Print Report

A1046 Sarcobatus vermiculatus Intermountain Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Shrublands included in this alliance are dominated or codominated by Sarcobatus vermiculatus. They occur on lowland sites in plains, mountain valleys and intermountain basins throughout the arid and semi-arid western United States, on generally flat, poorly drained, seasonally, temporarily or intermittently flooded sites with a shallow or perched water table often within 1 m depth such as alkali flats around playas and floodplains along stream channels.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greasewood Intermountain Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Intermountain Greasewood Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Shrublands included in this alliance are dominated or codominated by Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Other shrubby codominants include Artemisia cana, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri, Chrysothamnus spp., Collomia linearis, Grayia spinosa, or Picrothamnus desertorum. In more saline environments, Nitrophila occidentalis and Suaeda moquinii may be present. If present, the sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial grasses, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Elymus elymoides, Hordeum jubatum, Leymus cinereus, Nassella viridula, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa secunda, and Sporobolus airoides. Forbs are generally sparse except on disturbed weedy sites. The native perennial forbs include Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus spp., Chenopodium fremontii, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, and Opuntia polyacantha. Perennial forbs are typically sparse and often include Grindelia squarrosa, Iva axillaris, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Annual grasses, especially the exotic Bromus spp., may be present to abundant. Forbs are common on disturbed sites. Weedy annual forbs may include the exotics Descurainia spp., Helianthus annuus, Halogeton glomeratus, Lactuca serriola, and Lepidium perfoliatum. This alliance occurs throughout the arid and semi-arid western United States. Sites are generally flat, poorly drained, seasonally, temporarily or intermittently flooded with a shallow or perched water table often within 1 m depth such as alkali flats around playas and floodplains along stream channels. Substrates are generally shallow, calcareous, fine-textured soils derived from alluvium. Soils are alkaline and typically moderately saline.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this alliance is the Sarcobatus vermiculatus-dominated shrub layer in a shrubland that has a relatively shallow water table and may be flooded at any time.

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: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderate to dense layer of microphyllous, deciduous xeromorphic shrubs 0.5-2 m tall. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense and dominated by tall to medium-tall bunch grasses or rhizomatous mid grasses. Perennial forbs are sparse. Scattered cacti and perennial forbs may be present. Annual grasses and forbs may be seasonally present to abundant.

Floristics: This alliance has shrublands dominated or codominated by the deciduous, facultative halophytic shrub Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Other shrubby codominants include Artemisia cana, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri, Chrysothamnus spp., Collomia linearis, Grayia spinosa, Nitrophila occidentalis, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), and/or Suaeda moquinii. Herbaceous layers range from absent to a moderately dense canopy of medium-tall to short bunchgrasses or sod grasses (0-25% cover) such as Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Elymus elymoides, Hordeum jubatum, Leymus cinereus, Nassella viridula, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa secunda (= Poa juncifolia), and/or Sporobolus airoides. Perennial forbs are typically sparse and often include Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus spp., Chenopodium fremontii, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Grindelia squarrosa, Iva axillaris, Opuntia polyacantha, and/or Sphaeralcea coccinea. Exotic species can be abundant on disturbed weedy sites and include such species as Bassia scoparia (= Kochia scoparia), Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum, Descurainia spp., Halogeton glomeratus, Helianthus annuus, Lactuca serriola, and/or Lepidium perfoliatum.

Dynamics:  Sarcobatus vermiculatus is often found on sites with high water tables that are intermittently flooded. Hansen et al. (1995) reported that it can tolerate saturated soil conditions for up to 40 days. Hansen et al. (1995) also reported browsing damage with heavy spring and summer grazing, but noted that Sarcobatus vermiculatus is moderately poisonous to livestock especially in the fall, and supplemental feed is recommended to avoid livestock loss. Hanson (1929) states that Sarcobatus vermiculatus can form an important part of winter forage for sheep. Fire will top-kill Sarcobatus vermiculatus, but the shrub will promptly resprout from the root crown (Daubenmire 1970).
Environmental Description:  Elevations range from 100-2400 m. Sites are generally flat, poorly drained and intermittently flooded with a shallow or perched water table often within 1 m depth (West 1983b). Sites may receive overland flow during intense summer thunderstorms. Some sites are well-drained and do not have a shallow water table. Substrates are generally shallow, calcareous, fine-textured soils (clays to silt-loams), derived from alluvium. Soils are alkaline and typically moderately saline (West 1983b). Summers are hot. Winters are generally cold, but are mild in subtropical regions. Precipitation varies with geography but is generally low and infrequent.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout the interior arid west from California, eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona, and New Mexico, not dropping into the warm desert provinces.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, TX?, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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 A1046 Greasewood Intermountain Wet Shrubland Alliance A1046 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001357 Greasewood Disturbed Wet Shrubland CEGL001357 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001359 Greasewood / Big Sagebrush Wet Shrubland CEGL001359 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001360 Greasewood / Gardner''s Saltbush Wet Shrubland CEGL001360 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001361 Greasewood / Blue Grama Wet Shrubland CEGL001361 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001362 Greasewood / Rubber Rabbitbrush Wet Shrubland CEGL001362 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001363 Greasewood / Saltgrass Wet Shrubland CEGL001363 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001364 Greasewood Dune Wet Shrubland CEGL001364 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001365 Greasewood / Squirreltail - Western Wheatgrass Wet Shrubland CEGL001365 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001366 Greasewood / Basin Wildrye Wet Shrubland CEGL001366 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001368 Greasewood / Alkali Sacaton Wet Shrubland CEGL001368 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001369 Greasewood / Boraxweed - Mojave Seablite Wet Shrubland CEGL001369 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001370 Greasewood / Mojave Seablite Wet Shrubland CEGL001370 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001371 Greasewood / Shadscale Saltbush - (Bud Sagebrush, Mojave Seablite) Wet Shrubland CEGL001371 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001372 Greasewood / Squirreltail Wet Shrubland CEGL001372 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL001373 Greasewood / Indian Ricegrass Wet Shrubland CEGL001373 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL002763 Greasewood - Nevada Smokebush Wet Shrubland CEGL002763 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL002764 Greasewood - Parry''s Saltbush / Saltgrass Wet Shrubland CEGL002764 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL002919 Greasewood / Baltic Rush Sparse Vegetation CEGL002919 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.1046

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Greasewood scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [36.400.00]
? Sarcobatus vermiculatus/Sporobolus airoides plant association (Johnston 1987) [included within the Sarcobatus vermiculatus Series.]
? Sarcobatus vermiculatus Association (152.171) (Brown 1982a) [included within Great Basin Desertscrub, Saltbush Series.]
>< Sarcobatus vermiculatus Series (Johnston 1987)
? Sarcobatus vermiculatus Series (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [includes both Sarcobatus vermiculatus/Elymus cinereus and Sarcobatus vermiculatus/Agropyron smithii habitat types.]
>< Sarcobatus vermiculatus Series (Francis 1986)
= Sarcobatus vermiculatus Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
>< Sarcobatus vermiculatus habitat type (Daubenmire 1970)
= Sarcobatus vermiculatus Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [36.400.00]
>< Desert Greasewood Scrub (#36130) (Holland 1986b)
>< Desert Sink Scrub (Holland 1986b)
>< Greasewood Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? Greasewood-Desert Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [within the Arroyo Riparian Habitat Type.]
>< Northern Plains: Saline lowland (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
? Saltbush Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [within the Great Basin Desert Scrub.]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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