Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Slenderleaf Buckwheat Sparse Vegetation

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated badland association occurs at Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona and likely occurs elsewhere in the southern Colorado Plateau. Elevations at the national park range from 1710 to 1770 m (5620-5810 feet). Stands are found on gentle to moderately steep slopes and range between 4 and 65%. This association occurs on various landforms, including lower slopes, sideslopes, midslopes, bajadas, slick rock, buttes, cliffs, and plateaus. Substrates are clays derived from shale. The ground surface has high cover of bare soil. A few stands have surface rocks with substrates including petrified wood, sandstone, and mudstone. The vegetation cover is characterized by generally sparse (<10%) total vegetation cover that ranges from 7-23% cover that is composed of scattered low shrubs (5-17% cover) dominated by Eriogonum leptophyllum. Other shrubs present with low cover may include Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex obovata, Ephedra torreyana, Eriogonum subreniforme, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Yucca angustissima. A sparse herbaceous cover may be present with scattered Eriogonum divaricatum, Parryella filifolia, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Sporobolus airoides. Exotic species are present on some stands, such as Bromus tectorum and Sisymbrium altissimum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Total vegetation cover for sparse vegetation associations is often very sparse and patchy. Therefore, it is important to assess a large area when classifying this community type and expect a large degree of variation in species coverage. In some instances, Eriogonum leptophyllum may act as an indicator species for this sparse badland association.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available