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CEGL005606 Prunus virginiana / Leymus cinereus Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chokecherry / Basin Wildrye Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: The tall-shrub canopy of this vegetation type can range from open to closed, with higher cover values occurring on sites located in drainage bottoms and lower cover values occurring on sites located higher up on hillsides. Prunus virginiana is the dominant shrub species in this association. Symphoricarpos oreophilus is often present, but typically with sparse to low cover. Other shrubs may include Artemisia tridentata, Rosa woodsii, and Alnus incana. Herbaceous cover is usually sparse, less than 10%, and Leymus cinereus is characteristic of the understory. Other component herbaceous species may include Bromus tectorum, Poa pratensis, Angelica pinnata, Galium bifolium, Heracleum maximum, and Urtica dioica. This vegetation type occurs in the foothills and lower slopes of mountains, along higher creeks, and in draws and ravines of plateaus. It favors the interface between larger riparian areas and the adjacent upland. It often occupies draws, ephemeral creeks in steep narrow-bottomed canyons, and shallow ravines. It can occur on slopes below seeps and springs. Stands can also occur as small pockets on higher terraces or as narrow bands along the high-water mark of steep banks and incised channels. Slope varies from flat to moderately steep, with variable aspects. Soil texture ranges from sandy loam to clay loam.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This plant community description is based on data from Craters of the Moon (Bell et al. 2009) and on related plant communities that have been previously described. The description provided herein may vary slightly from similar plant communities found elsewhere due to the local scale at which data were collected. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This is a widespread shrubland that tends to occur in small patches. It is known from the Columbia Plateau of eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, throughout Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M048 2.B.2.Nf.2
Group 2.B.2.Nf.2.b Saskatoon Serviceberry - Snowberry species - Smooth Sumac Central Rocky Mountain Shrubland Group G272 2.B.2.Nf.2.b
Alliance A3975 Mallow Ninebark - Common Snowberry Mesic Shrubland Alliance A3975 2.B.2.Nf.2.b
Association CEGL005606 Chokecherry / Basin Wildrye Shrubland CEGL005606 2.B.2.Nf.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chokecherry / Basin Wildrye Shrubland (Prunus virginiana / Leymus cinereus Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
Concept Author(s): Bell et al. (2009)

Author of Description: Bell et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-04-17
  • Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.