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CEGL001651 Achnatherum hymenoides Shale Barren Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Indian Ricegrass Shale Barren Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found on shale outcrops in Colorado and likely is more widespread. Elevations range from 2200-2321m (7200-7610 feet) in north-central Colorado and west-central Colorado to lower elevation sites at 1415 m (4640 feet) on mesatops in the Colorado Plateau. This association is described as a topo-edaphic climax, occurring on soils derived from shales or mudstones. It occupies stabilized badlands with rolling topography, commonly on ridgetops exposed to wind, desiccation and sheet erosion. Aspects are often southerly. Soils derived from shale and mudstone are typically shallow, calcareous, alkaline and clayey, often capped by a thin gravel layer. Total vegetative cover is relatively sparse, and bare soil ranges from 75% to near 100%. The vegetation has a relatively sparse (5-25% cover) herbaceous layer characterized by the perennial bunchgrass Achnatherum hymenoides. The low mat-forming suffrutescent forb Eriogonum brevicaule may codominate some higher elevation stands. Scattered shrubs may be present, including Artemisia nova, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Tetradymia spinosa. Associated grasses include Achnatherum pinetorum, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs present and providing sparse cover include Artemisia frigida, Eriogonum contortum, Eriogonum lonchophyllum, and Stenotus armerioides. Other associated species are the non-native bunchgrass Agropyron cristatum and the exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum. As many as 40 species may occur in this association, but stands are highly variable.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a relatively sparse, chasmophytic community with 25% total cover.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation of this association has a relatively sparse (5-25% cover) herbaceous layer characterized by the perennial bunchgrass Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides). The low, mat-forming suffruticose forb Eriogonum brevicaule codominates some higher elevation stands. Scattered shrubs may be present, including Artemisia nova, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Krascheninnikovia lanata. Associated grasses include the non-native bunchgrass Agropyron cristatum and the native grasses Achnatherum pinetorum, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs present and providing sparse cover include Artemisia frigida, Eriogonum lonchophyllum, and Stenotus armerioides (Francis 1983, Tiedemann et al. 1987). The lower elevation, shaly ridge site in western Colorado had cover of 5-25% Achnatherum hymenoides, 5-25% Gutierrezia sarothrae, 10% Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), 5% Krascheninnikovia lanata, and 1% each for Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Ericameria nauseosa, and Tetradymia spinosa. Other associated species were Eriogonum contortum and the exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum (P. Lyons pers. comm.). As many as 40 species may occur in this association, but stands are highly variable.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found on shale outcrops in Colorado and likely is more widespread. Elevations range from 2200 to 2321 m (7200-7610 feet) in north-central Colorado and west-central Colorado (Francis 1983, Tiedemann et al. 1987) to lower elevation sites at 1415 m (4640 feet) on mesatops in the Colorado Plateau. This association is described as a topo-edaphic climax, occurring on soils derived from shales or mudstones. It occupies stabilized badlands with rolling topography, commonly on ridgetops exposed to wind, desiccation and sheet erosion. Aspects are often southerly. Soils derived from shale and mudstone are typically shallow, calcareous, alkaline and clayey, often capped by a thin gravel layer. Total vegetative cover is relatively sparse, and bare soil ranges from 75% to near 100%.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from the southern Rocky Mountains in north-central Colorado, in a high intermountain basin known as Middle Park in Grand and Eagle counties. It is also found in the Gunnison River valley and in Mesa County in western Colorado, where it was described as a large island surrounded by agricultural fields.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685387
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.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 | A1262 Indian Ricegrass - Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Sandhill Muhly Grassland Alliance | A1262 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL001651 Indian Ricegrass Shale Barren Grassland | CEGL001651 | 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: = Oryzopsis hymenoides / Eriogonum brevicaule Habitat Type (Francis 1983)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides / Eriogonum brevicaule Habitat Type (Tiedemann et al. 1987)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides / Eriogonum brevicaule Habitat Type (Strong 1980)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides Shale Barren (Baker 1984a)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides Sparse Vegetation (Reid et al. 1994)
= Indian Ricegrass Community (Thorne Ecological Institute 1973a)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides / Eriogonum brevicaule Habitat Type (Tiedemann et al. 1987)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides / Eriogonum brevicaule Habitat Type (Strong 1980)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides Shale Barren (Baker 1984a)
= Oryzopsis hymenoides Sparse Vegetation (Reid et al. 1994)
= Indian Ricegrass Community (Thorne Ecological Institute 1973a)
- Baker, W. L. 1984a. A preliminary classification of the natural vegetation of Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 44(4):647-676.
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Francis, R. E. 1983. Sagebrush-steppe habitat types in northern Colorado: A first approximation. Pages 67-71 in: Proceedings of the Workshop on Southwestern habitat types. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Lyon, Peggy. Personal communication. Botanist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Strong, L. L. 1980. Estimating phytomass production of habitat types on sagebrush steppe. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 133 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Terwilliger, C., Jr., and J. A. Tiedemann. 1978. Habitat types of the mule deer critical winter range and adjacent steppe region of Middle Park, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 108 pp.
- Thorne Ecological Institute. 1973a. Environmental setting of the Parachute Creek Valley: An ecological inventory. Unpublished report prepared for Colony Development Operations, Atlantic Richfield Company, by Thorne Ecological Institute, Boulder, CO. [Veg.: pages 36-40, map].
- Tiedemann, J. A., R. E. Francis, C. Terwilliger, Jr., and L. H. Carpenter. 1987. Shrub-steppe habitat types of Middle Park, Colorado. Research Paper RM-273. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 20 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.