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CEGL000990 Artemisia bigelovii / Achnatherum hymenoides Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigelow''s Sagebrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Stands included in this dwarf-shrubland association are found in southeastern Colorado on breaks and shale plains in the shortgrass steppe west to the foothills near the Front Range. Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, calcareous loams and clay loams, derived from limestone, sandstone, shale and alluvium. The soil surface has high cover of bare soil and rock. This vegetation contains a sparse dwarf-shrub layer that is dominated by Artemisia bigelovii. Other dwarf-shrubs, such as Yucca glauca, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Frankenia jamesii, and Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum, may be present to codominant. Scattered shrubs and the trees are occasionally present. Dominant grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Aristida purpurea, and less commonly Pascopyrum smithii. On slopes, cushion plants like Arenaria hookeri, Eriogonum lachnogynum, Tetraneuris acaulis, and Paronychia sessiliflora are common. Other forbs, such as Astragalus missouriensis, Heterotheca villosa, Melampodium cinereum, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Stanleya pinnata, and Zinnia grandiflora, are usually present. Exotic annuals, such as Bromus arvensis, Bromus tectorum, Salsola kali, and Descurainia sophia, may be present to common depending on disturbance and amount and season of precipitation. Diagnostic of this association is the Artemisia bigelovii-dominated dwarf-shrub layer with Achnatherum hymenoides typically present in the herbaceous layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The vegetation in some stands included in this association may be too sparse to be classified in a dwarf-shrubland. A review is needed to determine if ~Artemisia bigelovii / Bouteloua gracilis Dwarf-shrub Grassland (CEGL001742)$$ and this association (CEGL000990) could be merged.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this association has sparse to moderately dense cover of microphyllous evergreen dwarf-shrubs less than 0.5 m tall. A sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer dominated by perennial medium-tall bunch grasses and short grasses is also present. Forb cover is generally sparse. Scattered scale-leaved and needle-leaved evergreen trees may be present.
Floristics: This association contains a sparse dwarf-shrub layer usually less than 20% of the total canopy cover. The dominant dwarf-shrub is Artemisia bigelovii. Yucca glauca, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Frankenia jamesii, and Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum may be present to codominant. Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum is more common on steeper shale breaks slopes. Gutierrezia sarothrae may become codominant on degraded ranges. Dominant grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana), Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Sporobolus cryptandrus, Aristida purpurea, and less commonly Pascopyrum smithii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Muhlenbergia torreyi, and Schizachyrium scoparium. On slopes, cushion plants like Arenaria hookeri, Eriogonum lachnogynum, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), and Paronychia sessiliflora are common. Other forbs such as Astragalus missouriensis, Heterotheca villosa, Melampodium cinereum, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Stanleya pinnata, and Zinnia grandiflora are present. Alien annuals such as Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), Bromus tectorum, Salsola kali, and Descurainia sophia may be present to common depending on disturbance, and amount and season of precipitation. Scattered shrubs such as Atriplex canescens, Cercocarpus montanus, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Lycium pallidum, and Rhus trilobata, and the trees Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma are occasionally present.
Dynamics: Livestock grazing must be managed carefully to prevent the loss of highly palatable mid grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Bouteloua curtipendula, Hesperostipa neomexicana, and Achnatherum hymenoides. The effects of fire on this vegetation are unknown. However, the vegetation is usually too sparse to carry a fire under most circumstances.
Environmental Description: Stands included in this association are found on limestone and sandstone breaks and shale plains in the shortgrass steppe to the foothills near the Front Range in southeastern Colorado. Elevation range is from 1350-1800 m. Climate is semi-arid, continental with 70-80% of the 25-35 cm of mean annual precipitation occurring during the growing season (April to September). Sites are nearly level to moderately steep (2-45%) with very high bare soil and rock ground cover (>80%). Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, calcareous, channery loams and clay loams, derived from limestone, shale and, uncommonly, sandstone and alluvium. It is commonly found on soil mapped as Penrose channery loam, Penrose - Minnequa complex and Midway clay loam which are derived from the Niobrara and Greenhorn formations. It has also been found on the Louver Alluvium, a Bull Lake Glaciation outwash deposit. Adjacent vegetation includes Bouteloua gracilis-dominated grasslands and Pinus edulis - Juniperus monosperma woodlands.
Geographic Range: Stands included in this alliance occur on shale and limestone breaks in the short grass steppe and the limestone hills near the Front Range within the Arkansas River basin in southeastern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687985
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | CEGL000990 Bigelow''s Sagebrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland | CEGL000990 | 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)
>< Artemisia bigelovii / Ceratoides lanata Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
>< Artemisia bigelovii / Ceratoides lanata Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 1983. Community Characterization Abstract (CCA) for Artemisia bigelovii - Frankenia jamesii / Oryzopsis hymenoides - Stipa neomexicana Association. Unpublished report. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- 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.
- Soil Conservation Service. 1978. Range site descriptions for Colorado. Technical Guide, Section II-E. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Colorado State Office, Denver.
- Soil Conservation Service. No date. Range site descriptions of vegetation in Colorado. Unpublished report series MLRA dating from 1975 to 1989. Soil Conservation Service, Colorado Field Office, Denver.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.