Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This shrubland occurs where conditions support Sarcobatus vermiculatus, but disturbance has removed most or all of the native herbaceous understory. Sarcobatus vermiculatus dominates the sparse to moderately dense shrub layer with a cover of 10-60%. Other shrubs commonly present may include Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, Picrothamnus desertorum, Suaeda moquinii (= Suaeda torreyana), and Tetradymia canescens. If Artemisia tridentata is present, it is with very low cover. The understory ranges from sparse to dense in cover, but native species typically have very low cover and can include Rumex hymenosepalus, Oenothera pallida, Sphaeralcea ambigua, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. The dominant herbaceous species tend to be weedy and/or exotic; Vulpia octoflora, Bromus tectorum, Descurainia pinnata, Erodium cicutarium, Salsola tragus, Alyssum desertorum, and Halogeton glomeratus are typical understory dominants.

Dynamics:  Sarcobatus vermiculatus is a very salt-tolerant species, although it will also grow on non-saline and non-alkaline soils (Shantz and Piemeisel 1940). To help it tolerate saline conditions, Sarcobatus vermiculatus accumulates salts in its leaves and, once established on a site, creates a salt-enriched microenvironment under its canopy due to leaching of salt from shed leaves (Donovan et al. 1996). This process can discourage less salt-tolerant shrub species such as Artemisia tridentata from occupying its habitat; Sarcobatus vermiculatus mixed with other shrubs indicates less-saline conditions. Sarcobatus vermiculatus stands develop best where subsurface moisture is readily available. It is commonly found on floodplains that are either subject to periodic flooding or have a high water table at least part of the year. It can tolerate up to 40 days of inundation (Ganskopp 1986, Groeneveld and Crowley 1988). Greasewood will increase in density at the expense of grasses such as Sporobolus airoides under conditions of heavy grazing, since it is only moderately palatable and is somewhat poisonous to livestock. In central Nevada, the understory of the Sarcobatus vermiculatus community is naturally sparse because the community occurs on shifting dune topography on the margins of a former glacial lake (Young et al. 1986). In these stands, the depth to the water table varies from 2.1 m in the spring to 3.2 m in late summer.