Print Report
CEGL001450 Artemisia pedatifida / Elymus elymoides Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Birdfoot Sagebrush / Squirreltail Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation type has been reported from basins in south-central Wyoming, where it occurs on level to moderately sloping sites with soils of clay to loam texture. The low vegetation is composed mainly of dwarf-shrubs and grasses. The dwarf-shrub component generally consists of Artemisia pedatifida and at least one other species, either Bassia americana, Atriplex gardneri, or Krascheninnikovia lanata. Elymus elymoides and Poa secunda generally are the major herbaceous species, although Achnatherum hymenoides, Pascopyrum smithii, and Phlox hoodii usually are present and may contribute substantial cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of vegetation with a dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia pedatifida have been described from several locations in south-central and east-central Wyoming. These stands have been divided into two associations, this one (CEGL001450) and ~Artemisia pedatifida / Pascopyrum smithii Shrubland (CEGL001451)$$. These two associations seem to be overlap substantially in species composition, sharing Krascheninnikovia lanata (and, less often, Bassia americana and Atriplex gardneri) in the dwarf-shrub component and Pascopyrum smithii, Elymus elymoides, Poa secunda, Achnatherum hymenoides, and Phlox hoodii in the herbaceous component. The two associations have been differentiated on the basis of relative cover of grasses; stands in which Elymus elymoides dominates are placed into this association, while stands where Pascopyrum smithii dominates are placed into the other, even though these stands may share a large number of species. It is unclear whether these differences in relative amounts of grasses represent different environments, different patterns of use, or other meaningful differences.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The low vegetation is composed mainly of dwarf-shrubs and grasses. The dwarf-shrub component generally consists of Artemisia pedatifida and at least one other species, either Bassia americana (= Kochia americana), Atriplex gardneri, or Krascheninnikovia lanata. Elymus elymoides and Poa secunda generally are the major herbaceous species, although Achnatherum hymenoides, Pascopyrum smithii, and Phlox hoodii usually are present and may contribute substantial cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It occurs on level to moderately sloping sites with soils of clay to loam texture.
Geographic Range: This association has been described only from south-central Wyoming, but better information on Artemisia pedatifida vegetation in northern Colorado, northeastern Wyoming, and eastern Montana may show that it has a much broader geographic range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684413
Confidence Level: Low
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.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup | M093 | 3.B.1.Ne.5 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a Mat Saltbush - Gardner''s Saltbush - Birdfoot Sagebrush Dwarf-Scrub Group | G301 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Alliance | A1127 Birdfoot Sagebrush Low Scrub Alliance | A1127 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Association | CEGL001450 Birdfoot Sagebrush / Squirreltail Shrubland | CEGL001450 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia pedatifida / Sitanion hystrix (Gibbens 1972)
- 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.
- Gibbens, R. P. 1972. Vegetation pattern within northern desert shrub communities. Unpublished dissertation, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
- Leucite Hills Mine Application. No date. No. 520-T2, on file at Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Land Quality Division, Cheyenne.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.