Print Report
CEGL005827 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - (Purshia tridentata) / Muhlenbergia montana - (Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata) Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush - (Antelope Bitterbrush) / Mountain Muhly - (Needle-and-Thread) Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in the dry montane zone in the Front Range of Colorado on terrain which can vary from flat to steep and occur on all aspects. Soils are typically rocky, moderately well-drained to rapidly drained sandy loam but include sand, silt loam, clay loam, and sandy clay. Small rocks and bare soil comprise codominate ground surface with litter and duff cover that ranges from 1-42%. Vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense (40-60%) shrub canopy 0.5-1 m tall that is codominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (30-60% cover) and Purshia tridentata (>10% cover). Other common shrubs include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ribes cereum, Rosa woodsii, and Juniperus communis var. montana. The herbaceous layer is open to dense (10-80% cover) and codominated by Muhlenbergia montana and Hesperostipa comata. Other graminoids may be present, such as Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus inermis, Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus, Carex geophila, Carex spp., Elymus spp., Koeleria macrantha, and Poa pratensis. Forbs contribute less total coverage to the herbaceous layer; however, there are several species which consistently show up in these stands. These species include Antennaria spp., Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum, Euphorbia brachycera, and Potentilla pulcherrima.
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: Vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense (40-60%) shrub canopy 0.5-1 m tall that is codominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (30-60% cover) and Purshia tridentata (>10% cover). Other common shrubs include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ribes cereum, Rosa woodsii, and Juniperus communis var. montana. The herbaceous layer is open to dense (10-80% cover) and codominated by Muhlenbergia montana and Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata. Other graminoids may be present, such as Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus inermis, Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus, Carex geophila, Carex spp., Elymus spp., Koeleria macrantha, and Poa pratensis. Forbs contribute less total coverage to the herbaceous layer; however, there are several species which consistently show up in these stands. These species include Antennaria spp., Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum, Euphorbia brachycera, and Potentilla pulcherrima.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the dry montane zone in the Front Range of Colorado on terrain which can vary from flat to steep and occur on all aspects. Soils are typically rocky, moderately well-drained to rapidly drained sandy loam but include sand, silt loam, clay loam, and sandy clay. Small rocks and bare soil comprise codominate ground surface with litter and duff cover that ranges from 1-42%.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association occurs in the dry montane zone in the Front Range of Colorado but likely has a wider range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.735295
Confidence Level: Low
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.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M169 | 3.B.1.Ne.3 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G304 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Alliance | A3208 Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mixed Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3208 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Association | CEGL005827 Mountain Big Sagebrush - (Antelope Bitterbrush) / Mountain Muhly - (Needle-and-Thread) Shrubland | CEGL005827 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - (Purshia tridentata) / Muhlenbergia montana - (Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata) Shrubland (Salas et al. 2005)
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.