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A3173 Atriplex lentiformis Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Atriplex lentiformis is dominant or codominant in the shrub canopy occurring on southeast- and southwest-facing slopes.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Big Saltbush Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This shrubland occurs from the central California coast into southern Nevada and extreme southwestern Utah and south through western and central Arizona into Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. The dominant or codominant shrub is Atriplex lentiformis in association with Artemisia californica, Atriplex canescens, Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis salicifolia, Encelia californica, Bassia americana, Malosma laurina, Myoporum laetum, Pluchea sericea, Prosopis glandulosa, Rhus integrifolia, Suaeda taxifolia, and Tamarix spp. It occurs on southeast- and southwest-facing slopes on clay soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Atriplex lentiformis is >60% relative cover in the shrub canopy (Keeler-Wolf et al. 1998, Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance has been segregated from the previously defined Atriplex lentiformis-A. polycarpa alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Based on plot data collected over the past 10 years, both of these species apparently segregate and form their own alliances with frequently different environmental and species characteristics.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by tall, fast-growing drought-deciduous shrubs.

Floristics: Atriplex lentiformis dominates or is codominant in associations within this alliance. Codominant or associated shrubs include Artemisia californica, Atriplex canescens, Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis salicifolia, Encelia californica, Bassia americana (= Kochia americana), Malosma laurina, Myoporum laetum, Pluchea sericea, Prosopis glandulosa, Rhus integrifolia, Suaeda taxifolia, and Tamarix spp.

Dynamics:  Atriplex lentiformis has the ability to retain substantial amounts of moisture and has been studied as a fire-retardant species. Processes other than fire, such as shifts in ground water availability, tend to affect occurrences.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs on southeast- and southwest-facing slopes on clay soils. Stands occur in coastal sage scrub to alkali sinks and alkali meadows, desert washes, oases, and saline intermittently flooded wetlands in some cases. Occurrences are often in disturbed areas.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs from central California east into southern Nevada and extreme southwestern Utah and south through western and central Arizona into Baja California and Sonora, Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, MXBCN, MXSON, NV, UT


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.b Greasewood - Saltbush species Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub Group G537 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Alliance A3173 Big Saltbush Wet Shrubland Alliance A3173 2.C.5.Nd.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.864, in part

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex lentiformis (Quailbush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [36.370.00]
= Atriplex lentiformis Alliance (Quailbush scrub) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Atriplex lentiformis Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
= Atriplex lentiformis Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Atriplex lentiformis Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [36.370.00]
>< Alkali Meadow (#45310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Desert Saltbush Scrub (#36110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Desert Sink Scrub (#36120) (Holland 1986b)
< Mixed saltbush series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Valley Saltbush Scrub (#36220) (Holland 1986b)
>< Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub (#32300) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): T. Keeler-Wolf, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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