Print Report
A3195 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is characterized by a sparse to dense layer of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and sparse to dense layer of graminoids and is known from in the southern San Luis Valley of Colorado, the lower slopes of mountains in western Wyoming and northern Utah, and on mesas and high plateaus of the Colorado Plateau.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Yellow Rabbitbrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Yellow Rabbitbrush Steppe & Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderate shrub layer dominated by Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus with 3-35% cover. Other shrub species may be present with low cover, such as Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Eriogonum corymbosum, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia fremontii, Shepherdia rotundifolia, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Tetradymia canescens, and Yucca baccata. The herbaceous layer is variable and ranges from being moderately dense, diverse and bunchgrass-dominated to sparse and often depauperate. In some stands the herbaceous layer is dominant over shrubs. Dominant and common grasses may include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Leymus salinus ssp. salinus, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and the introduced annuals Bromus briziformis and Bromus tectorum. Leymus cinereus may be present in mesic gully bottoms in Utah. Scattered forbs are present, such as Antennaria spp., Astragalus bisulcatus, Castilleja spp., Cirsium undulatum, Cryptantha humilis, Linanthus pungens, and Linanthus watsonii. Stands of the alliance occur in the southern San Luis Valley of Colorado, the lower slopes of mountains in western Wyoming and northern Utah, and on mesas and high plateaus of the Colorado Plateau. Stands occur on a variety of sites and range from level to moderately sloping, disturbed sites on ridges and in valleys. Elevations range from 1300 to 2440 m (4250-8000 feet). Substrates include eolian sands, alluvium, metamorphic rocks, granite or limestone, and the soil is likewise variable, with textures ranging from silt loam, sandy loam, loamy sand and silty clay loam.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands of the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains where Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is the dominant species ranging from 3-35% cover or some stands with <10% cover and graminoid layer with 5-25% cover.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance has one association that is based on the Van Pelt (1978) description of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus / Leymus salinus ssp. salinus Plant Association on Bridger Jack Mesa. Information on other occurrences is needed to describe the full range of this alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation in this alliance has a sparse to dense graminoid layer dominated by medium-tall bunch grasses with a sparse to dense short xeromorphic shrub layer.
Floristics: Vegetation included in this shrub herbaceous alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderate shrub layer dominated by Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus with 3-20% cover. Other shrub species may be present with low cover, such as Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia fremontii, Shepherdia rotundifolia, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Tetradymia canescens, and Yucca baccata. Occasional Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees or seedlings may be present in the stand. The herbaceous layer is variable and ranges from being moderately dense, diverse and bunchgrass-dominated to sparse and sometimes depauperate. Common dominant graminoid species include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Leymus salinus ssp. salinus, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and introduced annuals Bromus briziformis and Bromus tectorum. Leymus cinereus may be present in mesic gully bottoms in Utah. Forbs may be diverse but typically contribute very little cover. Associate species may include Antennaria spp., Arenaria sp., Astragalus bisulcatus, Castilleja spp., Chenopodium leptophyllum, Cirsium undulatum, Crepis acuminata, Cryptantha cinerea var. jamesii, Cryptantha humilis, Erigeron spp., Eriogonum sp., Heterotheca villosa, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Linanthus watsonii (= Leptodactylon watsonii), Lupinus caudatus, Packera tridenticulata, Sedum lanceolatum, Schoenocrambe linifolia, Stenotus armerioides var. armerioides, and cacti such as Mammillaria spp. and Opuntia spp.
Dynamics: Disturbance by fire may be important in the creation and maintenance of these stands. Burned tree snags indicate these stands were created by fire that burned openings in the Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma woodland (Van Pelt 1978). Van Pelt (1978) reported that young Pinus edulis are slowly invading the park and in time will convert it back to woodland unless fire reburns the site. Lightning likely starts these fires. With past fire suppression policies on some federal lands and livestock grazing which removes the necessary fine fuels needed to carry fire through woodlands, these parks may be disappearing. More information is needed to understand their current status and management needs.
Environmental Description: This shrubland alliance includes associations found in the Colorado Plateau extending east into the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur on a variety of sites and range from level to moderately sloping, disturbed sites on ridges and in valleys. Elevations range from 1300 to 2440 m (4250-8000 feet). Substrates include eolian sands, alluvium, metamorphic rocks, granite or limestone, and the soil is likewise variable, with textures ranging from silt loam to sandy loam to loamy sand. Ground surface is variable and has low to high cover of gravel, bare soil, litter and duff.
Geographic Range: Stands of the alliance occur in the southern San Luis Valley of Colorado, the lower slopes of mountains in western Wyoming and northern Utah, and on mesas and high plateaus of the Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899319
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This combines, in part, the shrublands dominated by Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus as well as those formally attributed to Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub Herbaceus Alliance (A.1524).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
? Salina Wildrye/Douglas Rabbitbrush Community (Van Pelt 1978)
? Salina Wildrye/Douglas Rabbitbrush Community (Van Pelt 1978)
- 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.
- Van Pelt, N. S. 1978. Woodland parks in southeastern Utah. Unpublished thesis, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.