Print Report
A3220 Coleogyne ramosissima Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These shrublands are characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Coleogyne ramosissima and are known from the Colorado Plateau, southern Great Basin, Mojave Desert, and Sierra Nevada foothills.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackbrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Colorado Plateau Blackbrush Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The shrub layer is characterized by an open to relatively closed canopy of Coleogyne ramosissima. Total vegetation cover ranges from 5 to 70%. Other codominant and associate shrubs may include Ambrosia dumosa, Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra funerea, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra nevadensis, Ephedra torreyana, Ericameria linearifolia, Ericameria nauseosa, Ericameria teretifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Lycium spp., Menodora spinescens, Opuntia spp., Purshia stansburiana, and Quercus havardii var. tuckeri. Occasional Juniperus spp., Pinus edulis, or Pinus monophylla trees are present in some stands. The herbaceous layer varies from sparse to moderate (1-30% cover) and composition varies by region, but is always dominated by graminoids. Dominant species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Dasyochloa pulchella, Muhlenbergia pungens, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs may have high diversity, but do not have high cover. Associate forbs may include Amsonia tomentosa, Astragalus spp., Calochortus nuttallii, Chaenactis spp., Cryptantha spp., Eriogonum inflatum, Eriogonum nutans, Heterotheca villosa, Ipomopsis polycladon, Phacelia spp., Plantago spp., Sphaeralcea leptophylla, Stenotus acaulis, and Streptanthella spp. These shrublands are known from the Colorado Plateau, southern Great Basin, Mojave Desert, and Sierra Nevada foothills. Stands occur on plains, ridges, bajadas, mesatops, canyon rims, escarpments, valley sides, sand dunes, washes, alluvial terraces and benches with flat to steep slopes (up to 45%) with elevations ranging between 1000 and 2200 m.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparse to moderately dense shrublands dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima in association with other Colorado Plateau floristic elements. Topographic positions and landforms are highly variable.
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: The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by somewhat low to moderate cover (5-70%) of cold-deciduous or evergreen shrubs. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse (<20% cover) and dominated by cespitose perennial grasses or annual forbs and grasses. Scattered trees may form a sparse (0-10%) emergent layer in some stands, especially at the upper elevation margin and in the southwestern part of the range.
Floristics: The shrub layer is characterized by an open to relatively closed canopy of Coleogyne ramosissima. Total vegetation cover ranges from 5 to 70%. Although Coleogyne ramosissima is apparently restricted to a particular elevational zone, associated shrub species can be of Colorado Plateau, Mojavean or Great Basin affinities. Other codominant and associate shrubs may include Ambrosia dumosa, Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra funerea, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra nevadensis, Ephedra torreyana, Ericameria linearifolia, Ericameria nauseosa, Ericameria teretifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Lycium spp., Menodora spinescens, Opuntia spp. Purshia stansburiana, and Quercus havardii var. tuckeri. Occasional Juniperus spp., Pinus edulis, or Pinus monophylla trees are present in some stands. The herbaceous layer varies from sparse to moderate (1-30% cover) and composition varies by region, but is always dominated by graminoids. Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum), Muhlenbergia pungens, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs may have high diversity, but do not have high cover. Associate forbs may include Amsonia tomentosa, Astragalus spp., Calochortus nuttallii, Chaenactis spp., Cryptantha spp., Eriogonum inflatum, Eriogonum nutans, Heterotheca villosa, Ipomopsis polycladon, Phacelia spp., Plantago spp., Sphaeralcea leptophylla, Stenotus acaulis (= Haplopappus acaulis), and Streptanthella spp. Cover of introduced annual Bromus spp. may be high in disturbed stands.
Dynamics: These shrubland communities have greater cover than most other shrub communities in their range. They are generally of low value for livestock, but form an important element of winter range for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni). Following fire, these communities are often colonized by non-native annual grasses, which serve to encourage recurrent fires and delay shrub regeneration.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on plains, ridges, bajadas, mesatops, canyon rims, escarpments, valley sides, sand dunes, washes, alluvial terraces and benches with flat to steep slopes (up to 45%) with elevations ranging between 1000 and 2200 m. The unvegetated surface is covered by bare soil, sand or gravel. There is sparse cover by litter and typically early-stage biological soil crusts, although there may be significant cover locally. Substrates range from barren shales to alluvium and eolian sands to broken limestone. Soil textures range from eolian or alluvial sand; to deep, rapidly drained, alkaline loamy sands or sandy loams derived from sandstone; to silt loam, silty clay loam or rocky clay soils derived from shale and sandstone. There is often with a caliche subhorizon. Gravel, boulders and rock outcrops are common.
Geographic Range: These shrublands are known from the Colorado Plateau, southern Great Basin, Mojave Desert, and Sierra Nevada foothills.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899344
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group | G312 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Alliance | A3220 Blackbrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance | A3220 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001332 Blackbrush Shrubland | CEGL001332 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001334 Blackbrush / James'' Galleta Shrubland | CEGL001334 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002348 Blackbrush - Stansbury''s Cliffrose - Tucker Sand Shinnery Oak Shrubland | CEGL002348 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
Concept Lineage: A.874, in part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Coleogyne ramosissima (Black brush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.020.00]
? Blackbush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? Blackbush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
- 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.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.