Print Report
A1098 Artemisia rothrockii Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This dwarf-shrubland is heavily dominated by Artemisia rothrockii. The only shrubs which co-occur are Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, Ribes montigenum, and Holodiscus discolor. Graminoids dominate the open herbaceous layer. Stands occur on slopes and ridges in the subalpine regions of California.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rothrock''s Sagebrush Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Rothrock''s Sagebrush Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This dwarf-shrubland is heavily dominated by Artemisia rothrockii. The only shrubs which co-occur in this association are Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, Ribes montigenum, and Holodiscus discolor. Emergent conifers, such as Pinus balfouriana, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, and Pinus albicaulis, may be present. Graminoids dominate the open herbaceous layer, and species composition may be highly variable among stands. Carex filifolia, Danthonia intermedia, and/or Poa wheeleri are the most common graminoid associates. Forbs only total a small amount of cover, typified by the diagnostic forb Monardella odoratissima. Other forbs which are often present at very low cover values may include Antennaria rosea, Penstemon rydbergii, Juncus sp., and/or Horkelia fusca. This dwarf-shrubland occurs on slopes and ridges in the subalpine regions of California. It is generally present in the zone between meadow and forest, growing on gravelly, carbonate-rich soils. Elevations range from 2000-3100 m. The nominal species'' growth occurs mainly in early to mid summer, with flowering in late summer. The species is dormant in the fall, winter, and early spring due to cold.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This dwarf-shrubland is heavily dominated by diagnostic Artemisia rothrockii. Associated shrubs are Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, Ribes montigenum, and Holodiscus discolor. Graminoids dominate the open herbaceous layer. Characteristic herbaceous species include graminoids, Carex filifolia, Danthonia intermedia, and/or Poa wheeleri., and diagnostic forb Monardella odoratissima. Other forbs which are often present at very low cover values may include Antennaria rosea, Penstemon rydbergii, Juncus sp., and/or Horkelia fusca.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Artemisia rothrockii is a California endemic and grows on lower slopes and aprons between forests and valley bottom meadows (Benedict 1982, Ratliff 1985). Soils developed from granitic grus in the Sierra Nevada (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2003a) and from carbonate-rich dolomite and limestone in the Inyo and White mountains (Major and Taylor 1977) are droughty.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This extremely xeromorphic, subdesert dwarf-shrubland has an intermittent canopy of Artemisia rothrockii less than 1 m in height. Emergent conifers may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse.
Floristics: In this California subalpine dwarf-shrubland Artemisia rothrockii is the sole or dominant shrub in the canopy. Other shrubs present may include Ericameria discoidea, Ericameria suffruticosa, Penstemon heterodoxus, and Monardella odoratissima (Sawyer et al. 2009). Emergent conifers such as Pinus balfouriana, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, and Pinus albicaulis may be present. Graminoids dominate the open herbaceous layer, and species composition may be highly variable among stands. Carex filifolia, Danthonia intermedia, and/or Poa wheeleri are the most common graminoid associates. Forbs only total a small amount of cover, typified by the diagnostic forb Monardella odoratissima. Other forbs which are often present at very low cover values may include Antennaria rosea, Penstemon rydbergii, Juncus sp., and/or Horkelia fusca. Twenty-five other species have been recorded on sampled plots, but none achieve more than 30% constancy. The forb Castilleja miniata and the graminoid Poa wheeleri each achieve 5% cover in 30% of plots. All other recorded species (mostly graminoids) only contribute a trace to the overall cover.
Dynamics: The soils that support this alliance are often carbonate-rich. These carbonates can form a hardpan 20-40 cm below the surface. Water runs downslope along this hardpan, reducing the amount of water available to plants, and making these sites droughty.
Environmental Description: This dwarf-shrubland occurs on slopes and ridges in the subalpine regions of California. It is generally present in the zone between meadow and forest, growing on gravelly, carbonate-rich soils. Elevations range from 2000 to 3500 m (Sawyer et al. 2009). The nominal species'' growth occurs mainly early to mid-summer, with flowering in late summer. The species is dormant in the fall, winter, and early spring due to cold.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in California''s Sierra Nevada at Yosemite National Park, and the Transverse and Peninsular ranges.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899072
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M169 | 3.B.1.Ne.3 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G304 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Alliance | A1098 Rothrock''s Sagebrush Shrubland Alliance | A1098 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Association | CEGL003014 Timberline Sagebrush Shrubland | CEGL003014 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Association | CEGL008652 Timberline Sagebrush / Alpine Mountainbalm Shrubland | CEGL008652 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
Concept Lineage: This alliance equals old Alliance III.A.5.N.a. Artemisia rothrockii Shrubland Alliance (A.1098).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia rothrockii (Rothrock’s sagebrush) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.140.00]
= Artemisia rothrockii Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [35.140.00]
= Rothrock sagebrush series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? Subalpine Sagebrush (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
>< Subalpine Sagebrush Scrub (#35220) (Holland 1986b)
= Artemisia rothrockii Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [35.140.00]
= Rothrock sagebrush series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? Subalpine Sagebrush (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
>< Subalpine Sagebrush Scrub (#35220) (Holland 1986b)
- Bauer, K., E. L. Berlow, and C. M. D''Antonio. 2002. Shrub expansion in montane meadows: The relationship between climate and Rothrock sagebrush colonization patterns. Journal of Range Management 55:620-625.
- Benedict, N. B. 1982. Mountain meadows: Stability and change. Madroño 29:148-153.
- Benedict, N. B. 1983. Plant associations of subalpine meadows, Sequoia National Park, California. Arctic and Alpine Research 15(3):383-396.
- CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
- Cheatham, N. H., and J. R. Haller. 1975. An annotated list of California habitat types. Unpublished report. University of California, Natural Land and Water Reserves System.
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- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- Major, J., and D. W. Taylor. 1977. Alpine. Pages 601-675 in: Barbour, M. G. and J. Major, eds. 1977. Terrestrial vegetation of California. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
- Ratliff, R. D. 1985. Meadows in the Sierra Nevada of California: State of knowledge. General Technical Report PSW-84. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, CA. 52 pp.
- Reynolds, S. A., and E. L. Berlow. 2002. Artemisia rothrockii. In: J. K. Francis, editor. Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories: Thamnic descriptions [online]. USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry and Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, UT.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Taylor, D. W. 1984. Vegetation of the Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Inyo National Forest, California. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.
- West, N. E. 1988. Intermountain deserts, shrub steppes, and woodlands. Pages 207-230 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York.