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CEGL005150 Lycium andersonii - Ephedra (torreyana, viridis) Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Jacket - (Torrey''s Joint-fir, Mormon-tea) Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association is currently described from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in the Colorado Plateau. Vegetation is characterized by the codominance of the short shrubs Lycium andersonii and Ephedra torreyana. In rare stands in which Ephedra torreyana is not present, Ephedra viridis occurs in its place. Tall shrubs are absent. The short-shrub layer also commonly includes Encelia farinosa; however, at least 20 different short-shrub associates can occur at low individual covers. A sparse dwarf-shrub layer of Gutierrezia spp. and Opuntia polyacantha occasionally occurs. The graminoid understory is well-developed and can be particularly dense in some stands with Pleuraphis jamesii frequently dominant with other grasses such as Aristida purpurea, Bromus rubens (exotic), Dasyochloa pulchella, and Muhlenbergia porteri. Bouteloua eriopoda does not occur frequently, but can be dominant in some stands. A somewhat sparse forb understory occasionally includes Cryptantha spp., Eriogonum inflatum, Erodium cicutarium (exotic), Porophyllum gracile, and Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia. Stands typically occur on sideslopes at 925 to 1447 m (3075-4750 feet) elevation, but can be found as low as 750 m (2450 feet). It is primarily found on moderately steep gradients (20-32°), but is also occasionally found on gentler slopes (7-16°). It shows some preference for north- and east-facing slopes, but can also occur on west-facing aspects. Soils are rapidly drained sandy loams, and the underlying geology is typically sandstone or, less frequently, limestone or shale.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by the codominance of the short shrubs Lycium andersonii and Ephedra torreyana. In rare stands in which Ephedra torreyana is not present, Ephedra viridis occurs in its place. Tall shrubs are absent. The short-shrub layer also commonly includes Encelia farinosa; however, at least 20 different short-shrub associates can occur at low individual covers including Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex obovata, Coleogyne ramosissima, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), Psorothamnus thompsoniae, and Xylorhiza tortifolia. A sparse dwarf-shrub layer of Gutierrezia spp. and Opuntia polyacantha occasionally occurs. The graminoid understory is often well-developed and can be particularly dense in some stands. Pleuraphis jamesii is most common with other grasses such as Aristida purpurea, Bromus rubens (exotic), Dasyochloa pulchella, and Muhlenbergia porteri. Bouteloua eriopoda does not occur frequently, but can be dominant in some stands. A somewhat sparse forb understory occasionally includes Abronia elliptica, Cryptantha spp., Erodium cicutarium (exotic), Eriogonum inflatum, Porophyllum gracile, Sphaeralcea ambigua, Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, and Tiquilia latior.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur in the Colorado Plateau on sideslopes at 925 to 1447 m (3075-4750 feet) elevation, but can be found as low as 750 m (2450 feet). It is primarily found on moderately steep gradients (20-32°), but is also occasionally found on gentler slopes (7-16°). It shows some preference for north- and east-facing slopes, but can also occur on west-facing aspects. Soils are rapidly drained sandy loams derived from talus/colluvial deposits. Parent materials are typically sandstone or, less frequently, limestone or shale. The unvegetated surface is composed mainly of gravel and bare soil, with lesser cover of large rocks.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is known from Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah. More survey work is needed to fully document its global range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.840602
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a Joshua Tree - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Rough Joint-fir Mixed Desert Scrub Group | G296 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Alliance | A4245 Nevada Joint-fir - Water Jacket - Spiny Hopsage Scrub Alliance | A4245 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005150 Water Jacket - (Torrey''s Joint-fir, Mormon-tea) Shrubland | CEGL005150 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Lycium andersonii - Ephedra (torreyana, viridis) 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.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.