Print Report

A0869 Atriplex canescens Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Stands typically have a sparse to moderately dense (10-60% cover) short-shrub canopy (approximately 1.5 m tall) that is dominated by the facultative deciduous, xeromorphic shrub Atriplex canescens.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fourwing Saltbush Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Fourwing Saltbush Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance occurs primarily in arid and semi-arid areas of the southwestern U.S. from western Texas to southern and eastern California and into Chihuahua, Mexico. It is also found in the western Great Plains to the Great Basin from western Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming to Utah, Nevada and eastern Oregon. Stands typically have a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub canopy that is dominated by Atriplex canescens. Associated shrubs may include Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tridentata, Ephedra viridis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Purshia stansburiana, Psorothamnus polydenius, Parthenium confertum, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and species of Chrysothamnus, Ericameria, and Lycium. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense and dominated by warm-season, medium-tall and short grasses depending on geographic range of the grasses. Species may include Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, Muhlenbergia porteri, Scleropogon brevifolius, Pascopyrum smithii, and Sporobolus spp. Overall, shrublands in this alliance occur on lowland and upland sites with elevation ranging from 75 m below sea level to 2400 m. Lowland sites include alluvial flats, drainage terraces, playas, washes and interdune basins. Upland sites include bluffs and gentle to moderately steep, sandy or rocky slopes. Stands occur on all aspects. Soils are variable with depths ranging from shallow to moderately deep, and texture ranging from sand to loam to clay.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Nearly sparse to moderately dense stands of short shrubs dominated by Atriplex canescens. Due to the wide geographic range of this alliance, associated species composition is highly variable.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Shrublands in this alliance can grade into grasslands dominated by Sporobolus airoides or Pleuraphis mutica, or occur within a matrix of other desert shrublands. Further review of this alliance is necessary before comparisons can be made with other vegetation types. Some of the stands referenced, such as in Francis (1986), may not have enough vegetation cover to be classified as shrublands.

Given the geographic extent of this alliance, it may be warranted to split this into two alliances that reflect ecoregional variation.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense layer of facultatively deciduous, extremely xeromorphic shrubs up to 2 m in height. A sparse to dense graminoid layer of warm-season grasses may be present.

Floristics: Stands have a sparse to moderately dense (10-60% cover) short-shrub canopy (to approximately 1.5 m tall) that is dominated by the facultatively deciduous, xeromorphic shrub Atriplex canescens. Associated shrubs may include Artemisia tridentata, Artemisia bigelovii, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Purshia stansburiana (= Purshia mexicana var. stansburiana), Psorothamnus polydenius, Ephedra viridis, Parthenium confertum, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and species of Chrysothamnus and Lycium. Dwarf-shrubs such as Gutierrezia sarothrae or Eriogonum spp. may be common in some stands. Warm-season, medium-tall and short grasses typically dominate the sparse to moderately dense (1-60% cover) graminoid layer. The species present depend on geographic range of the grasses, alkalinity/salinity and past land use. Species may include Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Pascopyrum smithii, Muhlenbergia porteri, Scleropogon brevifolius, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus flexuosus, Sporobolus nealleyi, and Sporobolus wrightii. Forb cover is generally sparse, but annual forbs such as Calycoseris parryi may be abundant in wet years. Common forbs include species of Sphaeralcea, Dalea, Cymopterus, Chenopodium, Bassia (= Kochia), Iva, Picradeniopsis, and Ratibida. Cacti from the genus Opuntia are associated species in some stands. Trees are typically not present, but occasionally scattered Juniperus spp. may occur.

Dynamics:  Atriplex canescens is tolerant of saline or alkaline soils, but is not restricted to those soils. Therefore, it is not a reliable indicator of those conditions (USFS 1937). This shrub is considered good forage for deer and many classes of livestock because it is highly nutritious and palatable (USFS 1937).
Environmental Description:  Shrublands included in this alliance occur on lowland and upland sites throughout much of the arid and semi-arid western U.S. with elevations ranging from 75 m below sea level to 2400 m. Lowland sites include alluvial flats, drainage terraces, playas, washes and interdune basins. Upland sites include bluffs and gentle to moderately steep, sandy or rocky slopes. Stands occur on all aspects. Soils are variable with depths ranging from shallow to moderately deep, and textures ranging from sands to loams to clay. The lowland sites may be moderately saline or alkaline. Bare ground usually dominates the ground surface. Francis (1986) described stands in northwestern New Mexico with approximately 80% bare soil and 15% litter.
Geographic Range: Shrublands included in this alliance occur primarily in arid and semi-arid areas of the southwestern U.S. from west Texas to southern and eastern California and into Chihuahua, Mexico. They also are found in the western Great Plains to the Great Basin, from western Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming to Utah, Nevada and eastern Oregon.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MXCHH, NM, NV, OR, TX, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup M093 3.B.1.Ne.5
Group 3.B.1.Ne.5.b Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Spiny Hopsage Scrub Group G300 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Alliance A0869 Fourwing Saltbush Scrub Alliance A0869 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001281 Fourwing Saltbush Shrubland CEGL001281 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001282 Fourwing Saltbush - Big Sagebrush Shrubland CEGL001282 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001283 Fourwing Saltbush / Blue Grama Shrubland CEGL001283 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001284 Fourwing Saltbush / Yellow Tackstem Shrubland CEGL001284 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001285 Fourwing Saltbush - Winterfat Shrubland CEGL001285 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001286 Fourwing Saltbush / Stansbury''s Cliffrose Shrubland CEGL001286 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001288 Fourwing Saltbush / James'' Galleta Shrubland CEGL001288 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001289 Fourwing Saltbush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland CEGL001289 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL001291 Fourwing Saltbush / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland CEGL001291 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL003828 Fourwing Saltbush - Mormon-tea Shrubland CEGL003828 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Association CEGL005385 Fourwing Saltbush / Bush Muhly Shrubland CEGL005385 3.B.1.Ne.5.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex canescens (Fourwing saltbush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [36.310.00]
= Atriplex canescens Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Atriplex canescens Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
= Atriplex canescens Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [36.310.00]
>< Desert Saltbush Scrub (#36110) (Holland 1986b)
= Fourwing saltbush series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Interior Coast Range Saltbush Scrub (#36320) (Holland 1986b)
>< Relictual Interior Dunes (#23200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sierra-Tehachapi Saltbush Scrub (#36310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Valley Saltbush Scrub (#36220) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz after Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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