Print Report
CEGL001742 Artemisia bigelovii / Bouteloua gracilis Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigelow''s Sagebrush / Blue Grama Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dwarf-shrub steppe is found near canyon rims and mesatops and along escarpments in southeastern Colorado and the Colorado Plateau in southern Arizona and south to the Oscura Mountains in northern portions of the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico. Stands often occur on shallow soil deposits surrounded by bedrock and cliff faces, but also are found on flat to gentle slopes on hillslopes and mesatops at 1545-1830 m (5100-6040 feet) elevation on all aspects. Soils are typically coarse-textured loams derived from colluvium and residuum from sandstone and limestone or other parent materials. The vegetation is dominated by a moderately dense graminoid layer of the perennial shortgrass Bouteloua gracilis with an open (10-25% cover) dwarf-shrub layer characterized by Artemisia bigelovii. Gutierrezia sarothrae is commonly present and may codominate some stands. Occasional Pinus edulis or Juniperus spp. tree may be present. Other dwarf-shrubs and shrubs present with low cover may include Atriplex confertifolia, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha, Cylindropuntia whipplei, and Yucca glauca. Associated herbaceous species include grasses, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana, Bouteloua curtipendula, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and the forbs Arenaria hookeri, Astragalus lentiginosus, Chaetopappa ericoides, Eriogonum jamesii, and Petradoria pumila.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Additional classification work is needed to clarify differences between this shrub herbaceous association and similar Artemisia bigelovii shrubland associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is dominated by a moderately dense graminoid layer of the perennial shortgrass Bouteloua gracilis with an open (10-25% cover) dwarf-shrub layer characterized by Artemisia bigelovii. Gutierrezia sarothrae is commonly present and may codominate some stands. Occasional Pinus edulis or Juniperus spp. tree may be present. Other dwarf-shrubs and shrubs present with low cover may include Atriplex confertifolia, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha, Cylindropuntia whipplei (= Opuntia whipplei), and Yucca glauca. Associated herbaceous species include grasses, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana (= Aristida fendleriana), Bouteloua curtipendula, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and the forbs Arenaria hookeri, Astragalus lentiginosus, Chaetopappa ericoides, Eriogonum jamesii, and Petradoria pumila.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This dwarf-shrub steppe is found near canyon rims and mesatops and along escarpments in southeastern Colorado and the Colorado Plateau in southern Arizona and south to the Oscura Mountains in northern portions of the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico. Stands often occur on shallow soil deposits surrounded by bedrock and cliff faces, but also are found on flat to gentle slopes on hillslopes and mesatops at 1545-1830 m (5100-6040 feet) elevation on all aspects. Soils are typically coarse-textured loams derived from colluvium and residuum from sandstone and limestone or other parent materials.
Geographic Range: This dwarf-shrub association is found from canyon rims and mesatops in southeastern Colorado to the Colorado Plateau in northwestern New Mexico and northern Arizona, in southern Utah, and in the Oscura Mountains at the northern end of the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687243
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Little Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush - Scabland Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M170 | 3.B.1.Ne.2 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b Little Sagebrush - Bigelow''s Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G308 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Alliance | A3223 Bigelow''s Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3223 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001742 Bigelow''s Sagebrush / Blue Grama Dwarf-shrub Grassland | CEGL001742 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia bigelovii / Bouteloua gracilis Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
= Bouteloua gracilis - Artemisia bigelovii PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= Blue Grama/Bigelow''s Sagebrush PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Bouteloua gracilis/Artemisia bigelovii: BOUGRA/ARTBIG)]
= Bouteloua gracilis - Artemisia bigelovii PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= Blue Grama/Bigelow''s Sagebrush PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Bouteloua gracilis/Artemisia bigelovii: BOUGRA/ARTBIG)]
- 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.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Muldavin, E., and P. Mehlhop. 1992. A preliminary classification and test vegetation map for White Sands Missile Range and San Andreas National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. University of New Mexico, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Shaw, R. B., S. L. Anderson, K. A. Schultz, and V. E. Diersing. 1989. Plant communities, ecological checklist, and species list for the U.S. Army Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado. Colorado State University, Department of Range Science, Science Series No. 37, Fort Collins. 71 pp.
- Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, L. Ogden, K. Schulz, T. Fancher, R. Waltermire, and A. Cully. 2010. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Canyon de Chelly National Monument. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR-2010/306. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 338 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.