Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saltbush species - Mountain-mahogany species - Joint-fir species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Group

Colloquial Name: Intermountain Basins Cliff, Scree & Badland Sparse Vegetation

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group consists of barren and sparsely vegetated cliffs, scree slopes, badlands and other similar areas from a variety of landscapes in the interior western U.S. from eastern Washington and Oregon, the Columbia Plateau south to the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, east into Wyoming basins and plains. Characteristic shrub species in lower elevation semi-desert, lava field, and badland areas include Artemisia pedatifida, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex corrugata, Atriplex gardneri, Ephedra spp., Eriogonum corymbosum, Eriogonum heermannii, Eriogonum ovalifolium, Fallugia paradoxa, Grayia spinosa, Purshia tridentata, Salvia dorrii, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Characteristic herbs include species of Achnatherum, Camissonia, Cleome, Eriogonum, and Mentzelia. Foothill sites include Pinus edulis and Pinus ponderosa (Colorado Plateau), Pinus monophylla, Pinus longaeva (Great Basin), Juniperus osteosperma, Cercocarpus intricatus, and Cercocarpus ledifolius. At montane and subalpine elevations, scattered trees may be present, such as Abies concolor, Picea engelmannii, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Shrubs may include Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Ephedra spp., Holodiscus spp., Ivesia sp., and Purshia tridentata. Landforms include cliffs and canyon sides, mesas and plateaus, and mountains. Sparse vegetation also occurs on special substrates such as shale outcrops, badlands and volcanic deposits such as lava, cinder, ash, tuff and basalt dikes. Rock substrates include bedrock, slickrock, and unstable talus and scree slopes. Some substrates, such as marine shales, are strongly alkaline and/or saline which chemically limits plant growth. Active substrates such as scree slopes are difficult sites for plants to grow. Physical properties of substrates may also limit plant growth. Some massive rock substrates lack cracks where vascular plants can root. Badland sites often have heavy clay soils that reduce water infiltration increasing erosion rates and reducing soil moisture for plants. Vegetation is variable depending on environmental variables of the sites, which range from relatively low-elevation semi-desert to subalpine cliffs and rock outcrops. Lower elevation sites often have herbaceous or shrub species present, whereas foothill, montane and subalpine sites may also include trees. Most of the species also occur in non-sparse vegetation groups. However, some of the sites with harsh soil properties have a high number of endemic perennial species.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic characteristics of this lithomorphic group are barren to sparsely vegetation substrates and its geographic location, which is the intermountain western U.S. However, it is often composed of a mix of woody vegetation, especially shrubs and herbs (particularly cushion plants), although either may be absent on a given site.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This group is very diverse floristically and so it is difficult to determine indicator species. More diagnostic is the sparse cover of vascular plants and/or presence and sometimes dominance of nonvascular (lichen) species. This broadly defined lithomorphic group was developed by NatureServe. M. Reid (9-13): I am removing dune communities from this group; they are now placed in ~Intermountain Sparsely Vegetated Dune Scrub & Grassland Group (G775)$$. We need to revisit and get clear on criteria for differentiating this group from other vegetated groups. Generally this group is conceived of as sparsely vegetated associations occurring on rocky or badland substrates.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available