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CEGL005116 Ephedra trifurca Badlands Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Joint-fir Badlands Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This joint-fir shrubland association is currently described from Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona. More survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this type. It typically occurs on rolling, hilly badlands at 550 to 600 m (1850-2000 feet) elevation, and is primarily found on very gentle gradients (0-3°), typically on west-facing aspects. It sometimes occurs on much steeper slopes (25-30°) as well. Soils are moderately- to rapidly-drained silty or sandy clays or loams that contain gypsum. The ground cover is strongly dominated by cryptogamic soil crusts (90%). Vegetation is characterized and dominated by the short shrub Ephedra trifurca. Larrea tridentata commonly occurs in a meager tall-shrub layer. The short-shrub layer usually also supports Hymenoclea salsola, Psorothamnus fremontii, and Lycium andersonii. A sparse dwarf-shrub layer of Atriplex confertifolia is typically present. Vulpia octoflora and sometimes Schismus barbatus (exotic) are common components of the graminoid understory. Camissonia brevipes, Cryptantha spp., and Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia almost always occur, while Geraea canescens, Mentzelia sp., Eriogonum inflatum, and Erodium cicutarium (exotic) occur sporadically in the forb layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
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: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is currently known from Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona. More survey work is needed to fully document its global range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.840574
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.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 | CEGL005116 Longleaf Joint-fir Badlands Shrubland | CEGL005116 | 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: = Ephedra trifurca Badlands Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.