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CEGL005801 Ephedra torreyana - (Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia) Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Torrey''s Joint-fir - (Fourwing Saltbush, Shadscale Saltbush) Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated association is widely distributed in southern Utah and northern Arizona. This scrub is characterized by low cover of Ephedra torreyana with between 1 and 5% cover, usually accompanied by Atriplex confertifolia and/or Atriplex canescens as codominant species. Other associated shrubs contribute little cover. The herbaceous layer is diverse but contributes only sparse to low cover. Graminoids commonly present include Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, and Bromus tectorum. Forbs are highly variable in composition and include Eriogonum inflatum, Tiquilia latior, Sphaeralcea leptophylla, Stanleya pinnata, Amsonia tomentosa, Sphaeralcea parvifolia, Abronia fragrans, and Chamaesyce fendleri. It occurs on a broad range of depositional and erosional landforms, including alluvial fans, benches, dunes, canyon bottoms, stream terraces, ledges, badlands, canyon rims, colluvial slopes, toeslopes, hillsides, ridges, mesas, and plateaus. Slopes range from flat to steep at elevations from 1043 to 1603 m. Substrates vary from rapidly drained clay soils to sand derived from colluvium or alluvium, riverine and basaltic cobbles, and sandstone bluffs.
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 vegetation cover ranges from less than 1 to 17% and is characterized by sparsely distributed shrubs. The typical dominant species is Ephedra torreyana with between 1 and 5% cover, usually accompanied by Atriplex confertifolia and/or Atriplex canescens which may be absent, codominant or occasionally dominant. Other associated shrubs never contribute more than 5% cover and include Artemisia filifolia, Ericameria nauseosa, Coleogyne ramosissima, Eriogonum corymbosum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Xylorhiza tortifolia, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea (= Opuntia erinacea), Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha, Fallugia paradoxa, Gutierrezia microcephala, and Sclerocactus whipplei. Herbaceous species can be few to diverse and contribute only sparse to low cover. Graminoids commonly present include Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, Muhlenbergia porteri, and Bromus tectorum. Forbs are highly variable in composition and include Eriogonum inflatum, Tiquilia latior, Sphaeralcea leptophylla, Stanleya pinnata, Amsonia tomentosa, Sphaeralcea parvifolia, Abronia fragrans, and Chamaesyce fendleri. Biological soil crust cover is variable, with some stands having none, but cover can be as high as 59%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sparsely vegetated association occurs on a broad range of depositional and erosional landforms, including alluvial fans, benches, dunes, canyon bottoms, stream terraces, ledges, badlands, canyon rims, colluvial slopes, toeslopes, hillsides, ridges, mesas, and plateaus. Slopes range from flat to steep (0-60% slopes) on all aspects at elevations from 1043 to 1603 m. Substrates vary from rapidly drained clay soils to sand derived from colluvium or alluvium, riverine and basaltic cobbles, and sandstone bluffs. Bare soil or gravel cover most of the unvegetated surface, with lesser cover by litter, large rocks and biological soil crusts. Parent materials include sandstones of the Cedar Mesa Formation, or from shales of the Carmel, Chinle, Moenkopi, Organ Rock, or Morrison formations.
Geographic Range: This sparsely vegetated association is widely distributed locally in Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southeastern Utah; and Chaco Culture National Historic Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Wupatki National Monument in northern Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687514
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group | G312 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Alliance | A2572 Torrey''s Joint-fir Shrubland Alliance | A2572 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005801 Torrey''s Joint-fir - (Fourwing Saltbush, Shadscale Saltbush) Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005801 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ephedra torreyana - (Atriplex canescens, confertifolia) Sparse Vegetation (Hansen et al. 2004b)
- Coles, J., M. Hansen, and K. Thomas. 2003. Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, vegetation classification and distribution: A USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program study. Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report. [in preparation]
- Hansen, M., J. Coles, K. A. Thomas, D. Cogan, M. Reid, J. Von Loh, and K. Schulz. 2004b. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, vegetation classification and distribution. U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report. Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ. 229 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- Salas, D., L. Floyd-Hanna, and D. Hanna. 2011. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2011/452. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 142 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, K. Decker, M. Hall, J. Von Loh, T. Belote, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Canyonlands National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2012/577. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.