Print Report

A2557 Artemisia cana Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of stands dominated by Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula or Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi. It occurs in relatively moist environments, including riparian areas, alkaline or saline playa lakes, and is found throughout the northern half of the Intermountain West.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silver Sagebrush Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Silver Sagebrush Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This is an alliance of shrublands dominated by Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula or Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi where the shrub layer ranges from 0.5-1.5 m tall and the canopy cover ranges from 10-60%. In most stands, Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula or Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi is the only dominant shrub, although other shrubs can be present. Herbaceous cover can be abundant to very sparse, but perennial graminoids generally total less than 20% cover. Species include Danthonia intermedia, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis palustris, Elymus elymoides, Festuca idahoensis, Festuca ovina, Festuca thurberi, Leymus cinereus, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Poa cusickii, and Poa secunda. It occurs in relatively moist environments, including riparian areas, alkaline or saline playa lakes. This alliance occurs throughout the northern half of the Intermountain West.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Valley bottom stands dominated by Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula or Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Sites are subirrigated and are not always considered wet or riparian, but they are more moist than other upland sage types.

There are taxonomic problems with the subspecies of Artemisia cana. For example, according to Kartesz (1999), the subspecies bolanderi is not reported to occur in Oregon, but is reported to occur by the Oregon Natural Heritage Program. Thus, the distribution of this alliance is subject to change as updated information becomes available.

The relationship of this alliance to others dominated by Artemisia cana is unclear. The hydrological divisions in the Artemisia cana group are poorly distinguished, particularly in the literature. In montane and subalpine meadows and along riparian stringers of western mountain ranges, Artemisia cana communities are often the driest of the recognizable riparian habitats. This transitional position and the broad floodplains where these shrublands typically occur blur wetland/upland distinctions. Most of these riparian stands have been placed in the temporarily flooded alliance. Although these sites generally have seasonally saturated soils and shallow water tables, the frequency of flooding is probably highly variable.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are microphyllous evergreen shrublands, often with a well-developed graminoid layer. Shrubs can be widely spaced or close together. When widely spaced, robust bunch or rhizomatous grasses can dominate the understory. The graminoids may exceed the shrubs in height and total cover in the open stands.

Floristics: In most stands, Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula or Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi will be the only dominant shrub. Artemisia tridentata is the most consistent associate shrub species across the range of this alliance. Other shrubs may be common, including Artemisia frigida, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Gutierrezia sarothrae, Purshia tridentata, Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. At higher elevations Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana occasionally occurs, and in alkaline areas Atriplex canescens, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), or Sarcobatus vermiculatus may be present. The herbaceous layer is usually well-represented, but bare ground may be common in particularly arid or disturbed stands. Important understory associates include Achnatherum occidentale, Carex praegracilis, Danthonia intermedia, Deschampsia cespitosa, Distichlis spicata, Eleocharis palustris, Elymus caninus, Elymus elymoides, Elymus elymoides, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca idahoensis, Festuca ovina, Festuca thurberi, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Koeleria macrantha (= Koeleria nitida), Leymus cinereus, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Nassella viridula, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa cusickii, Poa fendleriana ssp. fendleriana, and Poa secunda (= Poa nevadensis). Common exotic associates include Poa pratensis, Taraxacum officinale, and Agrostis stolonifera. Among the forbs that are typically found are Achillea millefolium, Arnica spp., Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus lentiginosus, Astragalus spp., Camissonia tanacetifolia, Cirsium foliosum, Conyza canadensis, Epilobium brachycarpum, Fragaria virginiana, Gnaphalium palustre, Hymenoxys hoopesii (= Helenium hoopesii), Linum perenne, Lupinus argenteus, Madia gracilis, Navarretia intertexta, Orthocarpus ssp., Perideridia gairdneri ssp. borealis (= Perideridia montana), Polyctenium fremontii, Potentilla gracilis, Rorippa spp., Symphyotrichum campestre var. bloomeri (= Aster campestris var. bloomeri), Trifolium gymnocarpon, and/or Trifolium spp.

Dynamics:  This alliance is often grazed by domestic livestock and is strongly preferred during the growing season. Prolonged livestock use can decrease the abundance of native bunchgrasses and increase the cover of shrubs and non-native species, such as Poa pratensis and Taraxacum officinale. Unlike other Artemisia spp., Artemisia cana resprouts vigorously following spring fire, and prescribed burning may increase shrub cover. Conversely, fire in the fall may decrease shrub abundance. Comparisons of grazed and protected (ungrazed) floodplain sites showed a tendency for Artemisia cana to occur more commonly in grazed than ungrazed sites with similar groundwater hydrology.
Environmental Description:  These shrublands are found between 1000 and 3300 m (3280-10,800 feet) in elevation. Stands occur on soils with a seasonally high table along low-gradient streams, in broad valleys, and in and around playas (internally drained basins with seasonal flooding). At its highest elevations, this alliance can be found in upland situations where more favorable soil conditions exist. Precipitation varies across the range, from less than 25 cm in semi-arid basins of southeastern Oregon, to over 90 cm in moist meadow habitats of the northern Rocky Mountains. The alliance occurs as an upper terrace community along mountain streams, where soils are saturated in spring and water tables remain within 0.5 m (2 feet) of the soil surface in May and June, dropping to 1.2-1.6 m (4-5.5 feet) below the soil surface in July through September. Other stands occur in valley bottoms without an active surface stream, but with subsurface irrigation. They can also occur in perennially moist, semi-alkaline playa lakebeds above 1065 m. Playas can be flooded for several months during the winter and early spring but rapidly dry up as the weather warms. Topography is usually mild, soils are fine to somewhat coarse alluvial soils, and some source of subsurface moisture is often present. Available water-holding capacity is moderately high. Some stands occur on well-drained, often sandy, glacial drift and sandy alluvium (Comer et al. 1999). Where herbaceous growth is vigorous and decomposition rates are low due to a high water table, soils may develop organic profiles.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found west of the Continental Divide from the Rocky Mountains across the Great Basin to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.a Narrowleaf Willow - Hawthorn species - Stretchberry Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Riparian Shrubland Group G526 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Alliance A2557 Silver Sagebrush Wet Shrubland Alliance A2557 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001074 Mountain Silver Sagebrush / Tufted Hairgrass Wet Shrubland CEGL001074 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001075 Mountain Silver Sagebrush - (Willow species) / Idaho Fescue Wet Shrubland CEGL001075 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001076 Mountain Silver Sagebrush / Sheep Fescue Wet Shrubland CEGL001076 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001460 (Bolander Silver Sagebrush, Mountain Silver Sagebrush) / Basin Wildrye Wet Shrubland CEGL001460 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001548 (Bolander Silver Sagebrush, Mountain Silver Sagebrush) / Sandberg Bluegrass Wet Shrubland CEGL001548 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001552 Mountain Silver Sagebrush / Idaho Fescue Shrub Wet Meadow CEGL001552 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL001743 Bolander''s Silver Sagebrush / Mat Muhly Wet Shrub Meadow CEGL001743 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL002987 Bolander''s Silver Sagebrush / Common Spikerush Wet Shrubland CEGL002987 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Association CEGL005998 Silver Sagebrush / Baltic Rush Wet Shrubland CEGL005998 2.C.4.Nb.5.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia cana (Silver sagebrush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.150.00]
= Artemisia cana Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [35.150.00]
< SRM Cover Type #408 - Other Sagebrush Types (Shiflet 1994)
Concept Author(s): S. Rust, D. Tart, D. Sarr, J. Tuhy, M.S. Reid, R.J. Rondeau, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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