Print Report
A3266 Atriplex canescens - Ericameria nauseosa Desert Wash Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of shrublands, generally dominated by Atriplex canescens and/or Ericameria nauseosa. Several other shrub species may appear in the stand. These are shrublands of cold desert washes of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah with low cover of mixes of short shrubs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fourwing Saltbush - Rubber Rabbitbrush Desert Wash Alliance
Colloquial Name: Fourwing Saltbush - Rubber Rabbitbrush Desert Wash
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance covers desert wash shrublands dominated by Atriplex canescens and/or Ericameria nauseosa. Associated shrubs include Artemisia filifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri, Brickellia longifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Lycium andersonii, Purshia stansburiana, Rhus trilobata, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Suaeda moquinii. The herbaceous stratum has sparse to moderate cover of Achnatherum hymenoides, Artemisia dracunculus, Descurainia pinnata, Elymus elymoides, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Hesperostipa comata, Hordeum jubatum, Sphaeralcea parvifolia, Sporobolus contractus, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. These shrubland are short-statured (<2 m in height), mixed species with fairly open canopy coverage. They can be found in cold desert washes of northern Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Open to scattered cover (1-25%) of short shrubs lining arroyos and intermittent drainages.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Alliance of cold desert washes with sparsely scattered cover of either of the three shrub species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Shrublands of facultatively deciduous, extremely xeromorphic shrubs with open to moderately dense canopy that is less than 2 m tall. The herbaceous layer is relatively sparse (20-30% cover) and is usually less than 0.5 m tall. It is codominated by perennial grasses and forbs. Annual graminoids and forbs are seasonally present.
Floristics: These shrublands lining desert washes are dominated by Atriplex canescens and/or Ericameria nauseosa. Associated shrubs include Artemisia filifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri, Brickellia longifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Lycium andersonii, Purshia stansburiana, Rhus trilobata, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Suaeda moquinii (= Suaeda torreyana). The herbaceous layer can vary from moderately dense and dominated by graminoids to absent. Common native grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Distichlis spicata, Elymus elymoides, Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus, Leymus flavescens (= Elymus flavescens), Pseudoroegneria spicata, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus flexuosus, Sporobolus nealleyi, and Sporobolus wrightii. Native forbs generally have low cover, but may include species such as Abronia fragrans, Cleome lutea, Gayophytum ramosissimum, Lygodesmia grandiflora, Machaeranthera canescens (= Aster canescens), Mentzelia multiflora, Navarretia sp., Phacelia hastata (= Phacelia leucophylla), Phacelia spp., Psoralidium lanceolatum (= Psoralea lanceolata), and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Disturbed stands typically have high cover of introduced annual Bromus species such as Bromus tectorum, Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), and Bromus rubens. Introduced forbs may include Melilotus officinalis, Salsola kali, and Bassia scoparia (= Kochia scoparia).
Dynamics: This alliance occurs in washes and therefore experiences flash floods from time to time. Shrubs generally resprout after severe flood scour.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in areas of high natural disturbance such as on steep colluvial slopes, along drainages or in floodplains and washes. The soils are well-drained, moderately deep and coarse-textured with a sandy surface over sandy loams. Soils are derived from sandy/gravelly alluvium. Elevations range from 670-2250 m (2198-7381 feet). Substrates may be eolian, alluvial, colluvial or derived from sandstone residuum. Soils are variable but are generally well-drained and coarse-textured.
Shrublands included in this alliance occur on lowland and upland sites throughout much of the arid and semi-arid western U.S. with elevations ranging from 75 m below sea level to 2400 m. Lowland sites include alluvial flats, drainage terraces, playas, washes and interdunal basins. The lowland sites may be moderately saline or alkaline. Bare ground usually dominates the ground surface.
Shrublands included in this alliance occur on lowland and upland sites throughout much of the arid and semi-arid western U.S. with elevations ranging from 75 m below sea level to 2400 m. Lowland sites include alluvial flats, drainage terraces, playas, washes and interdunal basins. The lowland sites may be moderately saline or alkaline. Bare ground usually dominates the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899390
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.4 Great Basin-Intermountain Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup | M095 | 3.B.1.Ne.4 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.4.a Fourwing Saltbush - Rubber Rabbitbrush Shrub & Herb Wash-Arroyo Group | G559 | 3.B.1.Ne.4.a |
| Alliance | A3266 Fourwing Saltbush - Rubber Rabbitbrush Desert Wash Alliance | A3266 | 3.B.1.Ne.4.a |
| Association | CEGL002261 Rubber Rabbitbrush Desert Wash Shrubland | CEGL002261 | 3.B.1.Ne.4.a |
| Association | CEGL003470 Fourwing Saltbush Desert Wash Shrubland | CEGL003470 | 3.B.1.Ne.4.a |
Concept Lineage: A.835, A.869
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Atriplex canescens Association (153.272) (Brown 1982a) [included within Chihuahuan Desertscrub, Saltbush Series.]
> Ericameria nauseosa (Rubber rabbitbrush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.310.00]
> Ericameria nauseosa Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Lepidospartum squamatum (Scale broom scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.070.00]
> Lepidospartum squamatum Alliance (Scale broom scrub) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Ericameria nauseosa (Rubber rabbitbrush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.310.00]
> Ericameria nauseosa Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Lepidospartum squamatum (Scale broom scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.070.00]
> Lepidospartum squamatum Alliance (Scale broom scrub) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
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