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CEGL002493 Zuckia brandegeei Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Siltbush Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated association is common in the Colorado Plateau of northern Arizona and southern and eastern Utah. The vegetation has a sparse canopy consisting of Zuckia brandegeei with scattered Atriplex confertifolia and Gutierrezia microcephala. The herbaceous layer is low in diversity and provides sparse cover. The bunchgrasses Leymus salinus and Pleuraphis jamesii are present. Forbs include Platyschkuhria integrifolia and Xylorhiza venusta. Stands are found on plateaus, plains, alluvial fans, steep colluvial and badlands slopes or shale hogbacks. It is also found on eroding shales of the high plateaus of southern Utah. Elevation ranges from 1341-2078 m (4397-6815 feet). The soil is rapidly drained clay loam derived from shales such as the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation or Chinle, Moenkopi, Tropic Shale and Curtis formations. The unvegetated surface typically has high cover of shale chips, sandstone rocks, basalt gravel, conglomerate or petrified wood forming a desert pavement surface. Exposure of bare soil is low.
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.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association has a sparse canopy consisting of Zuckia brandegeei with scattered Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex obovata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Eriogonum leptocladon, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia microcephala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, Lycium andersonii, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Shepherdia rotundifolia, and Xylorhiza glabriuscula. The herbaceous layer is low in diversity and provides sparse cover. The bunchgrasses Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Leymus salinus, and Pleuraphis jamesii are present. Forbs include Arabis holboellii, Cryptantha sp., Cymopterus acaulis, Eriogonum inflatum, Galium coloradoense, Machaeranthera canescens, Mentzelia multiflora, Penstemon barbatus, Platyschkuhria integrifolia, and Xylorhiza venusta. The exotics Bromus tectorum and Salsola tragus may be present in some stands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sparsely vegetated association is common on plains, alluvial fans, steep colluvial and badlands slopes or shale hogbacks in the Colorado Plateau and High Plateaus. Elevation ranges from 1218 to 2078 m (3996-6815 feet). The soil is a rapidly drained clay loam derived from shales. Parent material include the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, or Chinle, Moenkopi, Tropic Shale and Curtis formations or mixed colluvium. The unvegetated surface typically has high cover of shale chips, sandstone rocks, basalt gravel, conglomerate or petrified wood forming a desert pavement surface. Exposure of bare soil is low to high.
Geographic Range: This association is widespread in the Painted Desert and Canyonlands regions of the Colorado Plateau of Utah and northern Arizona, and High Plateaus of southern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769483
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 | CEGL002493 Siltbush Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002493 | 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: = Zuckia brandegeei 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.
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- 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.