Print Report

G308 Artemisia arbuscula - Artemisia bigelovii - Artemisia nova Steppe & Shrubland Group

Type Concept Sentence: This broadly defined semi-arid sagebrush dwarf-shrubland and steppe occurs throughout much of the intermountain western U.S. and is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub or dwarf-shrub layer that is typically dominated by one of the following: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia nova, or Artemisia tripartita ssp. rupicola depending on environment and range of species.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Sagebrush - Bigelow''s Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group

Colloquial Name: Intermountain Low & Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This broadly defined semi-arid dwarf-shrubland and steppe occurs throughout much of the intermountain western U.S. The vegetation in this broadly defined shrubland and steppe group includes an open to moderately dense shrub or dwarf-shrub layer with a sparse to dense herbaceous layer. Several different taxa of sagebrush may dominate depending on location and by habitat. Artemisia nova is most widespread, occurring throughout most of the region on mid- to low-elevation, gravelly, calcareous soils. Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula occurs on low- to high-elevation sites often on shallow, fine-textured soils with a dense clay layer that impedes drainage in spring. Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba is widespread in the Columbia Basin and Great Basin into southwestern Wyoming and badlands in the western Great Plains. It occurs on shallow, alkaline, calcareous soils derived from shale. Artemisia bigelovii occurs throughout much of the Colorado Plateau and extends across northern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado on shallow soils on limestone hills and shale outcrops. Several other more restricted taxa include Artemisia tripartita ssp. rupicola, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola, and Artemisia frigida. Other shrubs present to codominant may include Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Grayia spinosa, or Purshia tridentata, depending on habitat. The herbaceous layer, if present, ranges from sparse cushion plants such as Arenaria hookeri, Eriogonum brevicaule, and Phlox hoodii to moderate to dense cover of perennial grasses. Characteristic grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus lanceolatus, Festuca idahoensis, Hesperostipa comata, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Some stands have significant biological crust formation on the soil surface. Sites are generally xeric and may be wind-blown ridges and benches, gravelly alluvial fans, hilltops, canyons, gravelly draws, and dry flats. Substrates are typically shallow, gravelly or finer-textured alkaline, calcareous soils. Most stands occur from 1000 to 3000 m elevation with some extending to 3800 m in subalpine and alpine habitats of the Sierra Nevada. Substrates are variable, but are typically alluvium derived from limestone, shale, basalt, rhyolite or volcanics.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This group has an open to moderately dense shrub or dwarf-shrub layer with a sparse to dense herbaceous layer. Several different taxa of sagebrush are diagnostic depending on location and by habitat: Artemisia nova, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tripartita ssp. rupicola, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola, and Artemisia frigida. In all cases, these sagebrush taxa tend to occur in shallow, rocky, calcareous or alkaline soils, often fine-textured and sometimes with a claypan impeding drainage. Associated herbaceous taxa are semi-desert grasses and forbs.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Alliances in this group are distinguished largely by the predominant species: Artemisia nova, Artemisia bigelovii, and the nominal subspecies of Artemisia arbuscula, and by the importance of the perennial graminoid layer (>20% cover) in the shrub herbaceous alliances. The Artemisia arbuscula subspecies are distinguished by the nominal subspecies taxonomically and by the different environments which they occupy. ~Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis Shrubland Alliance (A2548)$$ occurs in more alkaline and less stony settings than ~Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula Steppe & Shrubland Alliance (A3219)$$. ~Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola - Artemisia papposa / Festuca idahoensis Steppe & Shrubland Alliance (A4122)$$ occurs in more calcareous soils and has a restricted distribution. Beetle and Johnson (1982) report that Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula grows in soils with a high volume of gravel (even though soil may be in clay textural class, or contain a clay-rich layer that impedes drainage), and that Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba grows in clay soils, often alkaline, that contain no gravels.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation is this broadly defined shrubland and steppe group includes an open to moderately dense shrub or dwarf-shrub layer dominated by microphyllous evergreen shrubs with a sparse to dense herbaceous layer usually dominated by perennial graminoids (often bunch grasses).

