Print Report
CEGL002979 Eriogonum corymbosum Badlands Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Crispleaf Buckwheat Badlands Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the Colorado Plateau. It is a very open short shrubland where the vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of Eriogonum corymbosum that ranges in foliar cover from 5 to 20%. Associated shrubs include Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Ericameria nauseosa, Coleogyne ramosissima, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Psorothamnus fremontii, Salvia dorrii, and Xylorhiza glabriuscula. The herbaceous layer is low in species diversity and provides sparse cover; no single species provides greater than 1% cover. Graminoid species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs include Astragalus kentrophyta, Lomatium minimum, Machaeranthera canescens, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Chamaesyce fendleri, Amsonia tomentosa, Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum, and Cryptantha tenuis. Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma saplings provide sparse cover in some stands. This shrubland is found exclusively on shale badlands. Sites are flat to steep slopes, occur between 1054 and 2670 m (3548-8760 feet) elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. The ground surface is up to 88% bare soil, and litter is sparse. Parent materials are shales and sandstones. Vegetation has difficulty taking hold of the highly erosive surface. Soils are rapidly drained clay loam or silty clay.
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.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vascular vegetation cover for this association rarely exceeds 20% and is often closer to 10%. The vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of Eriogonum corymbosum that ranges in foliar cover from 5 to 20%. Associated shrubs include Amsonia tomentosa, Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Ericameria nauseosa, Psorothamnus fremontii, Salvia dorrii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Xylorhiza glabriuscula, and Coleogyne ramosissima. The herbaceous layer is low in species diversity and provides sparse cover. No species of graminoid or forb provides greater than 1% cover. Graminoids recorded include Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs include Amsonia tomentosa, Astragalus kentrophyta, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cryptantha tenuis, Lomatium minimum, Machaeranthera canescens, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum. Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma saplings provide sparse cover in some stands.
Dynamics: Heavy clay soils derived from Moenkopi or Chinle shales do not hold water and are difficult for plant roots to penetrate, resulting in widely spaced plants.
Environmental Description: This unusual sparse short-shrub association occurs on barren shale badlands. Sites are flat to gentle to moderately steep, occur between 1054 and 2670 m (3458-8760 feet) elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. Bare soil is high, up to 88% cover, while some slopes have a moderate cover of colluvial boulders. Litter is sparse. Parent materials are Moenkopi, Morrison, Mancos, Tropic or Chinle shales and Clarion Formation that erode to badlands deposits. Vegetation has difficulty taking hold on the highly erosive surface. Soils are rapidly drained sandy clays or silty clays.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from the Colorado Plateau of southern and eastern Utah, western Colorado and northern Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687262
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.6 Saltbush species - Joint-fir species - Buckwheat species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Macrogroup | M118 | 3.B.1.Ne.6 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a Saltbush species - Mountain-mahogany species - Joint-fir species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Group | G570 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Alliance | A4052 Joint-fir species - Saline Wildrye - Crispleaf Buckwheat Badlands Cold Desert Sparse Vegetation Alliance | A4052 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Association | CEGL002979 Crispleaf Buckwheat Badlands Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002979 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eriogonum corymbosum Badlands Sparse Vegetation (Cogan et al. 2004)
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