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CEGL001444 Atriplex gardneri / Achnatherum hymenoides Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gardner''s Saltbush / Indian Ricegrass Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs as small, scattered stands on shale badlands and soils in Utah, Colorado, western Montana and possibly western Wyoming and Oregon. Stands occupy low hills, plains, mesatops and swales with gentle to moderate slopes and variable aspects between 1525 and 2200 m (5000-7220 feet) elevation. The unvegetated surface consists almost entirely of bare ground or shale fragments with little to no litter; in Utah, the surface is modified by a slopewash of gravels from nearby pediments. Soils are shallow, alkaline silty clay loams, derived from marine or freshwater shales of the Chinle, Mancos, Green River, Wasatch, Morrison or other formations. This is generally a sparsely vegetated community, with total vegetation cover rarely exceeding 25% and often as low as 5%. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse canopy of the dwarf-shrub Atriplex gardneri with between 1 and 10% cover. Associated shrubs are limited to scattered individuals of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Ephedra viridis, Ephedra torreyana, Eriogonum microthecum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Picrothamnus desertorum, which together may contribute another 5-10% cover to the dwarf-shrub canopy. The herbaceous layer may have greater cover than the shrub layer, up to 25%, but is often reduced as a result of grazing. It generally only contains a few species, among which Achnatherum hymenoides is the most conspicuous. Other grasses include Elymus elymoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Poa secunda; the forb component is sparse and variable, with species such as Phlox hoodii, Lappula occidentalis, and Sphaeralcea spp. contributing only trace cover.
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: This is generally a sparsely vegetated community, with total vegetation cover rarely exceeding 25% and often as low as 5%. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse canopy of the dwarf-shrub Atriplex gardneri with between 1 and 10% cover. Associated shrubs are limited to scattered individuals of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Ephedra viridis, Ephedra torreyana, Eriogonum microthecum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Picrothamnus desertorum, which together may contribute another 5-10% cover to the dwarf-shrub canopy. The herbaceous layer may have greater cover than the shrub layer, up to 25%, but is often reduced as a result of grazing. It generally only contains a few species, among which Achnatherum hymenoides is the most conspicuous. Other grasses include Elymus elymoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Poa secunda; the forb component is sparse and variable, with Phlox hoodii, Lappula occidentalis (= Lappula redowskii), and Sphaeralcea spp. contributing only trace cover.
Dynamics: Sheet and gully erosion help to maintain the barren aspect of this association. Grazing tends to reduce the cover of grasses, especially Achnatherum hymenoides, in favor of Poa secunda and Elymus elymoides (Baker and Kennedy 1985).
Environmental Description: This association occurs as small, scattered stands on shale badlands and related surfaces in Utah, Colorado, Montana and possibly Wyoming and Oregon. Stands occupy low hills, plains, mesatops and swales with gentle to moderate slopes and variable aspects between 1525 and 2200 m (5000-7220 feet) elevation. The unvegetated surface consists almost entirely of bare ground or shale fragments with little to no litter. In Utah, the surface is modified by a slopewash of gravels from nearby pediments. Soils are shallow, alkaline silty clay loams, derived from marine or freshwater shales of the Chinle, Mancos, Green River, Wasatch, Morrison or other formations.
Geographic Range: This association has been reported from southeastern Utah, western Montana and northwestern Colorado. It may also occur in southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, OR?, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686023
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup | M093 | 3.B.1.Ne.5 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a Mat Saltbush - Gardner''s Saltbush - Birdfoot Sagebrush Dwarf-Scrub Group | G301 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Alliance | A1110 Gardner''s Saltbush Low Scrub Alliance | A1110 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Association | CEGL001444 Gardner''s Saltbush / Indian Ricegrass Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL001444 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex gardneri / Oryzopsis hymenoides Plant Association (Baker and Kennedy 1985)
= Atriplex gardneri / Oryzopsis hymenoides Plant Association (Baker 1983c)
= Atriplex nuttallii / Oryzopsis hymenoides (DeVelice 1992)
= Atriplex nuttallii / Oryzopsis hymenoides Community Type (Cooper et al. 1995)
= Atriplex gardneri / Oryzopsis hymenoides Plant Association (Baker 1983c)
= Atriplex nuttallii / Oryzopsis hymenoides (DeVelice 1992)
= Atriplex nuttallii / Oryzopsis hymenoides Community Type (Cooper et al. 1995)
- Baker, W. L. 1983c. Natural vegetation of part of northwestern Moffat County, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared for the State of Colorado Natural Areas Program, Department of Natural Resources, Denver by Colorado Natural Heritage Inventory, Denver.
- Baker, W. L., and S. C. Kennedy. 1985. Presettlement vegetation of part of northwestern Moffat County, Colorado, described from remnants. Great Basin Naturalist 45(4):747-777.
- 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/]
- 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.
- Cooper, S. V., P. Lesica, R. L. DeVelice, and T. McGarvey. 1995. Classification of southwestern Montana plant communities with emphasis on those of Dillon Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 154 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L. 1992. Classification of the plant communities of Beaverhead, Silver Bow, and Madison counties, Montana. Volume I (text). Prepared for the Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 35 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- 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.
- Singh, T., and N. E. West. 1971. Comparison of some multivariate analyses of perennial Atriplex vegetation in southeastern Utah. Vegetatio 23(5-6):289-313.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.