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CEGL005153 Mortonia utahensis Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Utah Mortonia Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association occurs in Arizona, California and Nevada. It is currently described from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, from Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve in California, and from Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. More survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this type. It typically occurs on sideslopes, ridges, cliffs, and plateaus at 900 to 1700 m (2950-5575 feet) elevation. It is primarily found on gentle to moderate gradients (up to 15°) and occurs across all aspects. Soils are well- to rapidly-drained silty or sandy loams that are typically derived from sandstone. Vegetation is characterized by a strong Mortonia utahensis component in the short-shrub stratum. Trees are uncommon and tall shrubs are essentially absent; however, Pinus edulis, Pinus monophylla, and Juniperus osteosperma occasionally occur. At Grand Canyon, the short-shrub layer also may include Yucca baccata, Ephedra torreyana, Quercus turbinella, and Coleogyne ramosissima. A sparse dwarf-shrub layer exists in which Gutierrezia sarothrae regularly occurs. Opuntia polyacantha, Agave utahensis, Echinocereus engelmannii, Echinocactus polycephalus, Eriogonum heermannii, and Thamnosma montana also occur from time to time. Pleuraphis jamesii, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Achnatherum speciosum occasionally occur in the graminoid layer. The composition of the forb understory varies considerably among stands; Thymophylla acerosa is the only species that occurs in the majority of them in Arizona, while Sphaeralcea ambigua and the invasive exotic Bromus rubens occur in the majority of stands in California and Nevada.
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 occurs in northern Arizona, southeastern California and southern Nevada. More survey work is needed to fully document its global range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.840605
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 | A4158 Utah Mortonia Scrub Alliance | A4158 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005153 Utah Mortonia Shrubland | CEGL005153 | 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: = Mortonia utahensis Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Mortonia utahensis Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
= Mortonia utahensis Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.