Print Report
A3257 Centaurea solstitialis - Isatis tinctoria - Salsola tragus Ruderal Annual Forb Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This cool, semi-arid interior western U.S. ruderal annual herbaceous alliance is strongly dominated (>90% relative canopy cover) by invasive, exotic annual forb species such as Brassica nigra, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, Crupina vulgaris, Cynoglossum officinale, Hyoscyamus niger, Isatis tinctoria, or Salsola tragus and occurs in disturbed dry to mesic basins, alluvial fans, and foothills at elevations up to 2200 m.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Yellow Star-thistle - Dyer''s Woad - Prickly Russian-thistle Ruderal Annual Forb Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Annual Forb Meadow & Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This ruderal herbaceous alliance occurs in the interior western U.S. Vegetation is strongly dominated (>90% relative canopy cover) by invasive, exotic annual forb species such as Brassica nigra, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, Crupina vulgaris, Cynoglossum officinale, Hyoscyamus niger, Isatis tinctoria, Salsola tragus or a mixture of other exotic annual forbs. Other exotic annual forbs are often present to dominant in disturbed stands, including Bassia scoparia, Descurainia sophia, Erodium cicutarium, Lepidium perfoliatum, Onopordum acanthium, Sisymbrium altissimum, and Taraxacum officinale. Cover of perennials is low (<5% absolute cover). Stands occur in disturbed dry to mesic basins, alluvial fans, and foothills at elevations up to 2200 m throughout the cool, semi-arid intermountain western U.S. region. It is an early-successional type that may occur in areas disturbed by fire, grazing or mining.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominant diagnostic species for this alliance are invasive species such as Brassica nigra, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, Crupina vulgaris, Cynoglossum officinale, Hyoscyamus niger, Isatis tinctoria, Salsola tragus, or a mixture of other exotic annual forbs. Other less aggressive non-native herbaceous species often present in these disturbed stands include Erodium cicutarium, Bassia scoparia, and Taraxacum officinale.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The aggressive invasive species are an obvious problem resulting from conversion of native vegetation types. However, the less aggressive species such as Salsola tragus can be disruptive ecological processes when they flush after large precipitation events, stabilizing active dunes or providing fine fuels that can carry fire through fire-sensitive vegetation types similar to the annual bromes.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This ruderal alliance is characterized by sparse to dense herbaceous layer dominated by annual grasses with low cover of shrubs or perennial graminoids and forbs (<5% absolute cover).
Floristics: Vegetation in this alliance is strongly dominated (>90% relative canopy cover) by invasive, exotic annual forb species such as Brassica nigra, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, Crupina vulgaris, Cynoglossum officinale, Hyoscyamus niger, Isatis tinctoria, Salsola tragus, or a mixture of other exotic annual forbs. Other exotic annual forbs are often present to dominant in disturbed stands, including Bassia scoparia (= Kochia scoparia), Descurainia sophia, Erodium cicutarium, Lepidium perfoliatum, Sisymbrium altissimum, and Taraxacum officinale. Cover of perennials is low (<5% absolute cover).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This ruderal herbaceous alliance occurs in the interior western U.S. Stands occur in disturbed dry to mesic basins, alluvial fans, and foothills at elevations up to 2200 m. Climate is cool, semi-arid. Substrates are variable. It is an early-successional type that may occur in areas disturbed by fire, grazing or mining.
Geographic Range: This ruderal herbaceous alliance occurs in lowland and foothill sites throughout the cool, interior western U.S. and Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899381
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Crested Wheatgrass - Cheatgrass - Tall Tumblemustard Western North American Ruderal Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M499 | 3.B.1.Ne.90 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a Great Basin-Intermountain Ruderal Dry Shrubland & Grassland Group | G600 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Alliance | A3257 Yellow Star-thistle - Dyer''s Woad - Prickly Russian-thistle Ruderal Annual Forb Alliance | A3257 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Association | CEGL002085 Redstem Stork''s-bill Ruderal Annual Grassland | CEGL002085 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Association | CEGL004004 Russian-thistle species Ruderal Grassland | CEGL004004 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance V.D.2.N.b. Erodium cicutarium Herbaceous Alliance (A.2647). Old Alliance V.B.2.N.c. Suaeda calceoliformis Intermittently Flooded Herbaceous Alliance (A.2689)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Centaurea (solstitialis, meletensis) (Yellow star-thistle fields) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.042.00]
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