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A3905 Sarcobatus vermiculatus Great Plains Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance has high herbaceous cover and widely spaced shrubs, hence the name "scrub herbaceous." The dominant herbaceous species include Distichlis spicata, Grindelia squarrosa, Hordeum jubatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Plantago spp., Puccinellia nuttalliana, Salicornia rubra, and/or Symphyotrichum ericoides. The very open and widely spaced shrub layer is dominated by Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata, and/or Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Total vegetation cover can be low to moderate and abundant bare soil can be common. Soils are often alkaline. This alliance occurs in the northern and western Great Plains and Rocky Mountain foothills.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greasewood Great Plains Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Great Plains Greasewood Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance covers widely scattered shrubs with a high graminoid layer, hence the name "scrub herbaceous." The shrub layer is dominated by Sarcobatus vermiculatus, with Atriplex confertifolia, Artemisia tridentata, and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus in smaller amounts. Symphoricarpos occidentalis and Rhus aromatica are sometimes found in more mesic microhabitats within this community. Herbaceous cover is sparse beneath the shrubs and moderate to dense in between. The herbaceous layer typically has Distichlis spicata and Puccinellia nuttalliana that may be dominant, accompanied by Grindelia squarrosa, Hordeum jubatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Plantago spp., Salicornia rubra (on more saline inclusions), and Symphyotrichum ericoides. This alliance occurs in the northern and western Great Plains and Rocky Mountain foothills. It is found on terraces, floodplains, swales and other low sites where drainage is poor. The soils are moderately to strongly saline, fine-textured, and moderately deep to deep. Although periodic flooding is rare, stands of this alliance receive more water than the surrounding uplands through runoff. Stands in this alliance are found on flat to gently sloping alluvial fans, terraces, lakebeds, and floodplains.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Saline areas with scattered Sarcobatus vermiculatus shrubs with a dense herbaceous ground cover.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Shrub cover may be low (10-25% canopy cover), but consistently scattered throughout stand.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderate layer of microphyllous, deciduous xeromorphic shrubs 0.5-2 m tall. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense and dominated by tall and medium-tall bunchgrasses or rhizomatous short grasses. Scattered cacti and trees may be present. Perennial forbs are sparse. Annual grasses and forbs may be seasonally present.

Floristics: This alliance is characterized by the presence of an open scattered shrub layer with an herbaceous layer. The shrub layer is dominated by Atriplex confertifolia, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and/or Sarcobatus vermiculatus that form a canopy that rarely exceeds 25%. Symphoricarpos occidentalis and Rhus aromatica are sometimes found in mesic microhabitats. The herbaceous layer has high cover, especially in the open areas, and is dominated by Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Grindelia squarrosa, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Hordeum jubatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Plantago spp., Puccinellia nuttalliana, Salicornia rubra (on more saline inclusions), and/or Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides). Few forbs are found in this community. Achillea millefolium and Opuntia polyacantha are the only species with high constancy. Overall species diversity in this community is low (Hansen and Hoffman 1988). Non-native species can be abundant, such as Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus) and Bromus tectorum.

Dynamics:  Sarcobatus vermiculatus, like many facultative halophytes, is tolerant of alkaline and saline soil conditions that allow it to occur in sites with less interspecific competition (Ungar et al. 1969, Branson et al. 1976). Sarcobatus vermiculatus is often found on sites with high water tables that are intermittently flooded. Hansen et al. (1995) reported that it can tolerate saturated soil conditions for up to 40 days. Sarcobatus vermiculatus is not ordinarily browsed, but Daubenmire (1970) found that under heavy stocking rates the shrubs will develop a compact canopy. Hansen et al. (1995) also reported browsing damage with heavy spring and summer grazing, but noted that Sarcobatus vermiculatus is moderately poisonous to livestock, especially in the fall, and supplemental feed is recommended to avoid livestock loss. Hanson (1929) states that Sarcobatus vermiculatus can form an important part of winter forage for sheep. Fire will topkill Sarcobatus vermiculatus, but the shrub will promptly resprout from the root crown (Daubenmire 1970).
Environmental Description:  This alliance is found on flat to gently sloping alluvial fans, terraces, floodplains, lakebeds, swales and other low sites where drainage is poor (Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Hansen and Hoffman 1988). Although periodic flooding is rare, stands of this alliance receive more water than the surrounding uplands through runoff. Sites are intermittently flooded with a shallow or perched water table often within 1 m depth (Hansen et al. 1995). The soils are moderately to strongly alkaline/saline, fine-textured, and moderately deep to deep (USFS 1992). Substrates are generally shallow, fine-textured soils (clays to silt loams), derived from alluvium, although coarse soils are possible (Hirsch 1985, USFS 1992, Jones and Walford 1995, Thilenius et al. 1995). Elevations range from 655-2400 m.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the northern and western Great Plains and Rocky Mountain foothills.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  MT, ND, NE, SD, SK?, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Na North American Great Plains Saline Marsh Division D033 2.C.5.Na
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Na.1 Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Macrogroup M077 2.C.5.Na.1
Group 2.C.5.Na.1.b Western Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow Group G534 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Alliance A3905 Greasewood Great Plains Wet Shrubland Alliance A3905 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Association CEGL001508 Greasewood / Western Wheatgrass - (Thick-spike Wheatgrass) Shrub Wet Meadow CEGL001508 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Association CEGL002146 Greasewood / Saltgrass - (Nuttall''s Alkali Grass) Shrub Wet Meadow CEGL002146 2.C.5.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.1535, A.1554 should likely all be combined conceptually

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Puccinellia nuttalliana / Distichlis spicata Habitat Type (USFS 1992) [western North Dakota.]
? Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Pascopyrum smithii Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Brown 1971)
? Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Hansen and Hoffman 1988)
? Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (USFS 1992)
>< Sarcobatus vermiculatus/Agropyron spicatum habitat type (Hansen et al. 1988a)
>< Sarcobatus vermiculatus Series (Johnston 1987)
>< Black Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) Dominance Type (Jones and Walford 1995)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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