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CEGL001038 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Snowberry / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This low-statured shrubland is dominated by a combination of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, sometimes one more dominant than the other, but both always present with at least 10% cover. Other shrubs that may be present include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ribes spp., and Purshia tridentata. The understory is sparsely to occasionally thickly dominated by grasses. Pseudoroegneria spicata is always present and usually the most abundant grass with 2-10% cover. Other grasses commonly present include Festuca idahoensis, Poa fendleriana, Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei, Achnatherum lettermanii, Bromus tectorum, and Melica bulbosa. Common forbs include Lupinus caudatus, Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Collinsia parviflora, and Helianthella uniflora. This low sagebrush association occurs from 1830 to 2750 m (6000-9000 feet) elevation, on slopes from 10-42%, often on northern aspects, in concave snowpockets in northern Nevada, and generally on southern exposures in eastern Idaho. Soils are deep Mollisols (average 117 cm), of fine loam texture with gravel fragment up to 30%.

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: This low-statured shrubland is dominated by a combination of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, sometimes one more dominant than the other, but both always present with at least 10% cover. Other shrubs that may be present include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ribes spp., and Purshia tridentata. The understory is sparsely to occasionally thickly dominated by grasses. Pseudoroegneria spicata is always present and usually the most abundant grass with 2-10% cover. Other grasses commonly present include Festuca idahoensis, Poa fendleriana, Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei (= Stipa columbiana), Achnatherum lettermanii (= Stipa lettermanii), Bromus tectorum, and Melica bulbosa. Common forbs include Lupinus caudatus, Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Collinsia parviflora, and Helianthella uniflora.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This low sagebrush association occurs from 1830 to 2750 m (6000-9000 feet) elevation, on slopes from 10-42%, often on northern aspects, in concave snowpockets in northern Nevada, and generally on southern exposures in eastern Idaho. Soils are deep Mollisols (average 117 cm), of fine loam texture with gravel fragment up to 30%.
Geographic Range: This association is known from northern Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming and may also occur in Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  ID, NV, UT?, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup M169 3.B.1.Ne.3
Group 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group G304 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Alliance A3208 Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mixed Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3208 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Association CEGL001038 Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Snowberry / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrubland CEGL001038 3.B.1.Ne.3.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Agropyron spicatum Community (Jones 1992b)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Pseudoroegneria spicata (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
= Artemisia tridentata vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Agropyron spicatum (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
= Artemisia vaseyana / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
= Symphoricarpos oreophilus - Artemisia tridentata vaseyana / Agropyron spicatum (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
= Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Snowberry / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-13-04
  • Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
  • 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.
  • Cogan, D., J. E. Taylor, and K. Schulz. 2012. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR--2012/568. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 373 pp.
  • Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
  • Erixson, J., and D. Cogan. 2012b. Vegetation inventory project report: Big Hole National Battlefield. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR--2012/519. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 178 pp.
  • Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho. Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 15, University of Idaho, Moscow. 44 pp.
  • Jensen, M. E., L. S. Peck, and M. V. Wilson. 1988a. A sagebrush community type classification for mountainous northeastern Nevada rangelands. Great Basin Naturalist 48(4):422-433.
  • Jones, G. 1992b. Wyoming plant community classification (Draft). Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY. 183 pp.
  • Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
  • Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
  • Tueller, P. T., and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1987. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) and longleaf snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) plant associations in northeastern Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 47(1):117-131.
  • WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.