woodlands).
• Restoration Projects: Initial FQI is low (0–10), but successful, established restorations (10+ years) often reach 20–35.
• Degraded/Disturbed Areas: FQI < 19 is considered low quality, often featuring high percentages of non-native or invasive species.

Key FQA Metrics

• Mean Coefficient of Conservatism (Mean C): This is often more reliable than total FQI because it is less affected by sample area. A Mean C above 3.5 indicates sufficient quality to be considered a "natural area".
• Native Species Richness: FQI formula ( ) uses the number of native species ( ) to weight the score.

Common Findings in Field Studies (2024-2026)

• Restored vs. Natural: Restored wetlands rarely exceed a Mean C of 3.4–3.9, whereas natural wetlands typically have a Mean C greater than 3.9.
• Wetland Benchmarks: Wetlands with an FQI > 20 are generally considered high-quality aquatic resources.
• Regional Differences: FQI is highly dependent on region-specific species lists and C-values (e.g., Midwest vs. Pacific Northwest).
• Negative Relationship: A negative relationship often exists between total species richness and Mean C, where very species-rich areas might contain many "0" value species, lowering the overall Mean C.

Species found in Golden that have high Coefficient of Conservatism values:

Coefficient of Conservatism = 10

• Erythranthe floribunda (Douglas ex Lindl.) G. L. Nesom. (Syn: Mimulus floribundus Lindl. ) Many Flowered Monkey Flower. CC:10 ApexPkR Magpie NTMP STM
• Anemone multifida Poir. var. multifida. Pacific Anemone. CC:10 LkM
• Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. Yellow Indian Grass. CC:10 CttnWd Magpie

Coefficient of Conservatism = 9

• Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. Brittle Bladderfern. CC:9 LkM NTMP STM
• Cheilanthes feei T. Moore. Slender Lipfern. CC:9 STM
• Aralia nudicaulis L. Wild Sarsaparilla. CC:9 LkM VidGl
• Androsace occidentalis Pursh. Western Rockjasmine. CC:9 NTMP STM SvyFld
• Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd. Red Baneberry. CC:9 LkM
• Aquilegia saximontana Rydb. Rocky Mountain Columbine. CC:9 LkM
• Lilium philadelphicum L. Wood Lily. CC:9 LkM
• Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. var. pubescens O. W. Knight. (Syn: Cypripedium calceolus L. var. parviflorum (Salisb.) Hultén ) Greater Yellow Lady's Slipper. CC:9 LkM
• Goodyera oblongifolia Raf. Western Rattlesnake Plantain. CC:9 ApexGl Dead LkM
• Andropogon gerardii Vitman. Big Bluestem. CC:9 ApexPkR DeLong GramN HSq KRun MMtnAS Nhog NTM NTM-OS Parfet PftPP ScHill STM Stone SvyFld
• Sporobolus heterolepis (A. Gray) A. Gray. Prairie Drop-seed. CC:9 SvyFld

