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A2655 Calamagrostis scopulorum - Andropogon glomeratus Hanging Garden Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of spring-fed wetlands with high cover of herbaceous graminoid vegetation. This is a lush herbaceous alliance dominated by Andropogon glomeratus, Calamagrostis scopulorum, Cladium californicum, Muhlenbergia utilis, Schoenus nigricans, Solidago spectabilis var. confinis, and Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis. It is a wetland seep alliance that usually can occur in alcoves and in horizontal fractures in limestone or sandstone canyon walls of the Arid West. The soils are poorly developed, sandy and moist throughout the growing season.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ditch Reedgrass - Bushy Bluestem Hanging Garden Alliance
Colloquial Name: Arid West Seep Hanging Garden
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This is a lush herbaceous association dominated by Andropogon glomeratus, Calamagrostis scopulorum, Cladium californicum, Muhlenbergia utilis, Schoenus nigricans, Solidago spectabilis var. confinis, and Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis. Other herbaceous species include Comandra umbellata, Solidago missouriensis, and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis. Although a shrub layer is usually lacking, scattered Rosa woodsii, Rhus trilobata, Salix exigua, and/or Tamarix ramosissima are known to occur within or just below the alcove containing the seep. These are wetland seeps that usually occur in alcoves and in horizontal fractures in limestone or sandstone canyon walls, or other bedrock springs. They are found in northwestern Colorado, eastern Utah and further south and west in Death Valley National Park in California. Many stands are inaccessible, but one documented site is on the bank of an intermittent wash where groundwater is close to the surface. Known elevation ranges from 1400 to 1675 m (4600-5500 feet). Soil collects on ledges fed by dripping groundwater and becomes the substrate for this small patch of wetland vegetation. The soils are poorly developed, sandy and moist throughout the growing season.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This is a lush herbaceous association dominated by Calamagrostis scopulorum, Andropogon glomeratus, Cladium californicum, and others.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: It has been suggested that "hanging garden" alliances be defined around significant regional differences based on both species composition and vegetation structure of five regionally-based groupings of gardens: (1) Zion Canyon and immediate surrounding area, (2) Grand Canyon, (3) central Colorado Plateau, (4) southeastern Utah and adjacent Colorado, and (5) Dinosaur National Monument-Green/Yampa rivers area. This still leaves much of the Navajo Nation and New Mexico portions which remain poorly documented. In addition there is a 6th "relictual" garden/spring complex associated with Pleistocene relicts at moderately high elevations, usually characterized by stands of Pseudotsuga menziesii, and there are other garden/spring complexes with other graminoid and forbs in the Arid West, such as in Death Valley National Park, that need to be addressed. However, these data are not available to NatureServe editors at this time, and need to incorporated. In the meantime, the two current alliances (A2655 and A2605) are described.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a lush herbaceous association dominated by Andropogon glomeratus, Calamagrostis scopulorum, Cladium californicum, Muhlenbergia utilis, Schoenus nigricans, Solidago spectabilis var. confinis (= Solidago confinis), and Solidago spectabilis var. spectabilis. Other herbaceous species common to the association include Comandra umbellata, Solidago missouriensis, and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus). Shrub layer is usually lacking or very sparse with Rosa woodsii, Rhus trilobata, Salix exigua, and/or Tamarix ramosissima. Typical hanging garden forb species such as Mimulus eastwoodiae, Aquilegia micrantha or Adiantum capillus-veneris are absent or have very low cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in wetland seeps that can occur in alcoves and in horizontal fractures in limestone or sandstone canyon walls in the Arid West. Many stands are inaccessible, but one documented site is on the bank of an intermittent wash where groundwater is close to the surface. Elevation ranges from 1400 to 1675 m (4600-5500 feet). Soil collects on ledges fed by dripping groundwater and becomes the substrate for this small patch of wetland vegetation. The soils are poorly developed, sandy and moist throughout the growing season.
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently known from northwestern Colorado, eastern Utah and further south and west in Death Valley National Park in California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899220
Confidence Level: Low
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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division | D032 | 2.C.4.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M076 | 2.C.4.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a Maidenhair Fern species - Monkeyflower species - Columbine species Colorado Plateau Seep Group | G545 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A2655 Ditch Reedgrass - Bushy Bluestem Hanging Garden Alliance | A2655 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002751 Ditch Reedgrass Seep Hanging Garden | CEGL002751 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005466 Bushy Bluestem - Black Bogrush Seep Hanging Garden | CEGL005466 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.2655
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Andropogon glomeratus-Schoenus nigricans Herbaceous Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.