Print Report
CEGL001776 Gutierrezia sarothrae / Sporobolus airoides - Pleuraphis jamesii Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Broom Snakeweed / Alkali Sacaton - James'' Galleta Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Colorado Plateau desert grassland has been documented from the upper Rio Puerco watershed in northwestern New Mexico and the Painted Desert of northern Arizona on alluvial flats and mesas. Sites are level to gently sloping, and substrates are variable. Stands typically have been disturbed by improper grazing of livestock, frequent sheet flow, or wind. The vegetation is characterized by an open (10-25% cover) woody layer dominated by Gutierrezia sarothrae with a moderately dense perennial graminoid layer typically codominated by Pleuraphis jamesii and Sporobolus airoides, although either may dominate or Sporobolus airoides may be absent. The herbaceous layer has greater cover than the shrub layer that may include other scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum corymbosum, Ericameria nauseosa, Fallugia paradoxa, Isocoma drummondii, Opuntia spp., or Juniperus monosperma. Associated herbaceous species such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua spp., Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia porteri, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Sporobolus cryptandrus may be present with low cover. Diagnostic of this Pleuraphis jamesii- and Sporobolus airoides-codominated shrub steppe association is the dominance of Gutierrezia sarothrae in the open short shrub layer (10-25% cover).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands dominated by Sporobolus airoides are included in this association and alliance. There is no Sporobolus airoides Shrub Herbaceous Alliance in the USNVC.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by an open (10-25% cover) woody layer dominated by Gutierrezia sarothrae with a moderately dense perennial graminoid layer typically codominated by Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii) and Sporobolus airoides, although either may dominate or Sporobolus airoides may be absent. The herbaceous layer has greater cover than the shrub layer that may include other scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as scattered Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum corymbosum, Ericameria nauseosa, Fallugia paradoxa, Isocoma drummondii, Opuntia spp., or Juniperus monosperma. Associated herbaceous species such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia porteri, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Sporobolus cryptandrus may be present with low cover (Francis 1986).
Dynamics: Grazing has significantly impacted much of the vegetation in this region, which has had a long history of settlement and heavy livestock use. With proper livestock management and time, palatable species such as Krascheninnikovia lanata and Sporobolus airoides may increase, and Gutierrezia sarothrae and Opuntia spp. may decline in abundance (Francis 1986).
Environmental Description: This Colorado Plateau desert grassland has been documented from the upper Rio Puerco watershed in northwestern New Mexico and the Painted Desert of northern Arizona on mesas and alluvial flats. Elevation ranges from 1310-1655 m. Sites are level to gently sloping. Substrates are variable and include soils derived from relatively deep, fine-textured alluvium, shallow, coarse or fine loams, and pure cinder (or mixed cinder and clay) and limestone soils as well as pure sand (Francis 1986). Sites typically have been disturbed by improper grazing of livestock, frequent sheet flow, or wind.
Geographic Range: This shrub steppe association occurs in the Colorado Plateau from the upper Rio Puerco watershed in northwestern New Mexico to north-central Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687802
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GU
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.d Yellow Rabbitbrush - Rubber Rabbitbrush - Winterfat Steppe & Shrubland Group | G310 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Alliance | A3203 Broom Snakeweed - Threadleaf Snakeweed Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A3203 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Association | CEGL001776 Broom Snakeweed / Alkali Sacaton - James'' Galleta Shrub Grassland | CEGL001776 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Gutierrezia sarothrae / Sporobolus airoides-Hilaria jamesii Plant Community (Francis 1986)
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