Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / (Kentucky Bluegrass, Canada Bluegrass) Ruderal Shrub Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrub herbaceous association is known only from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Stands occur on toeslopes, plateaus, ridgetops, and in valley bottoms between 2311 and 2456 m elevation. Sites are flat to gently sloping with cooler northern to southeastern aspects. The unvegetated surface has moderate to dense cover of litter and exposure of bare soil. The underlying geology is varied and includes Mesozoic sandstone, metamorphic granitic rocks, and Quaternary alluvium. Soils are moderately well-drained and range from silty clay loams to sandy loams depending on parent materials. The vegetation is characterized by an open to relatively closed short-shrub canopy, from 0.5-2 m tall, of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (5-50% cover), with a moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by exotic grasses Poa pratensis and Poa compressa. The associated shrubs and dwarf-shrubs are diverse and provide low cover, including Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria parryi, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia repens, Opuntia fragilis, Peraphyllum ramosissimum, Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. The herbaceous layer has moderate to sometimes low cover and is very diverse. The associated graminoids include Achnatherum lettermanii, Elymus elymoides, and Hesperostipa comata. Forb cover is diverse but sparse.

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