Print Report

A0865 Atriplex spinifera Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This saltbush shrubland of the American Southwest occurs in intermittently flooded habitats and is dominated by Atriplex spinifera.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Spinescale Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Spinescale Saltbush Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This saltbush shrubland of the American Southwest occurs in intermittently flooded habitats with saline soils and is dominated by Atriplex spinifera. Other species of Atriplex and other salt-tolerant shrubs may be present. These may include Atriplex polycarpa, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex canescens, Frankenia salina, Ephedra californica, Hymenoclea salsola, and Distichlis spicata. The herbaceous layer is variable. Annuals are seasonally present. Dry lakebeds, lakeplains and old lakebeds perched above the current water table are favorable environments. The soils associated with this alliance may be carbonate-rich.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Short shrublands occupying saline, intermittently flooded areas dominated by Atriplex spinifera often in association with other saline-tolerant species.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stands of the various saltbush alliances are assigned to alliances based upon which species of saltbush is dominant. Only stands dominated by Atriplex spinifera are assigned to this alliance. This is a rare type. The California Natural Diversity Database has some plot data on file.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This is a shrubland, less than 2 m in height, with an open canopy. The herbaceous layer is highly variable.

Floristics: This desert shrubland alliance is dominated by Atriplex spinifera. Other species of Atriplex and other salt-tolerant shrubs may be present. These may include Atriplex polycarpa, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex canescens, Frankenia salina, Ephedra californica, Hymenoclea salsola, and Distichlis spicata. The herbaceous layer is variable. Annuals are seasonally present.

Dynamics:  The lowland habitats where this alliance occurs are intermittently flooded and saturated. Water chemistry is mixosaline.
Environmental Description:  This saltbush shrubland of the American Southwest occurs in intermittently flooded habitats with saline soils. Dry lakebeds, plains and old lakebeds perched above the current water table are favorable environments. The soils associated with this alliance may be carbonate-rich.
Geographic Range: Occurs in California in the inner central Coast Ranges, the San Joaquin Valley and throughout the Mojave Desert into Arizona, Nevada, and extreme southwestern Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NV, UT


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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 A0865 Spinescale Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance A0865 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.865

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex spinifera (Spinescale scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [36.350.00]
= Atriplex spinifera Alliance (Spinescale scrub) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Atriplex spinifera Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [36.350.00]
>< Desert Saltbush Scrub (#36110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Interior Coast Range Saltbush Scrub (#36320) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sierra-Tehachapi Saltbush Scrub (#36310) (Holland 1986b)
= Spinescale series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Valley Saltbush Scrub (#36220) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M. Schindel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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