Print Report
CEGL005318 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Elymus lanceolatus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Thick-spike Wheatgrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This mountain big sagebrush shrubland is only known from Fossil Butte National Monument in southwestern Wyoming. Stands occur on the slope of the Bullpen and the north face of Fossil Butte. The sites are gentle to moderate (3-7°), north- or southeast-oriented slopes between 2159 and 2469 m elevation. The unvegetated surface has sparse to high exposure of bare soil, sparse cover of small and large rocks, and sparse to high cover of litter. The soils are rapidly drained and texturally are loam or clay derived from the Wasatch Formation. This association is characterized by a low to moderate short-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (18-40%) with the perennial grass Elymus lanceolatus (12-35% cover) dominating the herbaceous layer. Total vegetation cover ranges from 61-81%. The shrub layer includes other short and dwarf-shrubs with sparse to low cover, such as Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba, Atriplex confertifolia, Eriogonum microthecum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer has moderate species diversity and contributes sparse to low cover. Other grasses include Leymus cinereus and Poa secunda. Forbs include Achillea millefolium, Lithospermum ruderale, Mertensia oblongifolia, Phlox hoodii, and exotic Taraxacum officinale.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This diagnostic grass species Elymus lanceolatus can be confused with Pascopyrum smithii when spikelets are not available, as both are strongly rhizomatous wheatgrasses.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a low to moderate short-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (18-40%) with the perennial grass Elymus lanceolatus (12-35% cover) dominating the herbaceous layer. Total vegetation cover ranges from 61-81%. The shrub layer includes other short and dwarf-shrubs with sparse to low cover, such as Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba, Atriplex confertifolia, Eriogonum microthecum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer has moderate species diversity and contributes sparse to low cover. Other grasses include Leymus cinereus and Poa secunda. Forbs include Achillea millefolium, Lithospermum ruderale, Mertensia oblongifolia, Phlox hoodii, and exotic Taraxacum officinale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This mountain big sagebrush shrubland is only known from Fossil Butte National Monument in southwestern Wyoming. Stands occur on the slope of the Bullpen and the north face of Fossil Butte. The sites are gentle to moderate (3-7°), north- or southeast-oriented slopes between 2159 and 2469 m elevation. The unvegetated surface has sparse to high exposure of bare soil, sparse cover of small and large rocks, and sparse to high cover of litter. The soils are rapidly drained and texturally are loam or clay derived from the Wasatch Formation.
Geographic Range: This mountain big sagebrush shrubland is only known from Fossil Butte National Monument in southwestern Wyoming and is likely more widespread in southern Wyoming and elsewhere in the western U.S.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.803006
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M169 | 3.B.1.Ne.3 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G304 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Alliance | A3207 Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3207 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Association | CEGL005318 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Thick-spike Wheatgrass Shrubland | CEGL005318 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Friesen, B. A., S. Blauer, K. Landgraf, J. Von Loh, J. Coles, K. Schulz, A. Tendick, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Fossil Butte National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/319. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 552 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fobu/foburpt.pdf]
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.