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CEGL002344 Artemisia frigida - (Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, Poa secunda) - Lichens Rocky Mesa Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prairie Sagewort - (Blue Grama, Indian Ricegrass, Sandberg Bluegrass) - Lichens Rocky Mesa Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association is described from the Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains and is typically found on exposed, wind-blown sites. Stands occur on mid- to upper slopes and tops of mesas, hills and ridges, but also occurs on midslopes of mountains, active slopes and on valley terraces. Site are flat to moderately steep (to 53 % slope) on all aspects between 2315 and 2965 m elevation. Various amounts of bedrock, large and small rocks, and bare soil compose the majority of the ground surface, with sparse to low cover of litter. Parent materials are frequently volcanic (basalt) rocks that are present as bedrock, boulders and gravel, Mesozoic shale, and Quaternary landslide deposits. Soils are shallow, rapidly drained and range from coarse sand and sandy loam to sandy clay loam and sandy clay. The sparse to moderately dense vegetation (4-85% cover) is characterized by the presence of Artemisia frigida, a suffrutescent plant that occurs as both a dwarf-shrub and forb. The other characteristic species are perennial graminoids Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, and Poa secunda, ranging from absent to 35% cover. Other common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Artemisia nova, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Tetradymia canescens, and the cactus Pediocactus simpsonii. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderate and often composed of low-growing cushion plants. Species are often diverse, but have sparse to low cover, and may include Festuca brachyphylla, Hymenoxys richardsonii, Paronychia sessiliflora, Penstemon strictus, Poa fendleriana, Stenotus armerioides, Pleiacanthus spinosus, and Tetraneuris torreyana. Cryptogam cover varies from low to moderate and is occasionally as high as 55%, mostly composed of crustose and foliose lichens.
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 has sparse to moderately dense vegetation (4-85% cover) and is characterized by the presence of Artemisia frigida, a suffrutescent plant that occurs as both a dwarf-shrub and forb. The other characteristic species are perennial graminoids Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, and Poa secunda, ranging from absent to 35% cover. Other common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Artemisia nova, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Tetradymia canescens, and the cactus Pediocactus simpsonii. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderate and often composed of low-growing cushion plants. Species are often diverse, but have sparse to low cover, and may include Allium cernuum, Elymus elymoides, Elymus lanceolatus, Erigeron sp., Eriogonum spp., Festuca brachyphylla, Hymenoxys richardsonii, Paronychia sessiliflora, Penstemon strictus, Poa fendleriana, Stenotus armerioides, Pleiacanthus spinosus (= Lygodesmia spinosa), and Tetraneuris torreyana. Cryptogam cover varies from low to moderate and is occasionally as high as 55%, mostly composed of crustose and foliose lichens.
Dynamics: Dry, windswept site conditions appear to be important for this association.
Environmental Description: This shrubland association is described from the Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains and is typically found on exposed, wind-blown sites. Stands occur on mid- to upper slopes and tops of mesas, hills and ridges, but also midslopes of mountains, active slopes and on valley terraces. Site are flat to moderately steep (to 53 % slope) on all aspects between 2315 and 2965 m elevation. Various amounts of bedrock, large and small rocks, and bare soil compose the majority of the ground surface, with sparse to low cover of litter. Parent materials are frequently volcanic (basalt) rocks that are present as bedrock, boulders and gravel, Mesozoic shale, and Quaternary landslide deposits. Soils are shallow, rapidly drained and range from coarse sand and sandy loam to sandy clay loam and sandy clay. Lichens often provide high cover between shrubs.
Geographic Range: This dwarf-shrubland association is described from the Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.768855
Confidence Level: High
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.2 Little Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush - Scabland Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M170 | 3.B.1.Ne.2 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b Little Sagebrush - Bigelow''s Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G308 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Alliance | A2565 Prairie Sagewort Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A2565 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002344 Prairie Sagewort - (Blue Grama, Indian Ricegrass, Sandberg Bluegrass) - Lichens Rocky Mesa Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL002344 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia frigida - (Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, Poa secunda) - Lichens Rocky Mesa Shrubland (Clark et al. 2009)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.