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CEGL005261 Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Redbeds Rock Outcrop
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The Redbeds rock outcrop type is found in the Black Hills region of the United States. Stands occur on outcrops of the Permo-Triassic Spearfish Formation, composed of red siltstones and shales. Gypsum lenses are common and often cap the slopes, small hills and buttes where redbeds are exposed. Due to the softness of the parent rock material, exposures are often eroded to produce badlands-like topography. Occasionally, small cliff-like outcrops develop where strata are more resistant to erosion. This is a sparse vegetation type with total vegetative cover usually less than 10%. Graminoids and forbs typically are equally represented. Frequently found species include Artemisia frigida, Hesperostipa comata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Achnatherum hymenoides, Tetraneuris acaulis, Oxytropis lambertii, Heterotheca villosa, Paronychia depressa, Eriogonum pauciflorum, Hymenopappus filifolius, and many other prairie forbs. Lichens and cryptogamic soils may be present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This sparse vegetation type is developed on exposures of the Spearfish Formation of the Black Hills. It may be related to redbed types elsewhere, as this formation is equivalent to the Permo-Triassic redbeds of the Chugwater and Gooseegg formations, which extend west into central Wyoming (Love and Christiansen 1985).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a sparse vegetation type with total vegetative cover usually less than 10% (BHCI 1999). Graminoids and forbs typically are equally represented. On moderate and steeper slopes, plants are often slightly elevated above the surrounding, easily eroded redbeds. Frequently found species include Artemisia frigida, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Schizachyrium scoparium, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), Oxytropis lambertii, Heterotheca villosa, Paronychia depressa, Eriogonum pauciflorum, Hymenopappus filifolius, and many other prairie forbs. Lichens and cryptogamic soils may be present (Marriott 1985, Salas and Pucherelli 1998a, Cogan et al. 1999, Marriott et al. 1999, BHCI 1999, Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000).
Dynamics: The red siltstones and shales of the Spearfish Formation are relatively soft, and the soils that are derived are poor, loose and easily eroded. Poor soils and natural erosion prevent the development of substantial vegetative cover (Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000).
Environmental Description: This sparse vegetation type occurs on outcrops of the Permo-Triassic Spearfish Formation, which is composed of red siltstones and shales (BHCI 1999). Gypsum lenses are common and often cap the slopes, small hills and buttes where redbeds are exposed. Due to the softness of the parent rock material, exposures are often eroded to produce badlands-like topography. Occasionally, small cliff-like outcrops develop where strata are more resistant to erosion. Redbeds generally are restricted to lower elevations in the Black Hills, below 1525 m (5000 feet). However, in the southwestern part of the range in the vicinity of Four Corners, WY, the Spearfish Formation crops out at elevations as high as 1800 m (5900 feet) (Love and Christiansen 1985).
Geographic Range: This type is found in the Black Hills region of the western United States. It occurs in areas underlain by red siltstones and shales of the Spearfish Formation. The Red Valley or Racetrack that encircles the higher Black Hills gets its name from these red outcrops. There also are extensive exposures in the northwestern Black Hills in the valley of the Belle Fourche River in the vicinity of Devils Tower, WY.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: SD, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689335
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.2 Great Plains Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M116 | 6.B.1.Na.2 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.2.b Skunkbush Sumac / Blue Grama - Prickly-pear species Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G567 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3982 Great Plains Acidic Rock Outcrop Alliance | A3982 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005261 Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005261 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Marriott 1985)
= Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000)
= Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Marriott et al. 1999)
= Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000)
= Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Marriott et al. 1999)
= Redbeds (Siltstone, Sandstone, Gypsum) Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- BHCI [Black Hills Community Inventory]. 1999. Unpublished element occurrence and plot data collected during the Black Hills Community Inventory. Available upon request from the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, and Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie.
- Cogan, D., H. Marriott, J. Von Loh, and M. J. Pucherelli. 1999. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-98-08. USDI Bureau of Reclamation Technical Services Center, Denver, CO. 225 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Love, J. D., and A. C. Christiansen. 1985. Geologic map of Wyoming. U.S. Geological Survey. Prepared in cooperation with Geologic Survey of Wyoming.
- Marriott, H. J. 1985. Flora of the northwestern Black Hills, Crook and Weston counties, Wyoming. Unpublished M.S. thesis, Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
- Marriott, H. J., D. Faber-Langendoen, A. McAdams, D. Stutzman, and B. Burkhart. 1999. The Black Hills Community Inventory: Final report. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Conservation Science Center, Minneapolis, MN.
- Marriott, H. J., and D. Faber-Langendoen. 2000. The Black Hills community inventory. Volume 2: Plant community descriptions. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Conservation Science Center and Association for Biodiversity Information, Minneapolis, MN. 326 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Salas, D. E., and M. J. Pucherelli. 1998a. USGS-NPS vegetation mapping, Devil''s Tower National Monument, Wyoming. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Memorandum No. 8260-98-08. Denver, CO.