Print Report
A1874 Artemisia longifolia Badlands Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This vegetation is known from badlands in the northwestern Great Plains on moderately to steeply sloping acid-shale barrens and clay with sparse to moderate cover by forbs, especially Artemisia longifolia with Eriogonum pauciflorum sometimes codominating.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Wormwood Badlands Alliance
Colloquial Name: Longleaf Wormwood Badlands
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This vegetation is known from badlands in the northwestern Great Plains on acid-shale barrens and clay slopes. The vegetation layer is usually sparse (<10% cover) but may range up to 20%. It is less than 1 m tall and is dominated by the perennial forb Artemisia longifolia with Eriogonum pauciflorum sometimes codominating. Scattered graminoids and other forbs are also typically present and may include Achnatherum hymenoides, Calamagrostis montanensis, Calamovilfa longifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago missouriensis, Stellaria media, and Thermopsis rhombifolia. Scattered Rosa arkansana shrubs are often present. Stands occur on dry scree slopes, as well as acid-shale barrens. Sites are common on moderate to steep, highly eroded slopes with southern and western aspects. Substrates may be deep but are poorly developed, fine-textured soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by sparse to open vegetation on badland slopes dominated by Artemisia longifolia.
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: Stands have a sparse layer of perennial forbs to 0.8 m tall. Scattered perennial graminoids and occasional shrubs may also be present.
Floristics: The sparse vegetation layer is less than 1 m tall and is dominated by the perennial forb Artemisia longifolia with Eriogonum pauciflorum sometimes codominating. Scattered graminoids and other forbs are also typically present and may include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Calamagrostis montanensis, Calamovilfa longifolia, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago missouriensis, Stellaria media, and Thermopsis rhombifolia. Occasional Rosa arkansana shrubs are often present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands included in this minor alliance are found in the northwestern Great Plains on acid-shale barrens. This vegetation is known from badlands in the northwestern Great Plains. Elevation in Montana is approximately 1000 m. The climate is semi-arid, temperate continental. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 32 cm. Two-thirds of the annual precipitation occurs in the spring and early summer. Stands occur on dry scree slopes and acid-shale barrens. Sites are common on moderate to steep, highly eroded slopes with southern and western aspects. Substrate may be deep, but are poorly develop, fine-textured soils derived from acidic marine shales (pH <5). Because of a large coarse fraction of shale fragments, these soils may be better drained than expected (DeVelice et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: Stands in this sparsely vegetated alliance occur in badlands in the northwestern Great Plains in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and adjacent Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, ND, SD, SK?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899181
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.3 Great Plains Badlands Vegetation Macrogroup | M115 | 6.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.3.a Greasewood / Few-flower Buckwheat - Broom Snakeweed Badlands Group | G566 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A1874 Longleaf Wormwood Badlands Alliance | A1874 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001521 Longleaf Wormwood - Prairie Sandreed Sparse Vegetation | CEGL001521 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL002195 Longleaf Wormwood Badlands Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002195 | 6.B.1.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.1874
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Artemisia longifolia / Oryzopsis hymenoides Community Type (DeVelice et al. 1995)
? shale barren communities (Harvey 1982)
? shale barren communities (Jorgensen 1979)
? shale barren communities (Harvey 1982)
? shale barren communities (Jorgensen 1979)
- DeVelice, R. L., S. V. Cooper, J. T. McGarvey, J. Lichthardt, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1995. Plant communities of northeastern Montana: A first approximation. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 116 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.
- Harvey, S. J. 1982. Vegetation of Musselshell and Petroleum counties, Montana. Unpublished report to USDA Soil Conservation Service, Roundup, MT. 27 pp.
- Jorgensen, H. E. 1979. Vegetation of the Yellow Water Triangle, Montana. Montana Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management. Helena, MT. 57 pp.