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CEGL001051 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This plant association is from the Columbia River Basin of Oregon and Washington (Columbia Basin and western portion of the Okanogan Highlands ecoregional sections) and the Snake River Plain (Owyhee Uplands and Snake River Basalts ecoregional sections) in Idaho. The association is restricted to sandy loam or uniformly high calcareous silt loam soils which receive approximately 20 to 30 cm (8-12 inches) precipitation annually. Stands are dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis. Achnatherum hymenoides and Elymus elymoides are consistently present with Hesperostipa comata. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is commonly associated.
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 poorly described in the literature. It is dominated by the evergreen microphyllous shrub Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, with another microphyllous shrub, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, commonly present. Average cover is unknown; and typically both shrubs are less than 1 m in height. The herbaceous layer is dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), with Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) and Elymus elymoides being common associates. Other information on the herbaceous layer is not available. A cryptogamic crust may be present on undisturbed stands of this association, with the moss Tortula ruralis being important. If perennial plant cover is destroyed by severe overgrazing, the annual cheatgrass Bromus tectorum is invasive and can dominant stands of this association.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Little information is available, but this type is apparently restricted to a particular edaphic situation. It occurs in the drier areas of a semi-arid region; annual precipitation is between 20 and 30 cm (8-12 inches), mostly as winter snows. Summer convective storms also contribute to the annual precipitation. This association is restricted to sandy loam or uniformly, highly calcareous silt loam soils. B horizons are weakly to moderately developed, and probably overlie C horizons with carbonate hardpans. Sites where this association occurs are susceptible to wind erosion when plant cover is destroyed, due to the low precipitation, warm temperatures and sandy soils.
Geographic Range: The plant association occurs within the Columbia River Basin of Oregon and Washington (Columbia Basin and western portion of the Okanogan Highlands ecoregional sections) and the Snake River Plain (Owyhee Uplands and Snake River Basalts ecoregional sections) in Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, NV, OR, UT?, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684798
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 | A3182 Wyoming Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3182 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001051 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland | CEGL001051 | 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 wyomingensis / Stipa comata Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
= Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Needle and Thread Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
= Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Needle and Thread Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
- Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
- 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.
- Caicco, S. L., and C. A. Wellner. 1983k. Research Natural Area recommendation for East Fork Salmon River Bench. Unpublished report prepared for USDI Bureau of Land Management, Salmon District, Idaho by Idaho Natural Areas Coordinating Committee. 14 pp.
- Erixson, J. A., and D. Cogan. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping: Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR--2009/212. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 206 pp.
- Erixson, J., D. Cogan, and J. Von Loh. 2011b. Vegetation inventory project report: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR--2011/434 National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho. Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 15, University of Idaho, Moscow. 44 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Peterson, E. B. 2008. International Vegetation Classification alliances and associations occurring in Nevada with proposed additions. Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Carson City, NV. 348 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Winward, A. H. 1970. Taxonomic and ecological relationships of the big sagebrush complex in Idaho. Unpublished dissertation, University of Idaho, Moscow. 90 pp.