Print Report
CEGL002348 Coleogyne ramosissima - Purshia stansburiana - Quercus havardii var. tuckeri Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackbrush - Stansbury''s Cliffrose - Tucker Sand Shinnery Oak Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Colorado Plateau shrubland is characterized by a shrub layer of Coleogyne ramosissima accompanied by either or both Purshia stansburiana and Quercus havardii var. tuckeri. Occasionally Coleogyne ramosissima may be absent, but then both Purshia stansburiana and Quercus havardii var. tuckeri are prominent. Several other associated shrubs may be present. The herbaceous layer is moderately diverse in terms of species composition but provides only sparse cover. Total vegetation cover ranges from 5 to 70%. Stands occur on semi-stabilized sandsheets, dunes and sand-filled pockets in sandstone slickrock. They occur on a variety of landforms with flat to gentle slopes (0-12%) between 1172 and 1670 m (3845-5475 feet) elevation. Soils are rapidly drained loamy sands, silt loams, sands, or sandy clay loams derived from eolian sands, alluvium, sandstones or shales.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. Quercus havardii var. tuckeri is also referred to in Utah as Quercus undulata and Quercus welshii (Welsh 1986). The literature for Utah should be reviewed for material relating to this association but using these other names.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is locally common on sandy sites throughout the northern Colorado Plateau. Total vegetation cover ranges from 5 to 70%. The shrub layer is characterized by an open to relatively closed canopy of Coleogyne ramosissima accompanied by either or both Purshia stansburiana and Quercus havardii var. tuckeri. Scattered individuals of Juniperus osteosperma are present in many stands but not with more than 5% cover. Occasionally Coleogyne ramosissima may be absent, but then both Purshia stansburiana and Quercus havardii var. tuckeri are prominent. Associated shrubs include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia filifolia, Brickellia microphylla, Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum leptocladon, Eriogonum microthecum, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia microcephala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, Psorothamnus fremontii, Rhus aromatica, Yucca harrimaniae, and other Yucca species. Exceptionally cool or moist sites support Cercocarpus intricatus and Amelanchier utahensis as part of the mix. The herbaceous layer is moderately diverse in terms of species composition but provides only sparse cover. Common species include the grasses Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum), Pleuraphis jamesii, Muhlenbergia pungens, Sporobolus contractus, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Forbs present include Chaenactis stevioides, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cryptantha crassisepala, Gilia inconspicua, Tetraneuris acaulis, and Streptanthella longirostris. The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum is common on some sites. Biological soil crusts are typically sparse in terms of cover, but one sampled stand had 40% cover.
Dynamics: Active wind erosion and deposition of sand are evident in many stands, where the shrubs grow on sand mounds or pedestals, or are clearly rooted in sand-filled crevices.
Environmental Description: This Colorado Plateau shrub association is characteristic of semi-stabilized sandsheets, dunes and sand-filled pockets in sandstone slickrock in southeastern Utah. Stands occur on plains, ridges, mesatops, canyon rims, escarpments, valley sides, sand dunes, alluvial terraces and benches with flat to gentle slopes (0-12%) between 1172 and 1670 m (3845-5475 feet) elevation. Bare soil, sand, and gravel cover much of the unvegetated surface. Litter cover is sparse to low. Bedrock and biological soil crust cover is variable and can be absent to sparse or can provide up to 40% cover. Soils are rapidly drained loamy sands, silt loams, sands, sandy clay loams, or sandy loams derived from eolian sands, alluvium, sandstones of the White Rim, Kayenta, Dakota, Navajo, Cedar Mesa or Entrada formations, or shales of the Moenkopi Formation or Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation.
Geographic Range: This association is common in the Colorado Plateau of southeastern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.768948
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group | G312 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Alliance | A3220 Blackbrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance | A3220 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002348 Blackbrush - Stansbury''s Cliffrose - Tucker Sand Shinnery Oak Shrubland | CEGL002348 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Coleogyne ramosissima - Purshia stansburiana - Quercus havardii var. tuckeri 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, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2009a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Arches National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/253. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 544 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.
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- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Welsh, S. L. 1986. Quercus (Fagaceae) in the Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist 46:107-111.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.