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CEGL001685 Sporobolus airoides Southern Plains Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alkali Sacaton Southern Plains Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Southern Plains Alkali Sacaton Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This alkali sacaton mesic grassland community is found in the southwestern Great Plains, on the Colorado Plateau, in the southwestern United States, and adjacent Mexico. The community is dominated by medium-tall and short grasses. Sporobolus airoides is a dominant, often accompanied by Symphyotrichum subulatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Bouteloua dactyloides, Distichlis spicata, Hordeum jubatum, and Bouteloua gracilis. Scattered shrubs, such as Atriplex spp. or Sarcobatus vermiculatus, may be present. Forb cover is also minor. Stands occur on slightly to moderately saline, nearly level bottomlands and terraces. Additional moisture from washes and sheetflow runoff are important for most stands. Substrates are shallow, moderately well- to poorly-drained, silty clay soils formed in alluvium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Compare this association with ~Sporobolus airoides - Bouteloua gracilis Grassland (CEGL001686)$$ and ~Pleuraphis jamesii - Sporobolus airoides Grassland (CEGL001778)$$. Stands in Montana are placed with ~Sporobolus airoides Northern Plains Marsh (CEGL002274)$$, which occurs in the northwestern Great Plains, and this type is restricted to the southwestern Great Plains and southwestern United States. In the southeastern Plains see ~Distichlis spicata - (Hordeum jubatum, Poa arida, Sporobolus airoides) Wet Meadow (CEGL002042)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense (15-75% cover), medium-tall graminoid layer dominated by Sporobolus airoides. Associated species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Artemisia campestris, Symphyotrichum subulatum (= Aster subulatus), Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides), Distichlis spicata, Hordeum jubatum, Bouteloua gracilis, Panicum obtusum, Pleuraphis jamesii, Salsola tragus, Sphaeralcea spp., Sporobolus cryptandrus, Stanleya pinnata, and Pascopyrum smithii (Francis 1986, Johnston 1987, Kittel et al. 1999a, Lauver et al. 1999, Von Loh et al. 2002). Scattered shrubs may be present, such as Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra spp., Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Purshia stansburiana, Sarcobatus vermiculatus and /or Yucca angustissima. Total shrub cover is low (<10%), and forb cover is minor.

Dynamics:  This is an early-seral community that occurs on floodplains and depressions with moderately saline soils (Aldous and Shantz 1924 as cited in Johnston 1987). While the stand sampled may be flooded infrequently, other stands of Sporobolus airoides (alkali sacaton) are reported to occur on soils not flooded but with high water tables because of land position. The intermittent flood regime affects soil moisture and salinity which can alter species composition. Sudden increases in salinity will result in a decrease in cover of Sporobolus airoides. With no change in salinity, this plant association will form hummocks that accumulate sand. Gradually the sites will decrease in salinity, and moisture and invasion by other grasses will follow (Ungar 1974a as cited in Johnston 1987). Soils are non-saline to moderately saline and usually alkaline. Sporobolus airoides will decrease in abundance with increased soil salinity.
Environmental Description:  This grassland community occurs on alluvial toeslopes and flats, terraces, floodplain depressions, and sandy streambanks and washes in bottomlands throughout the southern Great Plains and Colorado Plateau. Additional moisture from washes and sheetflow runoff are important for most stands. Elevations range from below 1000 m (3050 feet) to over 2000 m (6100 feet). Sites are typically flat to gently sloping but may be as steep as 30% slope. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, moderately well- to poorly-drained, alkaline, and often saline with sandy, silty or clay soils (Francis 1986, Johnston 1987, Kittel et al. 1999a, Lauver et al. 1999, Von Loh et al. 2002). Other parent materials include lava flow, cinders, relict Pleistocene river cobbles, and sandstone.
Geographic Range: This alkali sacaton mesic grassland community is found in the southwestern Great Plains, Colorado Plateau and elsewhere in the southwestern United States and Mexico, ranging from Kansas and Colorado south to Texas, New Mexico and west to Arizona, Utah, and possibly California.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA?, CO, KS, MT, MXCOA, NM, TX, UT


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3Q

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group G538 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A1334 Alkali Sacaton - Scratchgrass - Alkali Cordgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1334 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001685 Alkali Sacaton Southern Plains Wet Meadow CEGL001685 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Sporobolus airoides - Agropyron smithii Plant Community (Francis 1986)
? Sporobolus airoides - Elytrigia smithii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Sporobolus airoides (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Sporobolus airoides Southern Plains Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Sporobolus airoides Southern Plains Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
Concept Author(s): J. Drake

Author of Description: J. Drake, K.A. Schulz and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-14-16
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