Coefficient of Conservatism = 8

• Solidago speciosa Nutt. var. pallida Porter. Pale Showy Goldenrod. CC:8 NTM
• Prenanthes racemosa Michx. (Syn: Nabalus racemosus (Michx.) Hook. , Prenanthes racemosa Michx. var. multiflora (Cronquist) Dorn ) Purple Rattlesnake Root. CC:8 LkM
• Brickellia grandiflora (Hook.) Nutt. Tasselflower Brickellbush. CC:8 ApexGl HSq
• Liatris ligulistylis (A. Nelson) K. Schum. Northern Plains Gayfeather. CC:8 LkMPk
• Betula occidentalis Hook. (Syn: Betula fontinalis Sarg. ) Water Birch. CC:8 ClrCk
• Corylus cornuta Marshall. (Syn: Corylus cornuta Marshall var. cornuta ) Beaked Hazelnut. CC:8 ApexGl
• Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. D. J. Meeuse & Smit. (Syn: Diotis lanata Pursh , Eurotia lanata (Pursh) Moquin-Tandon ) Winter Fat. CC:8 Parfet
• Orthilia secunda (L.) House. Sidebells Wintergreen. CC:8
• Pyrola asarifolia Michx. (Syn: Pyrola rotundifolia L. ssp. asarifolia (Michx.) A. Löve ) Liverleaf Wintergreen. CC:8 LkM
• Circaea alpina L. Small Enchanter's Nightshade. CC:8 ApexGl
• Erythranthe guttata (Fisch. ex DC.) G.L. Nesom. (Syn: Mimulus guttatus DC. ) Seep Monkeyflower. CC:8 NTM
• Ipomopsis spicata (Nutt.) V.E. Grant. (Syn: Gilia spicata Nutt. var. spicata ) Spiked Ipomopsis. CC:8 Dead STM SvyFld
• Primula pauciflora (Durand) A. R. Mast & Reveal var. pauciflora. (Syn: Dodecatheon pulchellum (Raf.) Merr. ) Darkthroat Shooting Star. CC:8 ApexPkR Magpie LkM VidGl
• Anemone canadensis L. (Syn: Anemonidium canadensis (L.) A. Löve & D. Lö ) (=Anemonastrum canadense (L.) Mosyakin) Canadensis Anemone. CC:8 LkM
• Aquilegia coerulea E. James. Colorado Blue Columbine. CC:8 LkM
• Holodiscus discolor (Pursh) Maxim. var. dumosus (S. Watson) Maxim. Ex J. M. Coult. (Syn: H. dumosus (Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray) A.Heller ) Rock Spiraea. CC:8 ApexPkR Eage LkM NTM NTMP WelchD Windy
• Heuchera bracteata (Torr.) Ser. Bracted Alumroot. CC:8 ClrCk LkM TinC
• Micranthes rhomboidea (Greene) Small. (Syn: Saxifraga rhomboidea Greene ) Diamondleaf Saxifrage. CC:8 ApexPkR LkM NTM STM
• Carex deweyana Schwein. Dewey sedge. CC:8 LkM
• Prosartes trachycarpa S. Watson. (Syn: Disporum trachycarpum (S. Watson) Benth. & Hook. f. ) Roughfruit Fairybells. CC:8 LkM

