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CEGL001411 Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula / Poa secunda Shrub Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrub Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This description is based on occurrences at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula is the characteristic and predominant low-shrub species in this vegetation type, although it can be obscured by tall grass cover. Cover of Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula is scattered and the canopy is generally open. Poa secunda is the dominant understory grass. Pseudoroegneria spicata is usually, but not always, present at low to moderate cover values. Elymus elymoides and Bromus spp. also typically co-occur in the graminoid functional group. Phlox hoodii is the most common forb, but forb cover is generally low and species composition is highly variable. This shrub herbaceous association occurs on dry, exposed moderate slopes, on undulating to rolling topography, lower mountain toeslopes, inaccessible ridges, and on very steep canyon talus slopes. Slope can range from low to moderate. Soils are shallow or moderately deep, from well- to moderately well-developed. Textures range from silt loam to gravel loams. Often there is a claypan limiting the rooting depth.

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: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This association occurs in California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, ID, NV, OR


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.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 A3219 Little Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3219 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Association CEGL001411 Little Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrub Grassland CEGL001411 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 arbuscula / Poa secunda Community (Blackburn et al. 1968a)
? Artemisia arbuscula / Poa secunda Community (Blackburn et al. 1968b)
? Artemisia arbuscula / Poa secunda Community (Blackburn et al. 1969c)
? Artemisia arbuscula / Poa secunda Community (Blackburn et al. 1969b)
? Artemisia arbuscula / Poa secunda Community (Blackburn et al. 1969a)
= Low Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula / Poa secunda Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): Bell et al. (2009)

Author of Description: Bell et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-02-18
  • 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.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1968a. Vegetation and soils of the Mill Creek watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-43. University of Nevada, Reno. 69 pp.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1968b. Vegetation and soils of the Crowley Creek watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-42. Reno. 60 pp.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1969a. Vegetation and soils of the Cow Creek watershed. Vegetation and soils of the Mill Creek watershed. In cooperation with USDI Bureau of Land Management. University of Nevada, College of Agriculture, Reno. 71 pp.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1969b. Vegetation and soils of the Coils Creek watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-48. Reno. 81 pp.
  • Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1969c. Vegetation and soils of the Churchill Canyon watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-45. Reno. 157 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.
  • Heinze, D. H., R. E. Eckert, and P. T. Tueller. 1962. The vegetation and soils of the Steptoe Watershed. Unpublished report prepared for the USDI Bureau of Land Management. 40 pp.
  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
  • Savage, D. E. 1968. The relationship of sage grouse to upland meadows in Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.