Print Report

CEGL001017 Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Pascopyrum smithii - (Elymus lanceolatus) Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Basin Big Sagebrush / Western Wheatgrass - (Thick-spike Wheatgrass) Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widespread sagebrush shrubland occurs on valley bottoms, stream terraces and other relatively mesic sites west of the Great Plains throughout much of the intermountain western U.S. Stands occur over an elevational range of 1800-2410 m (5900-7900 feet). Most stands grow on alluvial terraces in stream alluvium, although a few occur on upland swales. Soils generally are loamy or sandy. Water tables may be within 2 m of the soil surface. The stream channel often is dry and may be incised. Soils are moderately well-drained sandy loam to sandy clay loam derived from alluvium. This association is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer (up to about 40% canopy cover and to 1.5 m tall) that is dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, with an herbaceous layer that is usually dominated by Pascopyrum smithii or Elymus lanceolatus. Other shrubs may be present in small amounts, especially Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Ericameria parryi, Krascheninnikovia lanata, or Quercus gambelii. The sparse to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids and is poor in species richness relative to other sagebrush types. Other species that may be present in substantial amounts are Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum pinetorum, Bromus inermis, Elymus elymoides, Leymus cinereus, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and introduced species Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis. Forbs contribute much less cover than do grasses. Species that often occur are Achillea millefolium, Astragalus spp., Erigeron compositus, Packera cana, Penstemon spp., Symphyotrichum ascendens, and introduced species Taraxacum officinale and Melilotus officinalis.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: This association is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer (up to about 40% canopy cover and to 1.5 m tall) that is dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, with an herbaceous layer that is usually dominated by Pascopyrum smithii or Elymus lanceolatus. Other shrubs may be present in small amounts, especially Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Ericameria parryi, Krascheninnikovia lanata, or Quercus gambelii. The sparse to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids and is poor in species richness relative to other sagebrush types. Other species that may be present in substantial amounts are Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum pinetorum, Bromus inermis, Elymus elymoides, and Poa fendleriana in Colorado (Tiedemann et al. 1987), Poa secunda (= Poa nevadensis) and Muhlenbergia richardsonis in Nevada (Blackburn et al. 1971), and Leymus cinereus and Poa pratensis in Montana (Cooper et al. 1995). Forbs contribute much less cover than do grasses. Species that often occur are Symphyotrichum ascendens (= Aster ascendens) and Collinsia parviflora in Nevada (Blackburn et al. 1971), Achillea millefolium, Astragalus convallarius, Astragalus drummondii, Astragalus tenellus, Penstemon strictus, and Penstemon caespitosus in north-central Colorado (Tiedemann et al. 1987), Achillea millefolium, Erigeron compositus, Packera cana (= Senecio canus), and Taraxacum officinale in southwestern Montana (Cooper et al. 1995), and Cordylanthus ramosus in southwestern Wyoming (Jones and Fertig 1996). Mosses and lichens may be important ground cover.

Dynamics:  Artemisia tridentata shrubs are killed by burns and do not resprout (Wright et al. 1979). Artemisia tridentata will re-establish relatively quickly (about 10-20 years) if a seed source is nearby (Bunting 1987). If fire-return intervals are more frequent than 10 years, then Artemisia tridentata has difficulty recovering (Bunting 1987, Everett 1987).
Environmental Description:  This widespread sagebrush shrubland occurs on valley bottoms, stream terraces and other relatively mesic sites west of the Great Plains. Stands occur over an elevational range of 1800-2410 m (5900-7900 feet). Most stands grow on alluvial terraces in stream alluvium, although a few occur on upland swales. Soils generally are loamy or sandy. Water tables may be within 2 m of the soil surface. The stream channel often is dry and may be incised. Soils are moderately well-drained sandy loam to sandy clay loam derived from alluvium.
Geographic Range: This association occurs across the interior western U.S. from southwestern Montana, southwestern Wyoming, and north-central Colorado to southwestern Utah and northeastern Nevada. It may also occur in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho given the broad geographic ranges of Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata and Pascopyrum smithii.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID?, MT, NV, OR?, UT, WA?, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?

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.b Basin Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group G302 3.B.1.Ne.3.b
Alliance A3183 Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3183 3.B.1.Ne.3.b
Association CEGL001017 Basin Big Sagebrush / Western Wheatgrass - (Thick-spike Wheatgrass) Shrubland CEGL001017 3.B.1.Ne.3.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron smithii Community Type (Blackburn et al. 1971)
? Artemisia tridentata / Elytrigia smithii Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [Johnston (1987) does not specify the subspecies of big sagebrush.]
> Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron smithii Community Type (Cooper et al. 1995)
< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron smithii habitat type (Tiedemann et al. 1987)
< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron smithii habitat type (Strong 1980) [Strong''s information on the composition of the vegetation on his habitat type was taken from work that led to Tiedemann et al.''s (1987) habitat type description.]
= Artemisia tridentata tridentata / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Francis 1983)
< Poa nevadensis / Carex sp. Habitat Type (Blackburn et al. 1971) [supports stands of their Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron smithii Community Type, which apparently belongs to this association (they did not specify the subspecies of Artemisia tridentata, but the habitat is similar to that described in reports elsewhere).]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-17-06
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