Print Report

CEGL001437 Atriplex corrugata Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mat Saltbush Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This dwarf-shrubland association occurs on saline sites in the Colorado Plateau from northwestern New Mexico, western Colorado and eastern Utah. The vegetation is characterized by very sparse to moderate cover (5-25%) of woody vegetation that is dominated by the halophytic evergreen dwarf-shrub Atriplex corrugata. There is typically very low species diversity, but depending on soil salinity and moisture, other plants may be present, including the shrubs Atriplex gardneri, Atriplex confertifolia, Tetradymia spinosa, Picrothamnus desertorum, Suaeda calceoliformis, and Krascheninnikovia lanata. The herbaceous layer is typically very sparse, but may in some stands have as much grass cover as the shrub layer. Only scattered perennial forbs such as Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, Xylorhiza glabriuscula, and Xylorhiza venusta, and the perennial grasses Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, and Pleuraphis jamesii have been reported. Annuals are seasonally present and may include Eriogonum inflatum, Phacelia splendens, Plantago tweedyi, and Atriplex argentea. Introduced species such as Bromus tectorum and Salsola kali are often present. Stands are found on lower hillslopes, clay barrens and alkaline flats. Sites are gently sloping to moderately steep ridges and hills shaped into badlands by water and wind erosion. Soils are typically derived from Mancos shale or other marine shales. They are moderately deep, strongly saline, moderately alkaline, fine-textured (clayey), poorly developed and typically have high erosion rates. The soil surface is mostly barren.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. Vegetation cover in this association may vary greatly depending on soil chemistry and slope. Some stands should be classified as shrublands with 25-30% shrub cover (Branson et al. 1976, Potter et al. 1985). However, most stands are in the 3-20% shrub cover range and should be classified in a sparsely vegetated alliance (West and Ibrahim 1968, Ibrahim et al. 1972, Harper and Jaynes 1986, Von Loh 2000). Further investigation is needed throughout its range to resolve this issue. Atriplex corrugata also occurs an as element in mat saltbush shrublands dominated by other species of Atriplex (e.g., Atriplex gardneri (including Atriplex cuneata) and Atriplex confertifolia). It is not always clear in the field where to draw the line between these three classes of mat saltbush shrublands, as the mix of the three species may change with small changes in slope, soil texture, topographic position and aspect.

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

Floristics: These shrublands are found on the slopes of marine shale badlands and alkaline flats on the Colorado Plateau. Stands have very sparse to moderate cover (1-25%) of woody vegetation that is dominated by the halophytic evergreen dwarf-shrub Atriplex corrugata. Sparse stands are often solely dominated by this plant. Stands typically have very low species diversity. Depending on soil salinity and moisture, other plants may be present, including the shrubs Atriplex gardneri, Atriplex confertifolia, Tetradymia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), Suaeda calceoliformis (= Suaeda depressa), and Krascheninnikovia lanata. The herbaceous layer is very sparse. Scattered perennial forbs, such as Xylorhiza glabriuscula, Xylorhiza venusta, and Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, and the perennial grasses Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, and Pleuraphis jamesii have been reported. Annuals are seasonally present and may include Eriogonum inflatum, Phacelia splendens, Plantago tweedyi, Stenogonum salsuginosum, and Atriplex argentea. Introduced species include Bromus tectorum, Halogeton glomeratus, Malcolmia africana, and Salsola kali. Perennial plants may be pedestalled because of high erosion on these sites.

Dynamics:  Atriplex corrugata-dominated shrublands are the most saline-tolerant of the Mancos shale plant communities studied by Branson et al. (1976). Atriplex corrugata can completely dominate these extremely saline sites (Branson et al. 1976). It is a true evergreen dwarf-shrub retaining leaves for several years, and branches are capable of rooting at the nodes. This plant utilizes winter soil moisture, beginning new growth in March when the soils are relatively warm and moist. It flowers in April, and by mid-July fruits are shattered (Branson et al. 1976). If the soils dry out in midsummer, it can go dormant until the late summer monsoon rains begin. Large areas of Atriplex corrugata died during the extreme drought of 2002 in the Four Corners area. By 2004, new seedlings were established and spreading; shrub cover recovered to approximately 50% of what it was before the drought.
Environmental Description:  This dwarf-shrubland association is found on lower hillslopes, clay barrens and alkaline flats on Colorado Plateau portions of northwestern New Mexico, western Colorado and eastern Utah. Climate is semi-arid with most of the highly variable precipitation falling in July and August as high-intensity thunderstorms. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 23 cm. Elevation ranges from 1300-1975 m (4265-6480 feet). Sites are gently sloping to moderately steep ridges and hills shaped into badlands by water and wind erosion. Soils are typically derived from Mancos shale or, less often, from other Paleozoic or Mesozoic marine shales. They are moderately deep, strongly saline, moderately alkaline, fine-textured (clayey), poorly developed and typically have high erosion rates. The soil surface is mostly barren. In the Badger Wash Basin in Colorado, a relatively lush stand had 25% Atriplex corrugata, 60% bare ground, 8% litter and 8% algal crusts (Branson et al. 1976).
Geographic Range: Shrublands in this association are found on lower hillslopes and alkaline flats on Colorado Plateau portions of northwestern New Mexico, western Colorado and eastern Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM, UT


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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 A1109 Mat Saltbush Low Scrub Alliance A1109 3.B.1.Ne.5.a
Association CEGL001437 Mat Saltbush Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001437 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: = Atripletum corrugatea (Ibrahim et al. 1972)
= Atriplex confertifolia Plant Community (Branson et al. 1976)
>< Atriplex corrugata (Potter et al. 1985) [occurs in saline low areas in Mancos Shale between knolls.]
= Atriplex corrugata Dwarf-shrubland (Von Loh 2000)
= Atriplex corrugata Habitat Type (West and Ibrahim 1968)
= Atriplex corrugata Shale Barren (Baker 1984a) [is listed as a synonym.]
= Atriplex corrugata Shrub Association (Baker 1984a)
= Atriplex corrugata cover type (Collins 1984) [referred to Branson 1966.]
= Atriplex corrugata cover type (Tuhy and MacMahon 1988)
>< Desert Shrub Habitat (USBOR 1976)
>< Mancos Shale (Welsh 1957)
>< Mat Atriplex-Hilaria Community (Dastrup 1963) [This community includes two other species of Atriplex plus significant Artemisia nova cover.]
= Mat Atriplex Association (Graham 1937)
= Mat Saltbush Community, Shrub Phase A3a (Romme et al. 1993)
= Mat saltbush association (Shantz 1925)
= Mat saltbush vegetation type (Harper and Jaynes 1986)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-05-06
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