Print Report
CEGL001446 Atriplex gardneri / Xylorhiza venusta Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gardner''s Saltbush / Charming Woody-aster Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dwarf-shrub association occurs on badland topography developed in marine shales in southeastern Utah and is likely to occur in similar habitats in western Colorado. Stands occupy low ridges and the sides of pediments with gentle to moderate slopes and variable aspects between approximately 1300 and 1500 m elevation. The unvegetated surface consists almost entirely of bare ground with little to no litter. Soils are shallow, silty clay-textured, and derived from shales of the Mancos or Morrison formations. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse canopy of the dwarf-shrub Atriplex gardneri with between 1 and 15% cover. Sometimes Atriplex gardneri is the only shrub present, but more often the shrub layer includes scattered individuals of Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Eriogonum bicolor, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Picrothamnus desertorum. The herbaceous layer generally only contains a few species, among which Xylorhiza venusta is the most conspicuous. Other forbs include Eriogonum cernuum, Eriogonum inflatum, Sphaeralcea spp., and Machaeranthera grindelioides; grasses provide only trace cover.
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: This association is apparently restricted to Mancos shale badlands in the Colorado Plateau of southeastern Utah and possibly western Colorado. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse canopy of the dwarf-shrub Atriplex gardneri with between 1 and 15% cover. The associated shrub layer is diverse, providing low to moderate cover, and includes Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Eriogonum bicolor, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Picrothamnus desertorum. The herbaceous layer generally only contains a few species, among which Xylorhiza venusta is the most conspicuous. Other forbs include Eriogonum cernuum, Eriogonum inflatum, Sphaeralcea spp., and Machaeranthera grindelioides; grasses provide only trace cover.
Dynamics: Sheet and gully erosion help to maintain the barren appearance of this association. When compared with other mat saltbush associations growing on Mancos shale badlands in southeastern Utah, this association occupies unmodified Mancos shale slopes on soils that are among the shallowest, highest in soluble salts, least well-developed, lowest in sand content, and highest in silt and clay content (West and Ibrahim 1968, Singh and West 1971).
Environmental Description: This dwarf-shrub association occurs on badland topography developed in marine shales in southeastern Utah and is likely to occur in similar habitats in western Colorado. Stands occupy low ridges and pediments with gentle to moderate slopes and variable aspects between approximately 1300 and 1500 m (4265-4920 feet) elevation. The unvegetated surface consists almost entirely of bare ground with little to no litter. Soils are shallow, silty clay-textured, and derived from shales of the Mancos or Morrison formations.
Geographic Range: This association has been described only from southeastern Utah. It may also occur on Mancos shale badlands in western Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.690028
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.a Mat Saltbush - Gardner''s Saltbush - Birdfoot Sagebrush Dwarf-Scrub Group | G301 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Alliance | A1110 Gardner''s Saltbush Low Scrub Alliance | A1110 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
| Association | CEGL001446 Gardner''s Saltbush / Charming Woody-aster Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL001446 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex nuttallii var. gardneri - Aster xylorhiza Habitat Type (West and Ibrahim 1968)
- 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.
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Singh, T., and N. E. West. 1971. Comparison of some multivariate analyses of perennial Atriplex vegetation in southeastern Utah. Vegetatio 23(5-6):289-313.
- West, N. E., and K. I. Ibrahim. 1968. Soil-vegetation relationships in the shadscale zone of southeastern Utah. Ecology 49(3):445-456.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.