Coefficient of Conservatism - 7

• Woodsia oregana D.C. Eaton ssp. cathcartiana (B.L. Rob.) Windham. Rocky Mountain Woodsia. CC:7 ApexPkR NTM NTMP STM
• Argyrochosma fendleri (Kunze) Windham. Fendler's False Cloak Fern. CC:7 STM
• Selaginella underwoodii Hieron. Underwood's Spikemoss. CC:7 NTM STM
• Sambucus canadensis L. American Black Elderberry. CC:7 ClrCk
• Aletes acaulis (Torr.) J.M. Coult. & Rose. Stemless Indian Parsley. CC:7 NTM NTMP STM WelchD
• Ligusticum porteri J.M. Coult. & Rose. Porter's Licorice-Root. CC:7 NTM-OS
• Asclepias stenophylla A. Gray. Narrow-leaved Milkweed. CC:7
• Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Raf. (Syn: Troximon glaucum Pursh ) Pale Goat-Chicory. CC:7 NTM
• Agoseris parviflora (Nutt.) D. Dietr. (Syn: A. glauca (Pursh) Raf. var. laciniata (D. C. Eaton) Smiley , Troximon parviflorum Nutt. , Troximon pubescens (Rydb.) A. Nels. ) Steppe Goat-Chicory. CC:7 ApexPkR Eage LkM MGal NTMP PftPP STM SvyFld TinC
• Brickellia californica (Torrey & A. Gray) A. Gray. California Brickelbush. CC:7 NTM NTMP STM
• Arnica cordifolia Hook. Heart-Leaf Leopardbane. CC:7 LkM
• Packera tridenticulata (Rydb.) W.A. Weber & Á. Löve. (Syn: Senecio tridenticulatus Rydb. ) (=Packera thurberi (A. Gray) B. L. Turner) Three-Tooth Ragwort. CC:7 ScHill
• Senecio wootonii Greene. Wooton's Ragwort. CC:7 NTM-OS
• Hydrophyllum fendleri (A. Gray) A. Heller var. fendleri. Fendler's Waterleaf. CC:7 KRun Magpie NTM NTM-OS SvyFld TrppRMdw
• Escobaria missouriensis (Sweet) D.R.Hunt. (Syn: Coryphantha missouriensis (Sweet) Britton & Rose ) Missouri Foxtail Cactus. CC:7 ApexPkR Eage MMtnAS Nhog NTM NTM-OS ScHill TinC TrppRMdw
• Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. Four-wing Saltbush. CC:7 L&C. Parfet PftPP Rmrck STM STM STM
• Cornus sericea L. (Syn: Swida sericea (L.) Holub. ) Creek Dogwood. CC:7 Cress KRun LkM STM
• Astragalus shortianus [Nutt. ex] Torr. & A.Gray. Short's Milkvetch. CC:7 ApexPkR Eage KRun Nhog NTM NTMP STM TinC
• Dalea candida Willd. White Prairie Clover. CC:7 NTMP STM
• Vicia ludoviciana Nutt. Louisiana Vetch. CC:7 STM
• Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinners. (Syn: Eustoma russellianum (Hook.) Griseb. ) Showy Prairie Gentian. CC:7 LkM
• Jamesia americana Torr. & A. Gray var. americana. Fivepetal Cliffbush. CC:7 LkM STM WelchD
• Mentzelia dispersa S. Watson. (Syn: Acrolasia dispersa (S. Watson) Davidson ) Bushy Blazing Star. CC:7 STM
• Claytonia lanceolata Pallas ex Pursh. Lanceleaf Springbeauty. CC:7 LkM
• Claytonia rosea Rydb. Rocky Mountain Springbeauty. CC:7 ApexGl ApexPkR LkM NTM-OS NTMP STM SvyFld TinC Windy
• Linaria canadensis (L.) Dum.-Cours. var. texana (Scheele) Pennell. (Syn: Nuttallanthus texanus (Scheele) D. A. Sutton ) Blue Toadflax. CC:7 Nhog
• Penstemon virens Pennell ex Rydb. Front Range Beardtongue. CC:7 ApexPkR KRun LkM Magpie Nhog Parfet PftPP ScHill STM Stone TinC TrppRMdw
• Microsteris gracilis (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene. Slender Phlox. CC:7 HSq STM
• Polemonium foliosissimum A. Gray. Towering Jacob's Ladder. CC:7
• Pulsatilla nuttalliana (DC.) Bercht. & J. Presl. (Syn: Anemone nuttalliana DC. , Anemone patens L. var. nuttalliana (DC.) A Gray , P. patens (L.) Mill ssp. nuttalliana (DC.) ined. ) Pasque Flower. CC:7 ApexPkR LkM NTM Windy
• Ranunculus ranunculinus (Nutt.) Rydb. (=Cyrtorhyncha ranunculina Nutt. Ex Torrey & A. Gray) Tadpole Buttercup. CC:7 ApexPkR
