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CEGL001743 Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi / Muhlenbergia richardsonis Wet Shrub Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bolander''s Silver Sagebrush / Mat Muhly Wet Shrub Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs on playa bottoms and on moist sites in valley bottoms in the northern Great Basin of southeastern Oregon, northwestern California, extreme southwestern Idaho and northeastern Nevada. It ranges between thick shrublands to open grasslands with scattered shrubs. It has only been described from arid, closed basins, although generally in areas with sufficient freshwater input to allow Artemisia cana to grow. All stands are in vernally wet areas, with the characteristics of intermountain vernal pools. Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi dominates the shrub layer of all sites, generally as the only shrub present. Artemisia tridentata or less frequently Sarcobatus vermiculatus are occasionally found in stands, generally occurring at the margins of the communities. Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi cover ranges from 5-60%, so that this type can be found as grasslands with shrubs, steppe and most commonly as shrublands. The perennial grass Muhlenbergia richardsonis comprises most of the understory. Occasionally, Puccinellia spp., Elymus spp., Poa secunda, Juncus nevadensis, Juncus effusus, or Eleocharis spp. are present. Often, Muhlenbergia richardsonis forms a solid, short mat across the stands, although in dry years or drier locations, alkaline playa (bare ground) makes up to 40% of the cover.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The successional status of this association is not clear, since Muhlenbergia richardsonis tends to increase with grazing. However, at least two stands are from areas that are rarely grazed by cattle.

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

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This is a very local, but fairly widespread type. Currently, the type is only known from widely distributed parts of the northern Great Basin and the Snake River Plains in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, ID, NV, OR


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.a Narrowleaf Willow - Hawthorn species - Stretchberry Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Riparian Shrubland Group G526 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Alliance A2557 Silver Sagebrush Wet Shrubland Alliance A2557 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001743 Bolander''s Silver Sagebrush / Mat Muhly Wet Shrub Meadow CEGL001743 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Artemisia cana / Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Franklin and Dyrness 1973)
= Artemisia cana / Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Moseley 1998) [(p. 46)]
= Artemisia cana / Muhlenbergia richardsonis Ecosystem (Dealy 1971)
= Artemisia cana bolanderi / Muhlenbergia richardsonis Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
Concept Author(s): J. Kagan

Author of Description: J. Kagan

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97
  • 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.
  • Dealy, J. E. 1971. Habitat characteristics of the Silver Lake mule deer range. Research Paper PNW-125. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 99 pp.
  • Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. General Technical Report PNW-8. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 417 pp.
  • Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho. Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 15, University of Idaho, Moscow. 44 pp.
  • IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
  • Manning, M. E., and W. G. Padgett. 1991. Riparian community type classification for the Humboldt and Toiyabe national forests, Nevada and eastern California. Unpublished draft report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region Ecology and Classification Program, Ogden, UT. 490 pp.
  • Moseley, R. K. 1998. Riparian and wetland community inventory of 14 reference areas in southwestern Idaho. Technical Bulletin 98-5. USDI Bureau of Land Management, Boise State Office, Boise, ID. 52 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.