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CEGL001667 Pseudoroegneria spicata - Eriogonum brevicaule Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Shortstem Buckwheat Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparse vegetation association occurs within the Bighorn Basin of south-central Montana. The habitat consists of very arid, steep, highly eroded and eroding slopes with southern or western aspects. These "badland" environments form a band on the slopes of the Pryor Mountains from 1280-1525 m elevation. This community likely occurs in similar "badlands" habitats in adjacent areas in Wyoming. Soils are deep, alkaline sandy clay or clay derived from shale, bentonite, claystone or sandstone interbedded with clay. The soil surface has high cover of gravel and cobbles. Cryptogamic soil crusts may form on gentler, less disturbed slopes. Stands are characterized by a sparse herbaceous layer that is codominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata and Eriogonum brevicaule. The total vegetation cover is typically less that 25% and is typically codominated by the cool-season, medium-tall bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata (7% mean cover) and the warm-season, perennial forb Eriogonum brevicaule (8% mean cover). Other species may include scattered shrubs, such as Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Atriplex confertifolia, the grasses Achnatherum hymenoides and Poa secunda, and the forbs Arenaria hookeri, Cryptantha spp. and Machaeranthera grindelioides.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The primary factor governing the restricted range of this association is the limited distribution of the indicator species Eriogonum brevicaule, which within Montana only occurs in Carbon and Big Horn counties. A similar association on comparable substrates occurs in southeastern Montana, but Eriogonum pauciflorum replaces Eriogonum brevicaule as the most common forb.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are characterized by a sparse herbaceous layer that is codominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata and Eriogonum brevicaule. The total vegetation cover is typically less that 25% and is typically codominated by the cool-season, medium-tall bunchgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata (7% mean cover) and the warm-season, perennial forb Eriogonum brevicaule (8% mean cover). Other species may include scattered shrubs, such as Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Gutierrezia sarothrae, Atriplex confertifolia, the grasses Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) and Poa secunda, and the forbs Arenaria hookeri, Cryptantha spp. and Machaeranthera grindelioides.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The habitat consists of very arid, steep, highly eroded and eroding slopes with southern or western aspects. These "badland" environments form a band on the slopes of the Pryor Mountains from 1280-1525 m elevation. This community likely occurs in similar "badlands" habitats in adjacent areas in Wyoming. Soils are deep, alkaline sandy clay or clay derived from shale, bentonite, claystone or sandstone interbedded with clay. The soil surface has high cover of gravel and cobbles. Cryptogamic soil crusts may form on gentler, less disturbed slopes.
Geographic Range: This association is apparently restricted to conditions obtaining within the Bighorn Basin Section of Montana. The combination of very arid climate and steep, highly eroded and eroding slopes provides appropriate habitat, therefore this association can be speculated to occur in Wyoming as well. Some very similar conditions obtain in southeastern Montana, but within Montana Eriogonum brevicaule occurs in only Carbon and Big Horn counties.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684734
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.6 Saltbush species - Joint-fir species - Buckwheat species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Macrogroup | M118 | 3.B.1.Ne.6 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a Saltbush species - Mountain-mahogany species - Joint-fir species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Group | G570 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Alliance | A4052 Joint-fir species - Saline Wildrye - Crispleaf Buckwheat Badlands Cold Desert Sparse Vegetation Alliance | A4052 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Association | CEGL001667 Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Shortstem Buckwheat Sparse Vegetation | CEGL001667 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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., and P. Lesica. 1993. Plant community classification for vegetation on BLM lands, Pryor Mountains, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report by Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 78 pp.
- Lesica, P., and R. L. DeVelice. 1992. Plant communities of the Pryor Mountains. Preliminary report prepared by the Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Stevens, J. E., D. S. Jones, and K. J. Benner. 2015. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRYN/NRR--2015/1070. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 350 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.