Print Report

A4381 Atriplex gardneri - Artemisia tridentata Northwestern Plains Dwarf-shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This dwarf shrub alliance occurs in the dry Northwestern Great Plains, dominated by Atriplex gardneri and Artemisia tridentata with mixedgrass prairie associates.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: 

Colloquial Name: Northwestern Great Plains Dry Mixedgrass Shrubland Alliance

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This dwarf shrub alliance occurs in the dry Northwestern Great Plains, dominated by Atriplex gardneri and Artemisia tridentata with mixedgrass prairie associates.Common grasses include Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comate, Pascopyrum smithii, Pseudoroegneria spicata. Other dwarf shrubs include Artemisia pedatifida, Ericameria nauseosa, and Krascheninnikovia lanata.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type is comprised of sage dwarf-shrubs that are more typical of the Great Basin, but whose range extends into the dry mixedgrass prairie of Montana and Wyoming. Rather than use the dwarf-shrubs as the basis for placing these associations in a Great Basin group, we rely on the diagnostic mixedgrass prairie species and the geographic location of these stands to place them in a Great Plains mixedgrass prairie group. See also NatureServe''s Ecological System: Northwestern Great Plains Shrubland.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This dwarf shrub alliance occurs in the dry Northwestern Great Plains, from Montana and Wyoming to North and South Dakota.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MT, ND, SD, WY


Confidence Level: Proposed (Submitted)

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.b Needle-and-Thread - Blue Grama Dry Mixedgrass Prairie Group G331 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Alliance A4381 None A4381 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL000993 Big Sagebrush - Shadscale Saltbush Shrubland CEGL000993 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001330 Rubber Rabbitbrush / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrubland CEGL001330 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001440 Gardner''s Saltbush / Big Sagebrush Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001440 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001443 Gardner''s Saltbush / Nuttall''s Povertyweed Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001443 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001445 Gardner''s Saltbush / Western Wheatgrass Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001445 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Association CEGL001451 Birdfoot Sagebrush / Western Wheatgrass Shrubland CEGL001451 2.B.2.Nb.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): No Data Available

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: No Data Available
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.