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CEGL001507 Rhus glabra / Aristida purpurea var. longiseta Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Smooth Sumac / Red Three-awn Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open shrubland association has been described from river canyons in the Columbia Basin in Washington, and possibly occurs in Idaho and Oregon. Stands are found on sandy alluvial or colluvial soils in the driest and warmest canyon sites, from 250-800 m elevation. Aspects are usually southerly, and slopes are gentle to steep. The soils are highly variable, but typically weakly developed, low in organic matter, and range from shallow and rocky to deep, nearly stone-free profiles. Soil texture is silt loam to sandy loam. This association is dominated by the clonal, broad-leaved deciduous shrub Rhus glabra. This is the only shrub species present and is highly variable in cover and density, ranging from 20% to over 50% cover, and 2 to 4 live stems/square meter. Most stems are 0.6-1 m in height. The moderately dense herbaceous layer is generally 0.5 m in height and is dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Aristida purpurea var. longiseta with over 40% cover. The other perennial bunchgrasses Poa secunda and Pseudoroegneria spicata are minor components, and perennial forbs are infrequent. A cryptogamic layer may be present on better sites with less disturbance, while litter may cover as much as 65% of the ground surface. The association is separated from other Rhus glabra-dominated types by its restricted range of distribution and unusual edaphic conditions.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type may actually be extirpated. Any occurrences can be expected to be very small and highly degraded.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is an open shrubland association, dominated by the clonal, broad-leaved deciduous shrub Rhus glabra. This is the only shrub species present and is highly variable in cover and density, ranging from 20% to over 50% cover, and from 2 to 4 live stems/square meter. Most stems are 0.6-1 m in height. The perennial bunchgrass Aristida purpurea var. longiseta (= Aristida longiseta), generally 0.5 m in height, dominates the herbaceous layer, with over 40% cover. The other perennial bunchgrasses, Poa secunda and Pseudoroegneria spicata, are minor components, and perennial forbs are infrequent. A cryptogamic layer may be present on better sites with less disturbance, while litter may cover as much as 65% of the ground surface. Most stands of this association have been severely disturbed by livestock grazing and have been converted to a zootic climax, dominated by herbaceous annuals, such as Bromus tectorum, Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), and Erodium cicutarium.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found in a region of plateaus incised by deep river valleys with dry climate, rugged topography and stony soils. The area was not glaciated, but is indirectly affected by extensive loess deposits blown from glacial outwash deposits in south-central Washington. Post-glacial alluvium has been deposited in the valley bottoms, from various sources including Columbia River basalts or Seven Devils volcanics. Valley bottoms range from less than 245 m to slightly over 610 m elevation, while the surrounding plateaus have summits well over 2700 m.
The climate in the canyon bottoms is characterized as semi-arid, with hot summers and mild winters. Average annual precipitation is less than 38 cm, with more than half falling during the winter months, generally as rain. There is a distinct dry season during July and August. Winter snows are limited and ephemeral in the valley bottoms.
This association occurs on sandy alluvial or colluvial soils in the driest and warmest canyon sites, from 250 to 800 meters in elevation. Aspects are usually southerly, and slopes can range from gentle to steep. The soils are highly variable, but typically weakly developed, and ranging from shallow and rocky to deep, nearly stone-free profiles. Textures are silt loams to sandy loams, and organic matter is low. This association was considered an edaphic climax by Daubenmire (1970).
The climate in the canyon bottoms is characterized as semi-arid, with hot summers and mild winters. Average annual precipitation is less than 38 cm, with more than half falling during the winter months, generally as rain. There is a distinct dry season during July and August. Winter snows are limited and ephemeral in the valley bottoms.
This association occurs on sandy alluvial or colluvial soils in the driest and warmest canyon sites, from 250 to 800 meters in elevation. Aspects are usually southerly, and slopes can range from gentle to steep. The soils are highly variable, but typically weakly developed, and ranging from shallow and rocky to deep, nearly stone-free profiles. Textures are silt loams to sandy loams, and organic matter is low. This association was considered an edaphic climax by Daubenmire (1970).
Geographic Range: This association is found in canyons in the Columbia Basin of Washington, and possibly adjacent Oregon and Idaho.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID?, OR?, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685324
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b Saskatoon Serviceberry - Snowberry species - Smooth Sumac Central Rocky Mountain Shrubland Group | G272 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
| Alliance | A3964 Smooth Sumac - Skunkbush Sumac Central Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Shrubland Alliance | A3964 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001507 Smooth Sumac / Red Three-awn Shrub Grassland | CEGL001507 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
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.
- Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
- Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. General Technical Report PNW-8. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 417 pp.
- Tisdale, E. W. 1986. Canyon grasslands and associated shrublands of west-central Idaho and adjacent areas. Bulletin No. 40. Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station, University of Idaho, Moscow. 42 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.