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CEGL002932 Bouteloua gracilis - Hesperostipa comata Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama - Needle-and-Thread Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has only been described from Zion National Park, Utah. It also occurs at Capitol Reef National Park. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. At Zion National Park, this plant association has an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by grasses with scattered shrubs that form a mosaic. The graminoid layer is codominated by Bouteloua gracilis and Hesperostipa comata with variable amounts of cover ranging from 5-20% combined. Poa fendleriana was present with 10% cover in three of the four sampled sites. Other grasses that occurred were Muhlenbergia montana and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Shrubs are less consistent in composition among sites sampled and contribute less than 10% cover. Shrub species that are likely to occur in the stand and in nearby shrublands are Tetradymia canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, and Yucca elata. Pinus edulis was present in two sampled sites, but with minimal cover. Pinyon-juniper woodlands are a part of the shrubland/grassland mosaic on a landscape scale. This association occurs on gently sloping mesatops with elevations ranging from 1800 to 2255 m (5900-7400 feet). Soil texture is loamy sand.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a very tentative type, distinguished by only 3 plots from Zion National Park.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: At Zion National Park, this plant association has an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by grasses with scattered shrubs that form a mosaic. The graminoid layer is codominated by Bouteloua gracilis and Hesperostipa comata with variable amounts of cover ranging from 5-20% combined. Poa fendleriana was present with 10% cover in three of the four sampled sites. Other grasses that occurred were Muhlenbergia montana and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Shrubs are less consistent in composition among sites sampled and contribute less than 10% cover. Shrub species that are likely to occur in the stand and in nearby shrublands are Tetradymia canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, and Yucca elata (= var. utahensis). Pinus edulis was present in two sampled sites, but with minimal cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Pinyon-juniper woodlands are a part of the shrubland/grassland mosaic on a landscape scale. This association occurs on gently sloping mesatops with elevations ranging from 1800 to 2255 m (5900-7400 feet). Soil texture is loamy sand.
Geographic Range: This association has currently only been described from Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. It also occurs at Capitol Reef National Park.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684884
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c James'' Galleta - Indian Ricegrass - Needle-and-Thread Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G311 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Alliance | A1270 Needle-and-Thread Grassland Alliance | A1270 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002932 Blue Grama - Needle-and-Thread Grassland | CEGL002932 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bouteloua gracilis - Hesperostipa comata Herbaceous Vegetation [Provisional] (Cogan et al. 2004)
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Cogan, D., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.