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CEGL001316 Atriplex cuneata - Frankenia jamesii / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Valley Saltbush - James'' Sea-heath / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This minor plant association is described from one site in the Upper Rio Puerco Watershed in New Mexico and three locations in Montezuma County in Colorado but may be more common as much of the potential habitat has not been surveyed. This shrubland has 90% bare ground with 15% total vegetation cover. Most of the cover is from two shrubs, Atriplex cuneata and Frankenia jamesii (60% cover). Other shrubs include Yucca glauca and Krascheninnikovia lanata. Sporobolus airoides dominates the herbaceous cover with Pleuraphis jamesii and forbs (mostly Sphaeralcea coccinea and Echinocereus sp.). The shrub cover is consistent and diagnostic, but the grass and forb cover is variable. This type is probably largely affected by grazing history and precipitation. It occurs on moderate slopes on shallow, eroded soils usually silty-clay-loam over shale. The three occurrences in Colorado are all on Mancos Shale. Frankenia jamesii is known to occur on gypsiferous soil throughout its range. Some of the EORs report the presence of cryptogamic soils.
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 shrubland has 90% bare ground with 15% total vegetation cover. Most of the cover is from two shrubs, Atriplex cuneata and Frankenia jamesii (60% cover). Other shrubs include Yucca glauca (6% cover) and Krascheninnikovia lanata (1% cover). Sporobolus airoides dominates the herbaceous cover (21% of the total vegetation cover) with Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii) (3%), forbs (8%), mostly Sphaeralcea coccinea and Echinocereus sp. (1%). The shrub cover is consistent and diagnostic, but the grass and forb cover is variable.
Dynamics: This type is probably largely affected by grazing history and precipitation.
Environmental Description: It occurs on moderate slopes on shallow, eroded soils usually silty-clay-loam over shale. The three occurrences in Colorado are all on Mancos Shale. Frankenia jamesii is known to occur on gypsiferous soil throughout its range. Some of the EORs report the presence of cryptogamic soils.
Geographic Range: Minor plant association described from one site in the Upper Rio Puerco Watershed in New Mexico and three locations in Montezuma County in Colorado. This association may be more common as much of the potential habitat has not been surveyed.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687992
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1?
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.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup | M093 | 3.B.1.Ne.5 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Spiny Hopsage Scrub Group | G300 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
| Alliance | A3180 Mound Saltbush - Valley Saltbush Scrub Alliance | A3180 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
| Association | CEGL001316 Valley Saltbush - James'' Sea-heath / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland | CEGL001316 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex cuneata - Frankenia jamesii / Sporobolus airoides Plant Community (Francis 1986)
- 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]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Francis, R. E. 1986. Phyto-edaphic communities of the Upper Rio Puerco Watershed, New Mexico. Research Paper RM-272. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 73 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.