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A0862 Poliomintha incana Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This shrubland alliance is characterized by a sparse woody layer dominated by the xeromorphic evergreen shrub Poliomintha incana. It occurs on sandy sites in the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah and northern Arizona, to northern New Mexico in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Frosted Mint Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Colorado Plateau Frosted Mint Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a sparse woody layer dominated by the xeromorphic evergreen shrub Poliomintha incana with Artemisia filifolia present to codominant on some sites. The two different habitats in which this alliance occurs, stabilized and shifting sands, produce stands with different associated species. Stabilized deep-sand sites in northern New Mexico have higher shrub diversity with scattered Juniperus monosperma and Pinus edulis trees. Common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Brickellia californica, Ericameria nauseosa var. bigelovii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and the cacti Opuntia phaeacantha and Opuntia polyacantha. The perennial grasses Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sporobolus cryptandrus are the most common dominants in the herbaceous layer. The stands described from the dune area have a sparse herbaceous layer that is dominated by perennial graminoids such as Sporobolus flexuosus or by annual forbs such as Chamaesyce parryi that are seasonally present to abundant in wet years. Weedy annual forbs such as Amaranthus spp., Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, and the exotic Conyza canadensis are common. This shrubland alliance occurs on sandy sites in the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah and northern Arizona, to northern New Mexico. Stands occur in both stabilized deep sand and areas near active dunes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this alliance is the relatively sparse shrub layer dominated by Poliomintha incana or a mixture of Poliomintha incana, Artemisia filifolia, and Vanclevea stylosa on sandy sites of the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Muldavin et al. (1998a) described two community types, Poliomintha incana / Sparse and Poliomintha incana / Sporobolus flexuosus that were included in this alliance description, but are without association-level descriptions. Further work is necessary to complete the classification and description of stands in this alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse shrub layer (0.1-1.5 m tall) dominated by xeromorphic, broad-leaved and microphyllous evergreen shrubs. A sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial grasses.
Floristics: Stands have a sparse woody layer dominated by the xeromorphic evergreen shrub Poliomintha incana with Artemisia filifolia present to codominating on some sites. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse and may be dominated by graminoids or forbs. Two major habitats, stabilized and shifting sands, produce stands with different associated species. Stabilized deep-sand sites described by Dick-Peddie et al. (1984) were found on hillsides in northern New Mexico and had scattered Juniperus monosperma and Pinus edulis trees. Common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present may include Brickellia californica, Ericameria nauseosa var. bigelovii (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bigelovii), Gutierrezia sarothrae, Vanclevea stylosa, and the cacti Opuntia phaeacantha and Opuntia polyacantha. The sparse herbaceous layer may be dominated by the perennial grasses Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, or Schizachyrium scoparium. Forb species tend to be sand specialists such as Abronia fragrans, Ambrosia acanthicarpa, Cryptantha crassisepala, Chamaesyce parryi (= Euphorbia parryi), Hymenopappus filifolius, Oxytenia acerosa (= Iva acerosa), Oenothera pallida, Stephanomeria exigua, and Streptanthella longirostris.
Dynamics: Poliomintha incana is a sand-adapted species that avoids burial by shifting sands by rapidly growing its meristems (Bowers 1982).
Environmental Description: Climate is semi-arid. Mean annual precipitation is about 20 cm. Summers are hot and winters are cold. Elevations range from 1200-1850 m. Stands are found in deep-sand and dune areas. Sites are flat to undulating, occurring on all aspects. The soils are well-drained, moderately deep sands. Biological soil crusts may be absent or provide sparse to moderate cover, up to 25%.
Geographic Range: Stands included in this minor shrubland alliance occur on sandy sites sporadically in north-central New Mexico, and the Colorado Plateau in Arizona and Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899033
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group | G312 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Alliance | A0862 Frosted Mint Shrubland Alliance | A0862 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001339 Frosted Mint / Blue Grama Shrubland | CEGL001339 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002418 Frosted Mint - Sand Sagebrush - Pillar False Gumweed Shrubland | CEGL002418 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002930 Frosted Mint / (James'' Galleta) Shrubland | CEGL002930 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.862
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Poliomintha incana Series (Muldavin et al. 1998b)
< Poliomintha incana Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
? Bushmint-Sandsage Scrub (Dick-Peddie et al. 1984)
< Poliomintha incana Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
? Bushmint-Sandsage Scrub (Dick-Peddie et al. 1984)
- Bowers, J. E. 1982. The plant ecology of inland dunes in western North America. Journal of Arid Environments 5:199-220.
- Dick-Peddie, W. A., J. K. Meents, and R. Spellenberg. 1984. Vegetation resource analysis for the Velarde Community Ditch Project, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties, New Mexico. Unpublished final report prepared for the USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Southwestern Region, Amarillo, TX. 251 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Muldavin, E., G. Harper, P. Neville, and Y. Chauvin. 1998b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Volume II. Vegetation map. Final report for Cooperative Agreement No. 14-16-00-91-233 White Sands Missile Range, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Nature Conservancy and the University of New Mexico.
- Muldavin, E., V. Archer, and P. Neville. 1998a. A vegetation map of the Borderlands Ecosystem Management Area. Final report submitted to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Experiment Station, Flagstaff, AZ, by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. 58 pp.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices