Print Report
G312 Coleogyne ramosissima - Ephedra cutleri - Ephedra torreyana Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This semi-arid shrubland group occurs in the Colorado Plateau on sandy substrates and is characterized by extensive, typically open shrublands dominated by Artemisia filifolia, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Poliomintha incana, Quercus havardii var. tuckeri, or Vanclevea stylosa.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group
Colloquial Name: Colorado Plateau Blackbrush - Mormon-tea Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This semi-arid Colorado Plateau shrubland group is characterized by extensive, typically open shrublands dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima or one of three species of Ephedra: Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra torreyana, or Ephedra viridis. Ephedra cutleri and Ephedra viridis often assume a distinctive matty growth form. Other dominant /diagnostic shrubs that occur either singly or in mixed stands include Artemisia filifolia (often on deep-sand sites), Poliomintha incana, Quercus havardii var. tuckeri, and Vanclevea stylosa. Other more widespread shrubs, such as Ericameria nauseosa and Grayia spinosa, may be present to dominant locally. The herbaceous layer is sparse and composed of graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, or Sporobolus cryptandrus. The general aspect of occurrences is an open low shrubland but may include small blowouts and dunes. Occasionally grasses may be moderately abundant locally and form a distinct layer. Stands occur on windswept mesas, benchlands, colluvial slopes, pediments, alluvial fans, broad basins and plains. Elevation ranges from 560-1800 m. Substrates are shallow, typically calcareous, non-saline and gravelly or sandy soils over sandstone bedrock or limestone bedrock (less common), caliche or limestone alluvium. It also occurs in deeper soils on sandy plains and stabilized sandsheets and may form small hummocks or small coppice dunes. Disturbance may be important in maintaining the woody component. Eolian processes are evident, such as pediceled plants, occasional blowouts or small dunes, but the generally higher vegetative cover and less prominent geomorphic features distinguish this group from active and stabilized dune complexes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Coleogyne ramosissima is an indicator species for this shrubland group in the northern portion of its range and often dominates or codominates with species of Ephedra. Ephedra species are typically present to dominant throughout the range of this group with Ephedra cutleri largely restricted to the southern portions. Artemisia filifolia may also be present to dominant, but is a widespread western shrub on sandy substrates and is not a good indicator of this Colorado Plateau group.
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: This group is composed of a typically open evergreen, microphyllous semi-desert scrub with succulents, half-shrubs, and scattered deciduous shrubs. Occasionally shrub cover can be moderately dense. Herbaceous species are typically sparse and composed of perennial graminoids.
Floristics: This semi-arid shrubland group is characterized by extensive, typically open shrublands dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima or one of several different species of Ephedra: Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra torreyana, or Ephedra viridis. Ephedra cutleri and Ephedra viridis often assume a distinctive matty growth form. Artemisia filifolia is often present and may be codominant to dominant on deep-sand sites. Poliomintha incana, Quercus havardii var. tuckeri, and Vanclevea stylosa may also dominant stands in either singly or in mixed stands. Other more widespread shrubs may be present, including Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Ericameria nauseosa, and Grayia spinosa, but not dominant. The herbaceous layer is sparse and composed of perennial graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, or Sporobolus cryptandrus. The general aspect of occurrences is an open low shrubland but may include small blowouts and dunes. Occasionally grasses may be moderately abundant locally and form a distinct layer.
Dynamics: Fire does not appear to play a role in maintenance of shrublands within this group. Topographic breaks dissect the landscape, and isolated pockets of vegetation are separated by rockwalls or steep canyons. Blackbrush is fire-intolerant (Loope and West 1979). Following fires, these communities are often colonized by non-native grasses, which serve to encourage recurrent fires and delay shrub regeneration (Reid et al. 1999). In shallow regolith situations, secondary succession, in the sense of site preparation by seral plants, may not occur at all (Loope and West 1979). When this vegetation group (especially Artemisia filifolia-dominated stands) occurs on deeper loessal soils, some consider this shrub invasion of semi-desert shrub-steppe (Loope 1977).
Disturbance may be important in maintaining the woody component. Eolian processes are typically evident, such as pediceled plants, occasional blowouts or small dunes, but the generally higher vegetative cover and less prominent geomorphic features distinguish this group from active and stabilized dune complexes.
Disturbance may be important in maintaining the woody component. Eolian processes are typically evident, such as pediceled plants, occasional blowouts or small dunes, but the generally higher vegetative cover and less prominent geomorphic features distinguish this group from active and stabilized dune complexes.
Environmental Description: This semi-arid shrubland group occurs in the Colorado Plateau on windswept mesas, benchlands, colluvial slopes, pediments, alluvial fans, broad basins and plains. Elevation ranges from 560-1800 m. Substrates are shallow, typically calcareous, non-saline and gravelly or sandy soils over sandstone bedrock and, less commonly, limestone bedrock (regolith), caliche (petrocalcic layer) or limestone alluvium. Stands also occur in deeper soils on extensive sandy plains and stabilized sandsheets and may form small hummocks or small coppice dunes. Disturbance may be important in maintaining the woody component. Eolian processes are evident, such as pediceled plants, occasional blowouts or small dunes, but the generally higher vegetative cover and less prominent geomorphic features distinguish this group from active and stabilized dune complexes.
