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CEGL001532 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Carex geyeri Shrub Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Geyer''s Sedge Shrub Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland association is present in southern and central Idaho, western Wyoming, northeastern Oregon, and central and western Colorado. Stands are found above 1524 m (5000 feet) elevation predominantly on southerly aspects of moderate to steep mountain ridges and slopes. In Colorado, the association is found on gentle slopes or ridgetops. Soils are derived from colluvial deposits with a moderate to high percentage of course fragments. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana dominates the shrub overstory. Commonly the shrub Symphoricarpos oreophilus may be present but with low cover. The understory is dominated by Carex geyeri. Common herbaceous species include Arenaria aculeata, Eriogonum heracleoides, Eriogonum umbellatum, Festuca idahoensis, Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata, and Lupinus argenteus.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association (1 plot) may also occur in west-central Colorado within Black Canyon National Park. The stand has a high percentage cover of Purshia tridentata and has yet to be crosswalked (Johnston 1987) to the USNVC. Not sure what Colorado ref is being used for the Pitkin County reference. A plot from the Black Canyon National Park vegetation classification and mapping project (data collected in 2003) has been classified as this type. Not sure what Johnston (1987) has to do with this; the type is not listed there.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana is the dominant shrub with 20-50% cover. Other shrubs than can be absent to abundant include Purshia tridentata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus. The herbaceous layer is sparse to abundant, with Carex geyeri most abundant at 5-50% cover. Other graminoids that may be present include Hesperostipa comata, Bromus carinatus, Festuca arizonica, and Carex hoodii. Common forb species include Leptosiphon nuttallii (= Linanthus nuttallii), Balsamorhiza sagittata, Arenaria aculeata, Eriogonum heracleoides, Eriogonum umbellatum, Achillea millefolium, and Lupinus argenteus.

Dynamics:  This association at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park occurs in habitat that is protected from the prevailing wind by a ridgetop and accumulates winter snow. There is sufficient fuel to carry fire. Fire would kill the dominant short shrubs resulting in graminoid-dominated herbaceous vegetation initially; however, adjacent quaking aspen trees could gradually root-sprout in the area.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs from 1551 to 2730 m (5090-8960 feet) on ridgetops, upper or middle slopes or occasionally valley floors, as well as on foothills, canyon slopes, or rough and rolling terrain. It occurs on moderate to steep slopes (3-80%) and on south or west aspects. Soils are sandy loams to clay loams. Ground cover is either duff (20-70%), pavement (3-60%), or gravels (0-20%).
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is present on the Snake River Plains and Pioneer Mountains of southern Idaho, central Idaho, and in the Blue and Ochoco mountains, and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in northeastern Oregon. It also occurs in central Colorado in Pitkin County.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, NV?, OR, WY


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.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup M169 3.B.1.Ne.3
Group 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group G304 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Alliance A3207 Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3207 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Association CEGL001532 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Geyer''s Sedge Shrub Grassland CEGL001532 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Carex geyeri Alpine sagebrush - sedge SS-49-11 (Hall 1973) [(p.44)]
>< Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnson and Simon 1987)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: J.J. Miller, G. Kittel and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-08-06
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  • 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/]
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  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 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.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.