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CEGL002350 Ephedra torreyana - Artemisia bigelovii Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Torrey''s Joint-fir - Bigelow''s Sagebrush Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Colorado Plateau association has been described from Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona and Capitol Reef National Park in southeastern Utah, where it is widespread. Stands occur on plateaus, mesas, ridges, hills, cliffs, rocky colluvial slopes, benches, terraces, and near drainage channels that are gently sloping to steep (3-50%) between 1402 and 1915 m elevation on all aspects. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high cover of gravel and low to moderate cover of large rocks and litter. Cryptogams are typically absent, but one stand has 75% cover. Parent materials include sandstones and shale. Soils are rapidly drained and variable in texture, including loams, sands, and clays, but are unified by a coating of fine to coarse gravels composed of sandstone, shale, basalt, or petrified wood. The vegetation is typically sparse (<10% total cover) and is characterized by an open, mixed shrub canopy that is dominated or codominated by Ephedra torreyana and Artemisia bigelovii. Locally, shrub cover may range up to about 20% cover, but in general, shrub cover is <10% with scattered grasses and forbs (<5% cover). Additionally, total cover may temporarily exceed 10% following rain events due to blooms of annuals. Associated shrubs are diverse but characteristically include all or some of Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Occasional Juniperus osteosperma may be present as saplings. The herbaceous layer is characteristically depauperate and sparse. Species recorded from plots include Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs present include Phacelia crenulata and Tetraneuris acaulis. The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum is common in many of the sampled stands.
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 vegetation association is typically sparse (<10% total cover) and is characterized by an open, mixed shrub canopy that is dominated or codominated by Ephedra torreyana and Artemisia bigelovii. Locally, shrub cover may range up to about 20% cover, but in general, shrub cover is <10% with scattered grasses and forbs (<5% cover). Additionally, total cover may temporarily exceed 10% following rain events due to of blooms of annuals. Associated shrubs are diverse but characteristically include all or some of Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Occasional Juniperus osteosperma may be present as saplings. Other shrubs species that may be present with low cover are Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex gardneri, Coleogyne ramosissima, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia polyacantha, Purshia stansburiana, Rhus trilobata, Shepherdia rotundifolia, Tetradymia glabrata, and Tetradymia spinosa. The herbaceous layer is characteristically depauperate and sparse. Species recorded from plots include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua eriopoda, Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus airoides, and Vulpia octoflora. Forbs present may include Astragalus amphioxys, Chaetopappa ericoides, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cryptantha crassisepala, Lepidium montanum, Parryella filifolia, Phacelia crenulata, Plantago patagonica, Senecio spartioides, and Tetraneuris acaulis. The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum is common in many of the sampled stands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This Colorado Plateau association has been described from Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona and Capitol Reef National Park in southeastern Utah, where it is widespread. Stands occur on plateaus, mesas, ridges, hills, cliffs, rocky colluvial slopes, benches, terraces, and near drainage channels that are gently sloping to steep (3-50%) between 1402 and 1915 m elevation. Aspect is not an important factor in determining the distribution of this association. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high cover of gravel and low to moderate cover of large rocks and litter. Cryptogams are typically absent, but one stand has 75% cover. Parent materials include sandstones and shale of the Summerville, Entrada, Curtis, Chinle, Carmel, Salt Wash Member and Emery formations. Soils are rapidly drained and variable in texture, including loams, sands, and clays, but are unified by a coating of fine to coarse gravels composed of sandstone, shale, basalt, or petrified wood.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona and Capitol Reef National Park in southeastern Utah. It is likely to occur on suitable habitat throughout the central Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769035
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.6 Saltbush species - Joint-fir species - Buckwheat species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Macrogroup | M118 | 3.B.1.Ne.6 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a Saltbush species - Mountain-mahogany species - Joint-fir species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Group | G570 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Alliance | A4052 Joint-fir species - Saline Wildrye - Crispleaf Buckwheat Badlands Cold Desert Sparse Vegetation Alliance | A4052 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Association | CEGL002350 Torrey''s Joint-fir - Bigelow''s Sagebrush Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002350 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ephedra torreyana - Artemisia bigelovii Sparse Vegetation (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.
- 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.
- Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, A. Cully, K. Schulz, and J. M. S. Hutchinson. 2009a. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Petrified Forest National Park. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2009/273. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 294 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.