Climate: This shrubland group occurs in an arid to semi-arid climate with annual precipitation in the form of summer monsoons and winter storms averaging approximately 20 cm. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group typically occurs on gentle to steep, bouldery or rocky slopes of mountains, canyons, and mesas with varying aspects, but includes extensive sandy plains and basin in the southern portion of the Colorado Plateau. Soils are highly variable, and parent materials may include shale, sandstone, limestone, quartzites, and igneous rocks. Soils are generally coarse-textured, often rocky, shallow and well-drained. Effective soil moisture appears to be primarily controlled by depth of regolith (layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock) and position in relation to the water table. In most sites the regolith is uniformly shallow. In association with blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) sites, the soil moisture is concentrated on top of impermeable bedrock at a shallow depth. This perching effect allows for gradual uptake of moisture by the plants roots (Loope and West 1979). This permits growth of plants with more mesic habitat requirements (Warren et al. 1982). On sites with deep soil, blackbrush may occur in almost pure stands with only a few associated species (Warren et al. 1982). Dark-colored cryptogamic soil crusts, composed of lichens, mosses, fungi, and algae, are often present in this group in fairly undisturbed areas. Sandy soils may have more cryptogamic crusts than clayish or silty soil surfaces. This group also occurs in deeper soils on sandy plains and stabilized sandsheets and may form small hummocks or small coppice dunes. Eolian processes are evident, such as pediceled plants, occasional blowouts or small dunes, but the generally higher vegetative cover and less prominent geomorphic features distinguish this group from active and stabilized dune complexes.
Climate: This shrubland group occurs in an arid to semi-arid climate with annual precipitation in the form of summer monsoons and winter storms averaging approximately 20 cm. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group typically occurs on gentle to steep, bouldery or rocky slopes of mountains, canyons, and mesas with varying aspects, but includes extensive sandy plains and basin in the southern portion of the Colorado Plateau. Soils are highly variable, and parent materials may include shale, sandstone, limestone, quartzites, and igneous rocks. Soils are generally coarse-textured, often rocky, shallow and well-drained. Effective soil moisture appears to be primarily controlled by depth of regolith (layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock) and position in relation to the water table. In most sites the regolith is uniformly shallow. In association with blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) sites, the soil moisture is concentrated on top of impermeable bedrock at a shallow depth. This perching effect allows for gradual uptake of moisture by the plants roots (Loope and West 1979). This permits growth of plants with more mesic habitat requirements (Warren et al. 1982). On sites with deep soil, blackbrush may occur in almost pure stands with only a few associated species (Warren et al. 1982). Dark-colored cryptogamic soil crusts, composed of lichens, mosses, fungi, and algae, are often present in this group in fairly undisturbed areas. Sandy soils may have more cryptogamic crusts than clayish or silty soil surfaces. This group also occurs in deeper soils on sandy plains and stabilized sandsheets and may form small hummocks or small coppice dunes. Eolian processes are evident, such as pediceled plants, occasional blowouts or small dunes, but the generally higher vegetative cover and less prominent geomorphic features distinguish this group from active and stabilized dune complexes.
Geographic Range: This group occurs in the Colorado Plateau on benchlands, colluvial slopes, pediments or alluvial fans common in Canyonlands portion in central Utah and extends south into southern Utah and northeastern Arizona where it occurs on vast sandy plains and mesatops.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.835924
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Colorado Plateau - Mohavian Blackbush Semi-Desert (West 1983d)
- AZGAP [Arizona GAP]. 2004. Unpublished data. USGS Southwest Biological Science Center Colorado Plateau Research Station. Flagstaff, AZ.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Loope, W. L. 1977. Relationships of vegetation to environment in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Unpublished dissertation, Utah State University, Logan.
- Loope, W. L., and N. E. West. 1979. Vegetation in relation to environments of Canyonlands National Park. Pages 195-199 in: R. M. Linn, editor. Proceedings of the First Conference of Scientific Resources in the National Parks, Volume I. November 9-13, 1976, New Orleans. USDI National Park Service Transactions and Proceedings Series 5.
- Reid, M. S., K. A. Schulz, P. J. Comer, M. H. Schindel, D. R. Culver, D. A. Sarr, and M. C. Damm. 1999. An alliance level classification of vegetation of the coterminous western United States. Unpublished final report to the University of Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and National Gap Analysis Program, in fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement 1434-HQ-97-AG-01779. The Nature Conservancy, Western Conservation Science Department, Boulder, CO.
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
- Thatcher, A. P. 1975. The amount of blackbrush in the natural plant community is largely controlled by edaphic conditions. Pages 155-156 in: Proceedings Wildland Shrubs: Symposium and workshop. USDA Forest Service, Provo, UT.
- Tuhy, J. S., and J. A. MacMahon. 1988. Vegetation and relict communities of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Unpublished final report prepared for USDI National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Lakewood, CO. Utah State University, Logan. 299 pp.
- Tuhy, J., P. Comer, D. Dorfman, M. Lammert, B. Neely, L. Whitham, S. Silbert, G. Bell, J. Humke, B. Baker, and B. Cholvin. 2002. An ecoregional assessment of the Colorado Plateau. The Nature Conservancy, Moab Project Office. 112 pp. plus maps and appendices.
- Warren, P. L., K. L. Reichhardt, D. A. Mouat, B. T. Brown, and R. R. Johnson. 1982. Vegetation of Grand Canyon National Park. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit Technical Report 9. Tucson, AZ. 140 pp.
- West, N. E. 1983d. Colorado Plateau-Mohavian blackbrush semi-desert. Pages 399-412 in: N. E. West, editor. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Ecosystems of the world, Volume 5. Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam.