Print Report

CEGL001086 Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany / Sideoats Grama Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This mountain-mahogany shrubland is found in the western and southern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains in the western United States. Stands occur on moderate to steep slopes on clay loam and loam soils. The vegetation is dominated by Cercocarpus montanus, which forms an open canopy approximately 1-2 m tall. The herbaceous stratum rarely exceeds 1 m. Cover by herbaceous species is sparse to moderate. Bouteloua curtipendula is the most abundant species Artemisia frigida is a typical small dwarf-shrub in the layer. Common herbaceous species are the forbs Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Hedeoma hispida, and the grasses Aristida purpurea and Achnatherum hymenoides.

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: Throughout its range, this community is a shrub-steppe community. Vegetation cover is sparse to moderate. The dominant shrubs are evenly spaced with herbaceous species occurring in between individual shrubs. The dominant species, Cercocarpus montanus, is approximately 1-2 m tall. Rhus trilobata var. trilobata, the other common shrub species, also grows over 1 m tall. Artemisia frigida is a common dwarf-shrub. The herbaceous species typically are 0.5-1 m tall. Bouteloua curtipendula is the most abundant herbaceous species. Other common species in the Black Hills include the forbs Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (= Aster oblongifolius), Hedeoma hispida, and the grasses Aristida purpurea and Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) (Hoffman and Alexander 1987).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is almost exclusively found on slopes. These slopes are 20-40% with a variety of aspects (Hoffman and Alexander 1987). Drought stress is severe due to relatively little precipitation, moderate to steep slopes, and thin, poorly developed soils. Soils are loams and clay loams. The parent material is sandstone or limestone (Johnston 1987).
Geographic Range: This mountain-mahogany shrubland is found in the western and southern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, ranging from South Dakota and Wyoming south to New Mexico.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NE, NM, SD, TX, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup M049 2.B.2.Nf.1
Group 2.B.2.Nf.1.b Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak - Skunkbush Sumac Foothill Shrubland Group G276 2.B.2.Nf.1.b
Alliance A3733 Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak Shrubland Alliance A3733 2.B.2.Nf.1.b
Association CEGL001086 Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany / Sideoats Grama Shrubland CEGL001086 2.B.2.Nf.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cercocarpus montanus - Rhus aromatica / Bouteloua curtipendula Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1987)
? Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula PA (Wood et al. 1999)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula PA (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Bouteloua curtipendula Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Mountain Mahogany/Sideoats Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Cercocarpus montanus/Bouteloua curtipendula: CERMON/BOUCUR)]
Concept Author(s): J. Drake

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-19-95
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  • Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
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