Print Report
G566 Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Eriogonum pauciflorum - Gutierrezia sarothrae Badlands Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group is relatively distinct from others due to the sparse vegetation and unique substrate within the Northern Great Plains. Sites with vegetation cover near the cut-off between sparse vegetation and vegetated types could be confusing as could patches with higher vegetation cover within a badlands area.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greasewood / Few-flower Buckwheat - Broom Snakeweed Badlands Group
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Badlands Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group includes badlands vegetation in the Northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Examples are found on slopes of easily erodible clay and poorly consolidated shale interspersed with sandstone, lignite lenses, and occasional scoria outcrops. Vegetation cover is typically sparse but can be moderate in small areas with shallower slopes. The dominant vegetation is a mix of shrubs, forbs and grasses with each dominating some areas. There is typically zonation of vegetation from the top of a slope to the bottom with different groups of species most common in certain zones. Typical species found in Great Plains badlands are Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Atriplex spp., Artemisia longifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Eriogonum pauciflorum, and Pseudoroegneria spicata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Examples are found on relatively unique sites with sparse vegetation, badlands topography, and badlands parent material.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group is relatively distinct from others due to the sparse vegetation and unique substrate within the Northern Great Plains. Sites with vegetation cover near the cut-off between sparse vegetation and vegetated types could be confusing.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Great Plains Badlands are typically sparsely vegetated (<10% total vegetation cover). The sloping, eroding sites, lack of soil development, and lack of available moisture for plants limits the species that can grow. Small areas with shallower slopes, including step-in-slopes, toeslopes, etc., may have moderate vegetation cover. Dominant plants are usually shrubs and forbs, though grasses can dominate some areas. Dominant plants rarely grow more than about 1 m tall.
Floristics: Dominant species can be shrubs, grasses or forbs. Common shrubs include Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex confertifolia, and Ericameria nauseosa; common grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Pascopyrum smithii (on more mesic sites); common forbs include Arenaria hookeri, Artemisia longifolia, Eriogonum pauciflorum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Grindelia squarrosa.
Dynamics: Examples of this group are affected by erosion and drought.
Environmental Description: A combination of factors, such as elevation, rainfall, carving action of streams and parent material, can contribute to the development of this group. Sites that harbor it are primarily a type of mature dissection with finely textured drainage patterns and steep slopes. This group contains extremely dry and easily erodible, consolidated clayey soils with bands of sandstone or isolated consolidates. This group is found within an arid to semi-arid climate with infrequent, but torrential, rains that cause erosion.
Geographic Range: This group is found in the Northern Great Plains region of the United States and Canada with some of the best developed examples in western North Dakota, southwestern South Dakota, and southeastern Montana.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, CO, MB?, MT, ND, NE, SD, SK, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857182
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.3 Great Plains Badlands Vegetation Macrogroup | M115 | 6.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.3.a Greasewood / Few-flower Buckwheat - Broom Snakeweed Badlands Group | G566 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A1642 Hooker''s Sandwort Rock Alliance | A1642 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A1874 Longleaf Wormwood Badlands Alliance | A1874 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3978 Greasewood Great Plains Badlands Alliance | A3978 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3979 Few-flower Buckwheat - Broom Snakeweed Badlands Alliance | A3979 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Brown, R. W. 1971. Distribution of plant communities in southeastern Montana badlands. The American Midland Naturalist 85(2):458-477.
- 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]