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CEGL002085 Erodium cicutarium Ruderal Annual Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Redstem Stork''s-bill Ruderal Annual Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This small-patch annual exotic herbaceous association occurs on ridges and valley bottoms in highly disturbed sites in the Colorado Plateau. Sites occupied by this association are generally associated with severe disturbance, such as annual grazing by sheep and/or cattle, mining or a very hot fire. Elevations range from 1692 to 2306 m (5550-7565 feet), and sites occur on level to moderate slopes with south to west exposures. Soils are generally sandy and derived from eolian or alluvial deposits. Cryptobiotic crusts may cover much of the unvegetated surface in sites that have not been grazed recently. Total vegetation cover is sparse to moderate (16-40%), depending on the amount of winter/spring precipitation and the time of year a site is sampled. The exotic annual forb Erodium cicutarium provides most of the vegetative cover, but other weedy and exotic species are also generally present, including Bromus tectorum, Descurainia pinnata, Sisymbrium altissimum, Carduus nutans, and Tragopogon dubius. A few scattered shrubs typical of sandy alkaline conditions may be present, including Atriplex canescens, Opuntia polyacantha, Ephedra viridis, Lycium pallidum, and Quercus gambelii.
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 annual herbaceous association indicates sites that have experienced severe or chronic disturbance. Total vegetation cover in this annual herbaceous type is sparse to moderate (16-40%), depending on the amount of winter/spring precipitation and the time of year a site is sampled. The exotic annual forb Erodium cicutarium provides most of the vegetative cover, but other weedy and exotic species are also generally present, including Bromus tectorum, Descurainia pinnata, Sisymbrium altissimum, Carduus nutans, and Tragopogon dubius. A few scattered shrubs may be present, including Opuntia polyacantha, Ephedra viridis, Lycium pallidum, Atriplex canescens, and Quercus gambelii.
Dynamics: Erodium cicutarium is a winter annual that will pioneer on primary succession sites such as lands strip-mined for coal (Wagner et al. 1978). It is also a residual or a secondary colonizer in communities disturbed by grazing and/or fire, since seedlings can either establish from on-site seed or from seed carried in by animals (Felger 1990). If disturbance is removed, the site may give way to other weedy species such as Bromus tectorum; Erodium cicutarium will tolerate partial shade, but vigor is reduced (Bentley and Talbot 1948).
Environmental Description: This small-patch annual herbaceous association occurs on ridges and valley bottoms in highly disturbed sites in the Colorado Plateau. Elevations range from 1692 to 2306 m (5550-7565 feet), and sites occur on level to moderate slopes with south to west exposures. Soils are generally sandy and derived from eolian or alluvial deposits. Cryptobiotic crusts may cover much of the unvegetated surface in sites that have not been grazed in a number of years; in grazed sites, bare ground and rocks cover most of the surface.
Geographic Range: This association is of limited extent in northern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and western Colorado. It has been documented from western Colorado and southeastern Utah and has been observed, but not sampled, on the floor of Canyon del Muerto and Canyon de Chelly at Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.757446
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Crested Wheatgrass - Cheatgrass - Tall Tumblemustard Western North American Ruderal Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M499 | 3.B.1.Ne.90 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a Great Basin-Intermountain Ruderal Dry Shrubland & Grassland Group | G600 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Alliance | A3257 Yellow Star-thistle - Dyer''s Woad - Prickly Russian-thistle Ruderal Annual Forb Alliance | A3257 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Association | CEGL002085 Redstem Stork''s-bill Ruderal Annual Grassland | CEGL002085 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Erodium cicutarium Semi-natural Annual Herbaceous Vegetation (Wagner et al. 1978)
- Bentley, J. R., and M. W. Talbot. 1948. Annual-plant vegetation of the California foothills as related to range management. Ecology 29:72-79.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Felger, R. S. 1990. Non-native plants of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. Technical Report No. 31. University of Arizona, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, Tucson. 93 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, L. Ogden, K. Schulz, T. Fancher, R. Waltermire, and A. Cully. 2010. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Canyon de Chelly National Monument. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR-2010/306. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 338 pp.
- Von Loh, J., G. Wakefield, A. Wight, A. Evenden, and J. Coles. 2008. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Hovenweep National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2008/092. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 328 pp.
- Wagner, W. L., W. C. Martin, and E. F. Aldon. 1978. Natural succession on strip-mined lands in northwestern New Mexico. Reclamation Review 1:67-73.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.