• Ceanothus fendleri A. Gray. Fendler's Ceanothus. CC:7 ApexGl ApexPkR LkM MtV
• Ceanothus herbaceus Raf. Jersey Tea. CC:7 STM
• Physocarpus monogynus (Torr.) J.M. Coult. (Syn: Spiraea monogyna Torr. ) Mountain Ninebark. CC:7 ApexPkR LkM Magpie NTM NTM-OS NTMP STM Stone TinC TrppRMdw WelchD Windy
• Galium triflorum Michx. Fragrant Bedstraw. CC:7 NTM
• Salix irrorata Andersson. Dewystem Willow. CC:7 Cress HDellOS Krun LkM Nhog
• Acer glabrum Torr. var. glabrum. (Syn: A. glabrum Torr. var. torreyi (Greene) Smiley ) Torrey Maple. CC:7 ApexGl ApexPk ClrCk HDellOS LkM Magpie NTM NTM-OS NTMP STM WelchD Windy
• Heuchera parvifolia Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray. Littleleaf Alumroot. CC:7 Magpie NTM NTMP STM TinC
• Limosella aquatica L. Water Mudwort. CC:7 NTM NTMP STM
• Hybanthus verticillatus (Ortega) Baill. Baby Slippers. CC:7 NTM NTMP Parfet STM
• Viola canadensis L. (Syn: Viola rydbergii Greene , Viola scopulorum (A. Gray) Greene ) Canadian White Violet. CC:7 ApexPkR LkM NTM STM WelchD Windy
• Viola pedatifida G. Don. Prairie Violet. CC:7 LkM
• Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. amplexicaule (Nutt.) LaFrankie. (Syn: Maianthemum amplexicaule (Nutt.) W. A. Weber ) Feathery False Lily of the Valley. CC:7 LkM
• Maianthemum stellatum (L.) Link. Starry False Lily of the Valley. CC:7 ApexPkR WelchD Windy
• Carex duriuscula C.A. Mey. (Syn: Carex stenophylla Wahlenb. , Carex stenophylla Wahlenb. ssp. eleocharis (L. H. Bailey) Hultén ) Needleleaf Sedge. CC:7 NTM STM
• Carex inops L. H. Bailey ssp. heliophila (Mack.) Crins. (Syn: C. pensylvanica Lam. ssp. heliophila (Mack.) W. A. Weber ) Sun Sedge. CC:7 ApexPkR DeLong Eage HDellOS LZ MMtnAS Nhog NTM NTM-OS NTMP ScHill STM Stone SvyFld TinC
• Carex occidentalis L. H. Bailey. Western Sedge. CC:7 NTM-OS Windy
• Eleocharis compressa Sull. (Syn: Eleocharis elliptica Kunth var. compressa (Sull.) Drapalik & Mohlenbr. ) Flatstem Spikerush. CC:7 NTM STM
• Calochortus gunnisonii S. Watson. Gunnison's Mariposa Lily. CC:7 Eage LkM NTM-OS STM SvyFld
• Streptopus amplexifolius (L.) DC. Clasping Twistedstalk. CC:7 Chim
• Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm. (Syn: Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm. ssp. bracteatum (Muhl.) Hultén , Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase ) Longbract Frog Orchid. CC:7 LkM
• Corallorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. Summer Coralroot. CC:7 LkM Xmas
• Spiranthes diluvialis Sheviak. Ute Lady's Tresses. CC:7
• Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn. in Hackel. Prairie Sandreed. CC:7 Nhog
• Danthonia spicata (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. Poverty Oatgrass. CC:7 HSq
• Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) Hitchc. Foxtail Muhly. CC:7 Gterry
• Muhlenbergia montana (Nutt.) Hitchc. Mountain Muhly. CC:7 ApexPkR LkM Nhog TinC
• Muhlenbergia wrightii Vasey ex J.M. Coult. Spike Muhly. CC:7 NTMP STM
• Festuca idahoensis Elmer. Idaho Fescue. CC:7 ScHill
• Poa tracyi Vasey. Tracy's Bluegrass. CC:7
• Eriocoma scribneri (Vasey) Romasch. (Syn: Achnatherum scribneri (Vasey) Barkworth , Stipa scribneri Vasey ) CC:7 Krun NTM
• Elymus glaucus Buckley. Blue Wild Rye. CC:7 NTM
• Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve. (Syn: Elymus spicatus (Pursh) Gould ) Bluebunch Wheat Grass. CC:7 L&C.
• Smilax lasioneuron Hook. Blue Ridge Carrionflower. CC:7 Krun Lk