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CEGL002735 Ivesia cryptocaulis Alpine Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Charleston Peak Mousetail Alpine Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Mousetail Alpine Gravel Field
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is restricted to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in southern Nevada. Occurrences are limited to gently to moderately sloping limestone ridges and summits above 3450 m (11,319 feet) elevation on most aspects except north. Soils are extremely gravelly and derived primarily from limestone. This pseudoalpine herbaceous community is relatively sparse. There is no woody layer; shrub and tree species are dwarfed, typically less than 0.5 m high. The herbaceous layer typically has 7% cover and is characterized by Ivesia cryptocaulis, occurring with other cespitose perennial forbs and bunchgrasses. Commonly associated species include Elymus elymoides, Lesquerella hitchcockii, Oxytropis oreophila, Sphaeromeria compacta, Erigeron clokeyi, Aquilegia scopulorum, Festuca brachyphylla ssp. coloradensis, Poa secunda, and Astragalus lentiginosus var. kernensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Nachlinger and Reese (1996) refer to this community as a series, implying that there are several undefined associations for this type. It is so restricted in distribution that this is hard to imagine.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This pseudoalpine herbaceous community is relatively sparse (average total cover of 10%). There is no woody layer; shrub and tree species (average cover 3%) are dwarfed, typically less than 0.5 m high. The herbaceous layer typically has 7% cover and is characterized by Ivesia cryptocaulis, occurring with other cespitose perennial forbs and bunchgrasses. Commonly associated species include Elymus elymoides, Lesquerella hitchcockii, Oxytropis oreophila, Sphaeromeria compacta, Erigeron clokeyi, Aquilegia scopulorum, Festuca brachyphylla ssp. coloradensis (= Festuca ovina var. brevifolia), Poa secunda, and Astragalus lentiginosus var. kernensis.
Dynamics: This community is stable but occurs in areas with high levels of natural disturbance.
Environmental Description: This association is restricted to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in southern Nevada. Occurrences are limited to gently to moderately sloping limestone ridges and summits above 3450 m (11,319 feet) elevation on most aspects except north. Soils are extremely gravelly and derived primarily from limestone.
Geographic Range: This association occurs only in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686605
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M099 | 4.B.1.Nb.2 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Saxifrage species Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock & Scree Group | G571 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
| Alliance | A4021 Rocky Mountain Alpine Sparse Herb Bedrock & Scree Alliance | A4021 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
| Association | CEGL002735 Charleston Peak Mousetail Alpine Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002735 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ivesia cryptocaulis Series (Nachlinger and Reese 1996)
- Keeler-Wolf, T. 1997. Preliminary table of Mojave Desert ecosystem vegetation types.
- Nachlinger, J. L., and G. A. Reese. 1996. Plant community classification of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Clark and Nye counties, Nevada. Unpublished report submitted to USDA Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Las Vegas, NV. The Nature Conservancy, Northern Nevada Office, Reno, NV. 85 pp. plus figures and appendices.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.