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CEGL001047 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pascopyrum smithii Shrub Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Western Wheatgrass Shrub Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Wyoming big sagebrush type is found throughout the northern Great Plains and adjacent basins, Black Hills, and Rocky Mountains of the United States. Stands occur on gently rolling uplands or upper parts of stream terraces and drainageways. Drier examples may be found on more exposed slope positions. Soils are moderately deep clay, clay loam, silt loam and loam. Soil moisture conditions are relatively mesic. Soil pH ranges from 5.8 to 7.8. The vegetation contains an open short-shrub layer, approximately 0.5 m tall, dominated by microphyllous-leaved shrubs, and a dense herbaceous layer dominated by medium-tall graminoids. Shrub cover averages between 15 and 30% but may range as high as 55%. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominates the shrub layer. Other shrubs may be present, including Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Ericameria nauseosa, Amelanchier utahensis, or Purshia tridentata. The dense herbaceous layer has a canopy cover of 10% in dry, heavily grazed stands to more than 75% in protected, mesic stands. Pascopyrum smithii is the leading dominant. Important associates include Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, and Nassella viridula. In drier or more heavily grazed phases, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, and Carex filifolia may be more common, along with the succulent Opuntia polyacantha. Forbs contribute low cover, often less than 10%, and are typically of low constancy. More constant species (>50%) include Artemisia frigida, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Vicia americana. Grassy leaf litter covers over 75% of the ground; stones and bare soil comprise the remainder. Nonvascular plants are rare.

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: The vegetation contains an open short-shrub layer, approximately 0.5 m tall, dominated by microphyllous-leaved shrubs, and a dense herbaceous layer dominated by medium-tall graminoids. Shrub cover averages between 15 and 30% (Hirsch 1985, Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Thilenius et al. 1995) but may range as high as 55%. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominates the shrub layer and can vary in height from 0.1 m to over 1 m in height. Other shrubs present may include Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Ericameria nauseosa, Amelanchier utahensis, or Purshia tridentata. The dense herbaceous layer has a canopy cover ranging between 10% in heavily grazed sites to over 75% in protected, mesic sites. Pascopyrum smithii is the leading dominant. Important associates include Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, and Nassella viridula (= Stipa viridula). In drier or more heavily grazed phases, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), and Carex filifolia may be more common, along with the succulent Opuntia polyacantha. Forbs contribute low cover, often less than 10%, and are typically of low constancy. More constant species (>50%) include Artemisia frigida, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Vicia americana. Grassy leaf litter covers over 75% of the ground; stones and bare soil comprise the remainder. Nonvascular plants are rare (Hirsch 1985, Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Thilenius et al. 1995).

Dynamics:  When burned, stands generally convert to mixed grasslands with a strong component of Pascopyrum smithii. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis may have difficulty re-establishing itself if the herbaceous layer in these grasslands is very dense.
Environmental Description:  Stands occur on gently rolling uplands, swales or upper parts of stream terraces and drainageways. Drier examples may be found on more exposed slope positions or steeper slopes. Soils are moderately deep to deep clay, clay loam, silt loam or sandy loam. Soil moisture conditions are relatively mesic. Soil pH ranges from 5.8 to 7.8 (Hirsch 1985, Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Thilenius et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: This Wyoming big sagebrush type is found throughout the northern Great Plains and adjacent basins, Black Hills, and Rocky Mountains of the United States, particularly in Colorado and Wyoming.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, MT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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 A3182 Wyoming Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3182 3.B.1.Ne.3.b
Association CEGL001047 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Western Wheatgrass Shrub Grassland CEGL001047 3.B.1.Ne.3.b
Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata - Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1980)
= Artemisia tridentata - Bouteloua gracilis Habitat Type (Hirsch 1985)
> Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron smithii (Thilenius et al. 1995)
= Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Hansen and Hoffman 1988)
= Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron smithii Plant Association (Baker 1982b)
> Artemisia tridentata / Bouteloua gracilis - Agropyron smithii (Thilenius et al. 1995)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pascopyrum smithii Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 2001)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pascopyrum smithii Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis / Agropyron smithii Habitat Type (Tiedemann et al. 1987)
= Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Western Wheatgrass Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pascopyrum smithii Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-13-05
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