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CEGL002917 Redfieldia flexuosa - (Psoralidium lanceolatum) Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blowout Grass - (Lemon Scurfpea) Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This herbaceous association occurs on active sand dunes in the shortgrass prairie and San Luis Valley in Colorado. The largest and most extensive occurrence is in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the surrounding dunefield. The association occurs on sparsely vegetated, wind-shifted sand dunes at an elevational range of 1830-2380 m (6000-7800 feet). Redfieldia flexuosa frequently is the only plant species present in the more windswept areas of the dunes, and although dominant, the canopy cover is sparse (2-10% cover). Psoralidium lanceolatum may codominate. This plant association differs from the similar ~Achnatherum hymenoides - Psoralidium lanceolatum Grassland (CEGL001650)$$ in several ways, primarily the dominance of Redfieldia flexuosa. In Colorado Achnatherum hymenoides is found in the more stabilized dunefields.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The association description is based on two known Colorado occurrences and plot data. Invertebrates key into this plant association. This association is an excellent indicator of tiger beetle habitat, and has a tight correlation with Cicindela theatina (Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle-G1).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Redfieldia flexuosa frequently is the only plant species present in the more windswept areas of the dunes, and although dominant, the canopy cover is sparse (2-10% cover). Psoralidium lanceolatum may codominate. In Colorado Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) is found in the more stabilized dunefields.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The association occurs on sparsely vegetated, wind-shifted sand dunes at an elevational range of 1830-2380 m (6000-7800 feet).
Geographic Range: This plant association occurs on active sand dunes in the shortgrass prairie and San Luis Valley in Colorado. The largest and most extensive occurrence is in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the surrounding dunefield.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688611
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.e Intermountain Sparsely Vegetated Dune Scrub & Grassland Group | G775 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.e |
| Alliance | A4011 Blowout Grass - Yellow Wildrye - Indian Ricegrass Grassland Alliance | A4011 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.e |
| Association | CEGL002917 Blowout Grass - (Lemon Scurfpea) Grassland | CEGL002917 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- CNHP Ecology Team [Colorado Natural Heritage Program Ecology Team]. 2001. A classification of the native vegetation of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, 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/]
- Rondeau R. J., D. Sarr, M. B. Wunder, P. M. Pineda, and G. M. Kittel. 1998. Saguache County, Closed Basin biological inventory, Volume I: A natural heritage assessment. Final report. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 195 pp.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.