Print Report
CEGL001521 Artemisia longifolia - Calamovilfa longifolia Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Wormwood - Prairie Sandreed Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparse plant community is a distinctive minor association occurring as small patches on steep, erosive and barren slopes or colluvium at slope bases in badlands topography of north-central Montana. It may occur in adjacent Canada if appropriate habitat exits. The climate is semi-arid (annual average precipitation 10-14 inches), temperate and verging on continental; two-thirds of the annual precipitation is received in spring and early summer. Parent material is soft, dark and erosive marine shale of the Colorado, Claggett and Bearpaw formations; these shales are quite fissile, weathering to predominantly sand-sized shards and excessively well-drained soils with a very acidic reaction (pH <5.0). The substrate''s coarse texture and highly erosive nature precludes the development of soil horizons. Total canopy cover rarely exceeds 20%. Rosa arkansana is the only shrub with high constancy (mean canopy cover 1%); it occurs in a dwarfed form due to the stressful nature of these sites. The subshrubs Eriogonum pauciflorum and Gutierrezia sarothrae are also highly constant. Common and diagnostic grasses include Calamovilfa longifolia and Calamagrostis montanensis; their canopy cover is usually in the range of 1-5%. The most common and diagnostic forb is Artemisia longifolia (4-15% cover) with Thermopsis rhombifolia, Eriogonum pauciflorum, and Stephanomeria runcinata also consistently present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The original name of the association was Artemisia longifolia - Oryzopsis hymenoides but when scrutinized was found to largely lack Achnatherum hymenoides, ostensibly the diagnostic species. Stands lacking the above-cited diagnostic graminoids but having Carex inops and/or Schizachyrium scoparium as the important graminoids, as well as stands having Artemisia longifolia and other subshrubs as the only diagnostic species present and very low species richness, have been observed in Valley County, Montana. The latter situation probably accords with the concept of ~Artemisia longifolia Badlands Sparse Vegetation (CEGL002195)$$ found in the Dakota Badlands and is much more likely to be found specifically on bentonite clays. Steep badland slopes in Alberta support what has been termed an Artemisia longifolia - Ericameria nauseosa community. It bears a strong resemblance to that considered here, both in lack of canopy cover and species composition, particularly if Calamagrostis montanensis is accorded indicator status equivalent to that of Calamovilfa longifolia.
Harvey (1982) described the Artemisia longifolia / Calamovilfa longifolia community type from shale barrens in Musselshell and Petroleum counties of north-central Montana. Jorgensen (1979) described the Rosa arkansana / Thermopsis rhombifolia Habitat Type from shale barrens in Petroleum and Fergus counties in north-central Montana. Again, species composition is similar to Artemisia longifolia / Calamovilfa longifolia, but relative abundances are somewhat different. This type is probably synonymous with Artemisia longifolia / Achnatherum hymenoides (Harvey 1982), and thus with this type.
Harvey (1982) described the Artemisia longifolia / Calamovilfa longifolia community type from shale barrens in Musselshell and Petroleum counties of north-central Montana. Jorgensen (1979) described the Rosa arkansana / Thermopsis rhombifolia Habitat Type from shale barrens in Petroleum and Fergus counties in north-central Montana. Again, species composition is similar to Artemisia longifolia / Calamovilfa longifolia, but relative abundances are somewhat different. This type is probably synonymous with Artemisia longifolia / Achnatherum hymenoides (Harvey 1982), and thus with this type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total canopy cover is low (10-20%) (Jorgensen 1979, DeVelice et al. 1991), and consequently composition is variable. Shrubs are uncommon; Rosa arkansana is the only constant species (mean canopy cover of 1%). Common graminoids include Calamovilfa longifolia and Calamagrostis montanensis. Common and diagnostic forbs include Artemisia longifolia (4-14%), Thermopsis rhombifolia (1-3%), and Eriogonum pauciflorum (Jorgensen 1979, Harvey 1982, DeVelice et al. 1991).
Dynamics: Wind erosion is common because of the exposed positions and lack of vegetal cover (DeVelice et al. 1991, Harvey 1982). Jorgensen (1979) believes that as soils develop this community will be replaced by Artemisia tridentata / Elymus lanceolatus. However, it is not clear that mature soils are capable of developing on these sites (DeVelice et al. 1991).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on undeveloped soils derived from outcrops of acidic shale, often in badlands topography. It is found on steep slopes, often with a southern or western aspect (DeVelice et al. 1991). Elevations range from about 915 to 1220 m (3000-4000 feet). Mean annual precipitation for the area is about 30 cm (Soil Conservation Service 1981b). This community appears to be endemic to highly erodible, undeveloped soils derived from soft, dark, marine shales of the Colorado, Claggett and Bearpaw formations. Soils are very acidic (pH <5.0) with high concentrations of clay shards that apparently provide a sandy texture (Jorgensen 1979, Harvey 1982). Wind erosion is common on these sites.
Geographic Range: The known extent is a four-county area (Valley, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Fergus) in central to north-central Montana (Jorgensen 1979, Harvey 1982, DeVelice et al. 1991). There is a strong indication that it occurs in neighboring portions of Alberta and is predicted to exist in western Saskatchewan if appropriate shale substrates are present.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, SK?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683377
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.3 Great Plains Badlands Vegetation Macrogroup | M115 | 6.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.3.a Greasewood / Few-flower Buckwheat - Broom Snakeweed Badlands Group | G566 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A1874 Longleaf Wormwood Badlands Alliance | A1874 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001521 Longleaf Wormwood - Prairie Sandreed Sparse Vegetation | CEGL001521 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: included here
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia longifolia / Achnatherum hymenoides (Harvey 1982)
= Artemisia longifolia / Calamovilfa longifolia community type (Harvey 1982)
= Rosa arkansana / Thermopsis rhombifolia Habitat Type (Jorgensen 1979) [(see similar communities above)]
= Artemisia longifolia / Calamovilfa longifolia community type (Harvey 1982)
= Rosa arkansana / Thermopsis rhombifolia Habitat Type (Jorgensen 1979) [(see similar communities above)]
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- DeVelice, R. L., J. Lichthardt, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1991. A preliminary classification of the plant communities of northeastern Montana. Prepared for the Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena, MT. 144 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L., S. V. Cooper, J. T. McGarvey, J. Lichthardt, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1995. Plant communities of northeastern Montana: A first approximation. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 116 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-157. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 68 pp.
- Harvey, S. J. 1982. Vegetation of Musselshell and Petroleum counties, Montana. Unpublished report to USDA Soil Conservation Service, Roundup, MT. 27 pp.
- Jorgensen, H. E. 1979. Vegetation of the Yellow Water Triangle, Montana. Montana Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management. Helena, MT. 57 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Soil Conservation Service. 1981b. Average annual precipitation Montana. USDA-SCS, Bozeman, MT.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.