Print Report

G537 Sarcobatus vermiculatus - Atriplex spp. Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group consists of saline scrub wetlands of the Intermountain West. Characteristic species include Atriplex spp., Allenrolfea occidentalis, Salicornia rubra, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Sesuvium verrucosum, and/or Suaeda moquinii.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greasewood - Saltbush species Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub Group

Colloquial Name: North American Desert Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group occurs throughout much of the western U.S. in intermountain basins. Stands typically occur near drainages on stream terraces and flats or may form rings around more sparsely vegetated playas. Sites typically have saline soils, a shallow water table and flood intermittently, but remain dry for most growing seasons. The water table remains high enough to maintain vegetation, despite salt accumulations. This group consists of open to moderately dense shrublands dominated by Atriplex lentiformis, Atriplex parryi, Atriplex polycarpa, Atriplex spinifera, Allenrolfea occidentalis, Salicornia rubra, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Sesuvium verrucosum, and/or Suaeda moquinii. Stands may be monotypic or have lesser abundance of other shrubs such as Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Artemisia cana ssp. cana, Baccharis spp., Krascheninnikovia lanata, and others. The herbaceous layer, if present, is usually dominated by graminoids. There may be inclusions of Calamovilfa longifolia, Distichlis spicata (where water remains ponded the longest), Eleocharis palustris, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa pratensis, Puccinellia nuttalliana, or Sporobolus airoides herbaceous types.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Salt-tolerant shrublands with a shallow water table.

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: Shrubland.

Floristics: These shrublands are dominated by Atriplex lentiformis, Atriplex parryi, Atriplex polycarpa, Atriplex spinifera, Allenrolfea occidentalis, Salicornia rubra, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Sesuvium verrucosum, and/or Suaeda moquinii. Codominant shrubs include Ambrosia dumosa, Artemisia californica, Atriplex canescens, Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis salicifolia, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Hymenoclea salsola, Bassia americana (= Kochia americana), Larrea tridentata, Malosma laurina, Myoporum laetum, Pluchea sericea, Prosopis glandulosa, Rhus integrifolia, and/or Suaeda taxifolia plus several others. The herbaceous layer, if present, is usually dominated by graminoids. There may be inclusions of Calamovilfa longifolia, Distichlis spicata (where water remains ponded the longest), Eleocharis palustris, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa pratensis, Puccinellia nuttalliana, or Sporobolus airoides herbaceous types (West 1983b, Knight 1994).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Climate: Cold interior desert. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Sites are generally flat to gently sloping and moderately saline, but some sites do occur on rolling to hilly fans and slopes. Sites typically have saline soils, a shallow water table and flood intermittently, on margins of intermittently flooded desert playas, and usually remain dry for most growing seasons. The water table remains high enough to maintain vegetation, despite salt accumulations, often with fine soils such as clays (West 1983b, Knight 1994).
Geographic Range: This group occurs throughout much of the western U.S. in intermountain basins.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, MXBCN, MXSON, NM, NV, OR, TX, 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 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.b Greasewood - Saltbush species Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub Group G537 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A0798 Arrow-weed Wet Shrubland Alliance A0798 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A0865 Spinescale Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance A0865 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A0866 Iodinebush Wet Shrubland Alliance A0866 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A1046 Greasewood Intermountain Wet Shrubland Alliance A1046 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A2507 Parry''s Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance A2507 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A3173 Big Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance A3173 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A3879 Verrucose Sea-purslane Desert Salt Mudflat Scrub Alliance A3879 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A3880 Mojave Seablite - Red Swampfire - Alkali Goldenbush Alkaline Wet Scrub Alliance A3880 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Concept Lineage: G672 covered by G537 & G538 (GK 4-9-14).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Salt Desert Shrub (414) (Shiflet 1994)
>< Saltbush - Greasewood (501) (Shiflet 1994)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-02-15
  • Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, K. Snow, J. Teague, and R. White. 2003-present. Ecological systems of the United States: A working classification of U.S. terrestrial systems. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
  • Knight, D. H. 1994. Mountains and plains: Ecology of Wyoming landscapes. Yale University Press, New Haven, MA. 338 pp.
  • Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
  • West, N. E. 1983b. Intermountain salt desert shrublands. Pages 375-397 in: N. E. West, editor. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Ecosystems of the world, Volume 5. Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam.