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CEGL005392 Brickellia longifolia Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Brickellbush Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is currently known from the Colorado Plateau in Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah. This sparse association is characterized and dominated by the short shrub Brickellia longifolia. Trees are lacking, but the exotic Tamarix ramosissima occurs in the tall-shrub stratum somewhat frequently. The short-shrub layer is almost devoid of associated species, although Ephedra aspera and Acacia greggii rarely occur. The dwarf-shrub layer is also essentially lacking, but Gutierrezia sarothrae does occur in the majority of stands. Annuals, particularly non-native annuals, constitute the majority of the sparse graminoid layer. Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum, and Vulpia octoflora frequently occur. The forb understory is particularly variable in this association; no one species regularly occurs. This association occurs in cobble-filled, rocky drainage bottoms, most commonly in low-level, low-gradient (1-3°) drainages which experience intermittent flooding events. It chiefly occurs at 700 to 1250 m (2350-4100 feet) elevation, and across all aspects except north-facing. Soils are rapidly drained sandy loams and/or sand. Rocks (often cobble-sized), gravel, and sand often dominate the ground cover.
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: This association is characterized by a open to sparse shrub layer (7-12% cover) dominated by the Brickellia longifolia. Trees are lacking, but the exotic Tamarix ramosissima (1-2%) occurs in the tall-shrub stratum somewhat frequently (Reid and Hall 2010). The short-shrub layer has few associate species, although Acacia greggii, Ephedra aspera (= Ephedra fasciculata), Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, and Rhus trilobata var. trilobata (= Rhus aromatica var. trilobata) rarely occur with sparse individual cover. The dwarf-shrub layer is also essentially lacking, but Gutierrezia sarothrae is found in the majority of stands. If present, the sparse herbaceous layer is composed mostly of grasses, sometimes with perennial species such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus flexuosus, or often annuals such as Vulpia octoflora and exotics Bromus rubens and Bromus tectorum. The forb understory is sparse and weedy, dominated by Ambrosia acanthicarpa and Salsola tragus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This Colorado Plateau shrubland association occurs in cobble-filled, rocky drainage bottoms. It occurs most commonly in low-level, low-gradient (1-3 degrees) drainages which experience intermittent flooding events. It chiefly occurs at 700 to 1250 m (2350-4100 feet) elevation, and across all aspects except north-facing (Reid and Hall 2010). Soils are rapidly drained sandy loams and/or sand. Rock (cobbles), gravel, and sand often dominate the ground cover.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is currently known from the Colorado Plateau in the Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.841786
Confidence Level: Low
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.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.7 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup | M092 | 3.A.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.7.a Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group | G541 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
| Alliance | A4188 Burrobrush - Sweetbush Mojave-Sonoran Desert Wash Scrub Alliance | A4188 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
| Association | CEGL005392 Longleaf Brickellbush Shrubland | CEGL005392 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Brickellia longifolia 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.