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A3742 Black Hills Cliff, Scree & Rock Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is characterized by sparsely vegetated rock, cliff and scree areas of the Black Hills. Vegetation is dominated by widely spaced woody species of trees and shrubs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Hills Cliff, Scree & Rock Alliance
Colloquial Name: Black Hills Cliff, Scree & Rock
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is characterized by sparsely vegetated rock, cliff and scree areas of the Black Hills. Vegetation is dominated by widely spaced woody species of trees and shrubs. Common dominant trees include Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus scopulorum. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Juniperus communis are the most common dwarf-shrub species. Depending on the site, ferns, forbs or graminoids may dominate the sparse herbaceous layer. Common dominants include Achillea millefolium, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Campanula rotundifolia, and Woodsia oregana. Few vascular plants grow in this community, although lichens are common. Stands occur on volcanic cones, buttes, large rock outcrops (greater than 20 m vertical relief) and hills or small mountains with large rock exposures on multiple sides. There is little soil development; what soil there is can be found in cracks and depressions in the rock surface.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparsely vegetated rocky areas of the Black Hills. Vegetation is highly variable and may be composed of Pinus ponderosa in association with other widely spaced shrubs, forbs and graminoids.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Very little floristic information has been compiled regarding associations attributed here.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by widely spaced woody species of needle- and scale-leaved evergreen trees and broad-leaved deciduous shrubs.
Floristics: Vegetation is dominated by widely spaced woody species of trees and shrubs. Common dominant trees include Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus scopulorum. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Juniperus communis are the most common dwarf-shrub species. Depending on the site, ferns, forbs or graminoids may dominate the sparse herbaceous layer. Common dominants include Achillea millefolium, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Campanula rotundifolia, and Woodsia oregana. Few vascular plants grow in this community, although lichens are common.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur on volcanic cones, buttes, large rock outcrops (greater than 20 m vertical relief) and hills or small mountains with large rock exposures on multiple sides. Slopes range from none (flat) to steep. There is little soil development; what soil there is can be found in cracks and depressions in the rock surface. Substrates include igneous and metamorphic rock types (e.g., granites, slates, phonolite porphyry).
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently known from the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: SD, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899794
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Nb Western North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D052 | 6.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Nb.1 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Moss Western North American Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M887 | 6.B.1.Nb.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b Nonvascular Rocky Mountain Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G565 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A3742 Black Hills Cliff, Scree & Rock Alliance | A3742 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002295 Granite - Metamorphic Black Hills Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002295 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002307 Scree - Talus Black Hills Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002307 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005283 Igneous - Metamorphic Black Hills Butte Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005283 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: A.1836, A.1838, A.1847.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.