Print Report
CEGL005800 Aristida purpurea Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Purple Three-awn Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This purple three-awn grassland association occurs widely in the interior western U.S. and the western Great Plains. This semi-arid grassland is found on a variety of sites, such as western shortgrass prairie, intermountain basins, alluvial flats, and a Pleistocene lake bench. Substrates are often sandy or gravelly soils. The vegetation is characterized by the dominance of Aristida purpurea in a sparse to open grass layer. Associates vary depending on the pre-disturbance community, but frequently include other dry, grazing-tolerant grasses such as scattered Bouteloua gracilis, Poa secunda, or Sporobolus cryptandrus; occasional shrubs that my be present include Ericameria nauseosa or Gutierrezia sarothrae that are common in disturbed areas, or remnants of late-seral communities such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata. Introduced species may be common, such as Bromus tectorum in disturbed stands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of this association are strongly dominated by Aristida purpurea and are frequently disturbed, either naturally or anthropogenically. Some stands are the result of excessive livestock grazing of other perennial grassland types. This type is likely to occur throughout much of the Colorado Plateau and western Great Plains. Further documentation is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This generally sparse or open grassland is characterized by the dominance of Aristida purpurea. Associates are variable depending on what community existed before disturbance, but frequently include low cover of other dry, grazing-tolerant grasses. Bouteloua gracilis, Poa secunda, or Sporobolus cryptandrus may be present but do not codominate. Occasional shrubs may include Ericameria nauseosa or Gutierrezia sarothrae that are common in disturbed areas, or remnants of late-seral communities such as Artemisia tridentata. Yucca spp. are common on sites with coarse-textured soils. Introduced species may be common, such as Bromus tectorum, Sisymbrium altissimum, and Verbascum thapsus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This semi-arid grassland association occurs widely the interior western U.S. and the western Great Plains, but is infrequently sampled because it is associated with disturbance. Stands are reported from a Pleistocene lake bench in northern Utah and alluvial flats in northern Arizona; however, it is found on a variety of sites, including western prairie and intermountain basins. Elevation ranges from 1465-1970 m. Substrates are often sandy or gravelly soils.
Geographic Range: This grassland association is reported from the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and shortgrass prairie, but likely occurs widely in the semi-arid interior western U.S. and the western Great Plains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM?, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689826
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.c James'' Galleta - Indian Ricegrass - Needle-and-Thread Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G311 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Alliance | A1270 Needle-and-Thread Grassland Alliance | A1270 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL005800 Purple Three-awn Grassland | CEGL005800 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Yucca glauca / Aristida longiseta Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989) [Yucca glauca is prominent on these sandy loam prairie sites.]
- Coles, J., A. Wight, J. Von Loh, K. Schulz, and A. Evenden. 2011. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Golden Spike National Historic Site. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR---2011/508. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 252 pp. [http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/NCPN]
- Hansen, M., J. Coles, K. A. Thomas, D. Cogan, M. Reid, J. Von Loh, and K. Schulz. 2004a. USGS-NPS National Vegetation Mapping Program: Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona, vegetation classification and distribution. U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report. Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ. 219 pp.
- Howard, J. L. 1997a. Aristida purpurea. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/] (accessed 1 April 2008 and 19 June 2011).
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- 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.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Shaw, R. B., S. L. Anderson, K. A. Schultz, and V. E. Diersing. 1989. Plant communities, ecological checklist, and species list for the U.S. Army Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado. Colorado State University, Department of Range Science, Science Series No. 37, Fort Collins. 71 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1937. Range plant handbook. Dover Publications Inc., New York. 816 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.