Print Report

CEGL002931 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is known from southern Utah to southern Idaho and western Wyoming and is likely to occur in northern Nevada. It occurs on moderate slopes between 1372 to 2850 m (4500-9350 feet) elevation. Soils are deep and range from clay loam to sandy loams. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana is the dominant shrub. Purshia tridentata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Ericameria sp., Artemisia tripartita, and Amelanchier alnifolia may be present at upper elevations, and at lower altitudes Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and Tetradymia canescens can be common. Hesperostipa comata is the principal understory species. Festuca idahoensis, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Koeleria macrantha may be present in small amounts. Other herbaceous species that may be present include Carex rossii, Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum nelsonii, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa pratensis, Antennaria microphylla, and Eriogonum umbellatum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The global description is based on Hironaka et al. (1983) and Grand Teton National Park and Zion National Park local descriptions. Of all the references for this association, only Hironaka et al. (1983) clearly reference an Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Stipa comata vegetation type. All the others (Poulton 1955, Tueller et al. 1966, Blackburn 1967, Blackburn et al. 1968c, 1971, McLean 1970, Tueller and Blackburn 1974, DeVelice and Lesica 1993) do not provide information as to the subspecies of Artemisia tridentata. Further clarification of which published materials relate to this association is needed. Based on habitat information and photos available for the study areas in Nevada, these could reference Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata vegetation types.

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

Floristics: Total vegetation cover usually exceeds 60% in these moderately to densely vegetated communities. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana is the dominant shrub, with between 1 and 40% cover. Purshia tridentata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Ericameria sp., Artemisia tripartita, and Amelanchier alnifolia may be present at upper elevations, and at lower altitudes Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Cercocarpus montanus, and Tetradymia canescens can be common. Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata) is the principal understory species. Festuca idahoensis, Pseudoroegneria spicata (= Agropyron spicatum), and Koeleria macrantha may be present in small amounts. Other herbaceous species that may be present include Bouteloua gracilis, Poa fendleriana, Muhlenbergia spp., Carex rossii, Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum nelsonii, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa pratensis, Antennaria microphylla, and Eriogonum umbellatum.

Dynamics:  This shrubland association is subject to alteration as a result of fire, drought, or encroaching pinyon-juniper woodlands. The cover of Hesperostipa comata may vary considerably from year to year, depending on the quantity and timing of precipitation.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on gentle to moderate slopes, ridges, depressions and plateaus between 1370 and 2850 m (4500-9350 feet) elevation. The lower elevations tend to occur at the northern end of the association''s range. Soils are derived from alluvium, eolian sands or loess, are deep and range in texture from clay loam to sandy loams.
Geographic Range: This association is known from southern Utah to southern Idaho and western Wyoming. It is likely to occur in northern Nevada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class C03 3
Subclass 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass S11 3.B
Formation 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation F033 3.B.1
Division 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division D040 3.B.1.Ne
Macrogroup 3.B.1.Ne.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup M169 3.B.1.Ne.3
Group 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group G304 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Alliance A3207 Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3207 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Association CEGL002931 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland CEGL002931 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Concept Lineage: This type is a result of the split of CEGL001010.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn 1967)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn et al. 1968c)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn et al. 1971)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Habitat Type (McLean 1970)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Stipa comata - Geum triflorum (Bramble-Brodahl 1978)
= Artemisia vaseyana / Stipa comata Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983) [refers to Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana.]
= Artemisia-Agropyron Association, Stipa comata Phase (Poulton 1955)
= Mountain Big Sagebrush / Needle and Thread Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): Hironaka et al. (1983)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-07-06
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  • Blackburn, W. H. 1967. Plant succession on selected habitat types in Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno. 162 pp.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1968c. Vegetation and soils of the Duckwater watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-40. University of Nevada, Reno. 76 pp.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1971. Vegetation and soils of the Rock Springs watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-83. Reno. 116 pp.
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  • Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
  • Tueller, P. T., D. H. Heinze, and R. E. Eckert. 1966. A tentative list of existing Nevada plant communities (A third approximation). Unpublished report prepared for the Department of Range Wildlife and Forestry, University of Nevada, Reno. 14 pp.
  • Tueller, P. T., and W. H. Blackburn. 1974. Condition and trend of the big sagebrush/needle-and-thread habitat type in Nevada. Journal of Range Management 27(1):36-40.
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