Print Report
CEGL001295 Atriplex confertifolia - Picrothamnus desertorum Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shadscale Saltbush / Bud Sagebrush Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This alkaline desert association occurs in the Great Basin, Mojave Desert, Columbia Basin and Colorado Plateau and is likely more widespread in the intermountain western U.S. It occurs on barren toeslopes and playas on sandy or heavy clay soils, and foothill areas where saline hardpans occur at depths of 30-60 cm (1-2 feet). The shrubs are low-statured and open, often with very low cover (5-15%). Dominant shrubs are Atriplex confertifolia and Picrothamnus desertorum. Other shrubs, such as Artemisia tridentata and Sarcobatus vermiculatus in Nevada, and Coleogyne ramosissima, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Tetradymia spinosa in southern Utah, may be present to codominant. Herbaceous cover is generally very sparse, due to overgrazing or lack of moisture. Graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, and Sporobolus airoides; common forbs include Calochortus nuttallii, Cymopterus newberryi, Encelia nutans, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. The annual invasive grass Bromus tectorum can be abundant, but its presence is variable year to year.
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 shrubs are low-statured and open, often with very low cover (5-15%). Dominant shrubs are Atriplex confertifolia and Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens). Other shrubs, such as Artemisia tridentata and Sarcobatus vermiculatus in Nevada, and Coleogyne ramosissima, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Tetradymia spinosa in southern Utah, may be present to codominant. Herbaceous cover is generally very sparse, due to overgrazing or lack of moisture. Graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, and Sporobolus airoides; common forbs include Calochortus nuttallii, Cymopterus newberryi, Encelia nutans, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. The annual invasive grass Bromus tectorum can be abundant, but its presence is variable year to year.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alkaline desert association occurs the Great Basin, Columbia Basin and Colorado Plateau and is likely more widespread in the intermountain western U.S. It occurs on barren toeslopes and playas on sandy or heavy clay soils, and foothill areas where saline hardpans occur at depths of 30-60 cm (1-2 feet).
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Great Basin, Mojave Desert, Columbia Basin and Colorado Plateau and is likely more widespread in the intermountain western U.S.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689085
Confidence Level: Low
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.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 | A0870 Shadscale Saltbush Scrub Alliance | A0870 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
| Association | CEGL001295 Shadscale Saltbush / Bud Sagebrush Shrubland | CEGL001295 | 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 confertifolia / Bromus tectorum Community (Blackburn et al. 1969e)
= Atriplex confertifolia-Picrothamnus desertorum Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Little greasewood-shadscale association (Billings 1945) [(p.94) "Characteristic species of the dominant union are Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Atriplex confertifolia, and Artemisia spinescens."]
= Atriplex confertifolia-Picrothamnus desertorum Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Little greasewood-shadscale association (Billings 1945) [(p.94) "Characteristic species of the dominant union are Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Atriplex confertifolia, and Artemisia spinescens."]
- Billings, W. D. 1945. The plant associations of the Carson Desert region, western Nevada. Butler University Botanical Studies 7:89-123.
- Billings, W. D. 1949. The shadscale vegetation zone of Nevada and eastern California in relation to climate and soils. The American Midland Naturalist 42(1):87-109.
- Blackburn, W. H., R. E. Eckert, Jr., and P. T. Tueller. 1969e. Vegetation and soils of the Crane Springs watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-55. Reno. 63 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.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2009a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Arches National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/253. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 544 pp.
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Peterson, E. B. 2008. International Vegetation Classification alliances and associations occurring in Nevada with proposed additions. Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Carson City, NV. 348 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.