Floristics: This broadly defined shrubland and steppe group includes an open to moderately dense shrub or dwarf-shrub layer with a sparse to dense herbaceous layer. Several different taxa of sagebrush may dominate depending on location and by habitat. Artemisia nova is most widespread, occurring throughout most of the region on mid- to low-elevation, gravelly, calcareous soils. Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula occurs on low- to high-elevation sites often on shallow, fine-textured soils with a dense clay layer that impedes drainage in spring. Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba is widespread in the Columbia Basin and Great Basin into southwestern Wyoming and badlands in the western Great Plains. It occurs on shallow, alkaline, calcareous soils derived from shale. Artemisia bigelovii occurs throughout much of the Colorado Plateau and extends across northern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado on shallow soils on limestone hill and shale outcrops. Several other more restricted taxa may dominate, including Artemisia tripartita ssp. rupicola (central Wyoming), Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis (Lahontan Basin of northwestern Nevada, southeastern Oregon, and northeastern California), Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola (ridgetops and benches in mountains at 1830 to 2690 m in southern Idaho), and Artemisia frigida (described from sites in the Rocky Mountains). Other shrubs present to codominant may include Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Grayia spinosa, or Purshia tridentata, depending on habitat. The herbaceous layer is variable. If present, it ranges from sparse cushion plants such as Arenaria hookeri, Astragalus bisulcatus, Astragalus jejunus, Eriogonum brevicaule, Minuartia nuttallii (= Arenaria nuttallii), Phlox hoodii, Stenotus acaulis, and Trifolium gymnocarpon to moderate to dense cover of perennial grasses. Characteristic grasses may include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum thurberianum, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Elymus lanceolatus, Festuca idahoensis, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Some stands have significant biological crust formation on soil surface.

Dynamics:  This broadly defined semi-arid dwarf-shrubland and steppe group occurs throughout much of the intermountain western U.S. Sites are generally xeric and may be on wind-blown, shallow, gravelly or finer-textured alkaline soils. Throughout eastern Oregon, northern Nevada, southern Idaho, western Montana, western Wyoming, and western Colorado, stands typically occur on mountain ridges and flanks and broad terraces, ranging from 1000 to 3000 m in elevation with stands extending to 3800 m elevation in subalpine and alpine habitats of the Sierra Nevada. Substrates are shallow, fine-textured soils, poorly drained clays, shallow-soiled areas, almost always very stony, characterized by recent rhyolite or basalt or are alkaline soils derived from shale (Zamora and Tueller 1973, Baker and Kennedy 1985). In central and southern Wyoming, typical sites are very windy, gently rolling hills and long, gently sloping pediments and fans with shallow, often rocky soils where this group forms the matrix vegetation and large patches on the margins of high-elevation basins. In higher elevation areas, it forms a mosaic with ~Intermountain Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group (G304)$$ and is restricted to wind-blown ridges. In the Colorado Plateau, Tavaputs Plateau and Uinta Basin, stands occur in canyons, gravelly draws, hilltops, and dry flats at elevations generally below 1800 m. Soils are often rocky, shallow, and alkaline. This group also extends across northern New Mexico and Wyoming into the western Great Plains on limestone hills and shale outcrops.
Environmental Description:  This broadly defined semi-arid dwarf-shrubland and steppe group occurs throughout much of the intermountain western U.S. Sites are generally xeric and may be on wind-blown, shallow, gravelly or finer-textured alkaline soils. Throughout eastern Oregon, northern Nevada, southern Idaho, western Montana, western Wyoming, and western Colorado, stands typically occur on mountain ridges and flanks and broad terraces, ranging from 1000 to 3000 m in elevation with stands extending to 3800 m elevation in subalpine and alpine habitats of the Sierra Nevada. Substrates are shallow, fine-textured soils, poorly drained clays, shallow-soiled areas, almost always very stony, characterized by recent rhyolite or basalt or are alkaline soils derived from shale (Zamora and Tueller 1973, Baker and Kennedy 1985). In central and southern Wyoming, typical sites are very windy, gently rolling hills and long, gently sloping pediments and fans with shallow, often rocky soils where this group forms the matrix vegetation and large patches on the margins of high-elevation basins. In higher elevation areas, it forms a mosaic with ~Intermountain Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group (G304)$$ and is restricted to wind-blown ridges. In the Colorado Plateau, Tavaputs Plateau and Uinta Basin, stands occur in canyons, gravelly draws, hilltops, and dry flats at elevations generally below 1800 m. Soils are often rocky, shallow, and alkaline. This group also extends across northern New Mexico and Wyoming into the western Great Plains on limestone hills and shale outcrops.
Geographic Range: This broadly defined semi-arid dwarf-shrubland and steppe group occurs throughout much of the intermountain western U.S.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


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.2 Little Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush - Scabland Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup M170 3.B.1.Ne.2
Group 3.B.1.Ne.2.b Little Sagebrush - Bigelow''s Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group G308 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A2548 Lahontan Sagebrush Shrubland Alliance A2548 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A2565 Prairie Sagewort Dwarf-shrubland Alliance A2565 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A3219 Little Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3219 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A3221 Alkali Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3221 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A3222 Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3222 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A3223 Bigelow''s Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A3223 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Alliance A4122 Thermopola Little Sagebrush - Owyhee Sage / Idaho Fescue Steppe & Shrubland Alliance A4122 3.B.1.Ne.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Great Basin-Colorado Plateau sagebrush semi-desert (West 1983a)
Concept Author(s): N.E. West (1983a)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-06-15
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