Print Report

CEGL001016 Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Leymus cinereus Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Basin Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widely distributed sagebrush shrubland is a transitional community found on floodplains, terraces of perennial streams and along the edges of seasonally flooded washes and gullies of the high desert steppe of the western United States or associated relatively mesic upland sites (swales) with high water tables. Elevations range from 1600 to 2170 m (5250-7120 feet). On terraces, slopes are level to gentle, and the substrate is alluvium or loess. Mesic upland site are gentle to steep, with substrates derived from shale and sandstone. Soils generally have silty or clay loam textures and are moderately well-drained. Stands of this association are characterized by a shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata standing 1-3 m tall and an herbaceous layer dominated by Leymus cinereus 0.5-1.5 m tall. Some stands may take the form of a Leymus cinereus grassland with Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata on the margins, but more often stands are shrublands with grass growing in openings between shrub canopies. Total vegetation cover ranges from 20 to 90%. Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Ericameria nauseosa may also be present in the shrub stratum. Leymus cinereus dominates the understory with 15 to 90% cover. Various other grasses are likely to be present, including Bromus tectorum, Distichlis spicata, and other grasses associated with more mesic or riparian environments. Forbs species vary among sites.

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: Stands of this association are characterized by a shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata standing 1-3 m tall, and an herbaceous layer dominated by Leymus cinereus 0.5-1.5 m tall. Some stands may take the form of a Leymus cinereus grassland with Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata on the margins, but more often stands are shrublands with grass growing in openings between shrub canopies. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Rosa woodsii, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus may also be present in the shrub stratum. Leymus cinereus dominates the understory with 15 to 90% cover. Various other graminoids may be present, including Poa secunda, Poa fendleriana, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Distichlis spicata, and other grasses associated with more mesic or riparian environments. Forbs species vary among sites but tend to be relatively mesic, such as Achillea millefolium, Cirsium undulatum, Geranium spp., Iva axillaris, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia oblongifolia, Pteryxia terebinthina (= Cymopterus terebinthinus), and Vicia americana. Exotic grasses Bromus tectorum and Poa pratensis may be common on disturbed sites.

Dynamics:  Fire and seasonally high water tables play important roles in maintaining a high cover of Leymus cinereus.
Environmental Description:  This widely distributed sagebrush shrubland is a transitional community found on floodplain terraces of perennial streams, along the edges of seasonally flooded washes and gullies of the high desert steppe, or associated relatively mesic upland sites such as swales on ridge slopes or a landslide/slump below seeps on steeper slopes that have high water tables. Elevations range from 1600 to 2170 m (5250-7120 feet). Slopes are level to gentle on terraces to moderately steep on mesic hillslopes. Substrates are variable and include alluvium, colluvium or loess. Soils generally have silty or clay loam textures and are moderately well-drained. Parent materials include sandstone and shale.
Geographic Range: This was formerly a widespread association in the western United States. Today it is known from California to Washington and east to Montana and Colorado.

Nations: US

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


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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 CEGL001016 Basin Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland CEGL001016 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 / Elymus cinereus Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [Also includes stands dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana.]
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Elymus cinereus (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Elymus cinereus Association (Baker 1982b)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Elymus cinereus Association (Baker 1983b)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Elymus cinereus Association (Baker and Kennedy 1985)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Leymus cinereus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Leymus cinereus Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Basin Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Leymus cinereus Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): M. Jankovsky-Jones

Author of Description: M. Jankovsky-Jones, J. Coles and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-17-08
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