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CEGL001058 Purshia tridentata / Achnatherum hymenoides Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Antelope Bitterbrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: A narrowly restricted community in Washington, it is found in isolated sand dune landscapes in Franklin, Grant, Yakima, Klickitat, and Benton counties. This community occurs in Oregon and Idaho as well. It is confined to sand dunes within the shrub-steppe zone in the driest and hotter parts of the Columbia Basin. This is a patchy vegetation with sparse to dense cover concentrated in two lifeforms: medium-tall shrubs and herbaceous plants. Purshia tridentata, typically 60-90 cm (2-3) feet tall, dominates portions of these communities and is completely absent in other portions. Artemisia tridentata and/or Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus or Ericameria nauseosa are usually present. All shrubs increase with intermittent disturbance. Achnatherum hymenoides, a bunchgrass, and Elymus lanceolatus, a rhizomatous grass, are the most conspicuous perennial grasses on dunes. Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, or Poa secunda often appear in the deflation plains between dunes. Eriogonum niveum is a common but scattered feature of this community especially where gravel is present. Psoralidium lanceolatum, Oenothera pallida, Pteryxia terebinthina, and Rumex venosus are usually present but contribute little to total community cover. Exotic annuals, such as Bromus tectorum and Salsola kali, can be common.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community, as originally conceptualized (Crawford 1986), occurs in Oregon and Idaho as well as Washington, and has been referred to as several Purshia tridentata types since; in Idaho as ~Purshia tridentata - Ericameria nauseosa Shrubland (CEGL001056)$$ and ~Purshia tridentata - Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata Shrubland (CEGL001054)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a patchy vegetation with sparse to dense cover concentrated in two lifeforms: medium-tall shrubs and herbaceous plants. Purshia tridentata, typically 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) tall, dominates portions of these communities and is completely absent in other portions. Artemisia tridentata and/or Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus or Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus) are usually present. All shrubs increase with intermittent disturbance. Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), a bunchgrass, and Elymus lanceolatus, a rhizomatous grass, are the most conspicuous perennial grasses on dunes. Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Koeleria macrantha, or Poa secunda often appear in the deflation plains between dunes. Eriogonum niveum is a common but scattered feature of this community especially where gravel is present. Psoralidium lanceolatum, Oenothera pallida, Pteryxia terebinthina, and Rumex venosus are usually present but contribute little to total community cover. Exotic annuals, such as Bromus tectorum and Salsola kali, can be common.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It is confined to sand dunes within the shrub-steppe zone in the driest and hotter parts of the Columbia Basin.
Geographic Range: This association is a narrowly restricted community found in isolated sand dune landscapes in Franklin, Grant, Yakima, Klickitat, and Benton counties, Washington. This community occurs in Oregon and Idaho as well.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, OR, WA, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685501
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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 | A3179 Antelope Bitterbrush - Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3179 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001058 Antelope Bitterbrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland | CEGL001058 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
Concept Lineage: synonymous
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Purshia tridentata / Oryzopsis hymenoides (Crawford 1986)
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- Poulton, C. E. 1955. Ecology of the non-forested vegetation in Umatilla and Morrow counties, Oregon. Unpublished dissertation. State College of Washington, Pullman. 166 pp.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- 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.
- Wildermann, D. L. 1994. Plant communities of the Fitzner/Eberhardt arid lands ecology reserve and the north slope of the Hanford site. The Nature Conservancy, Seattle, WA.