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CEGL001775 Atriplex obovata / Sporobolus airoides - Pleuraphis jamesii Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mound Saltbush / Alkali Sacaton - James'' Galleta Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on alluvial flats in the southern Colorado Plateau in northwestern New Mexico and adjacent Arizona at 1680-1811 m (5570-5940 feet) elevation. Slopes are minimal and range from 0-6%. Soils are typically shallow, alkaline, and calcareous and are derived from alluvium. Soil texture ranges from fine sandy loam to silty clay loam. Ground cover is largely bare soil, sometimes with high cover of surface rock, including basalt, gravel, and petrified wood. The vegetation is characterized by an open dwarf-shrub canopy of Atriplex obovata with a grassy understory dominated by Pleuraphis jamesii and Sporobolus airoides. Other shrubs may be present with very low cover, including Atriplex confertifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Opuntia polyacantha, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Associated graminoids may include Elymus elymoides, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Schedonnardus paniculatus, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Forb cover is typically low but may be diverse.
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: The vegetation is characterized by an open dwarf-shrub canopy (<15% cover) of Atriplex obovata with a grassy understory dominated by Pleuraphis jamesii and Sporobolus airoides. Other shrubs may be present with very low cover, including Atriplex confertifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), Opuntia polyacantha, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Francis 1986). Associated graminoids present may include Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Schedonnardus paniculatus, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and the annual Vulpia octoflora. Forb cover is typically low but may be diverse. Species include Calochortus aureus, Chamaesyce fendleri, Plantago patagonica, Sphaeralcea incana, and Townsendia annua.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on alluvial flats in the southern Colorado Plateau in northwestern New Mexico and adjacent Arizona at 1680-1811 m (5570-5940 feet) elevation. Slopes are minimal and range from 0-6%. Soils are typically shallow, alkaline, and calcareous and are derived from alluvium. Soil texture ranges from fine sandy loam to silty clay loam (Francis 1986). Ground cover is largely bare soil, sometimes with high cover of surface rock, including basalt, gravel, and petrified wood (desert pavement).
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688510
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.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 | CEGL001775 Mound Saltbush / Alkali Sacaton - James'' Galleta Shrub Grassland | CEGL001775 | 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 obovata - Gutierrezia sarothrae / Hilaria 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.
- 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.
- Salas, D., L. Floyd-Hanna, and D. Hanna. 2011. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2011/452. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 142 pp.
- Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, A. Cully, K. Schulz, and J. M. S. Hutchinson. 2009a. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Petrified Forest National Park. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2009/273. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 294 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.