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A4213 Artemisia spp. - Mixed Shrub Ruderal Understory Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Sagebrush shrublands with native shrubs in the overstory canopy and non-native herbaceous species in the understory; a wide spread example is Artemisia tridentata / Bromus tectorum shrubland.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sagebrush species - Mixed Shrub Ruderal Understory Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Great Basin-Intermountain Ruderal Understory Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance covers those native shrublands that have had their herbaceous component completely replaced by non-native, invasive herbaceous species. Overstory shrubs include Artemisia tridentata (all subspecies), Artemisia tridentata ssp. spiciformis, Artemisia arbuscula, and Artemisia tripartita. Understory dominant herbaceous non-native species include graminoids Bromus tectorum, Agropyron cristatum, Agrostis stolonifera, Taeniatherum caput-medusae, Poa bulbosa, Bromus diandrus, and forbs Sisymbrium altissimum, Descurainia pinnata, Onopordum acanthium, Cirsium spp., Centaurea spp., Lepidium spp., and many others. Native herbaceous species may be present, but occur in very low abundance, less than 10% relative cover of all herbaceous cover. These stands occur in all areas where native sagebrush stands occur throughout the western U.S.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands are dominated in the understory layer by non-natives, such that the native association cannot be determined.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: This alliance covers those native shrublands that have had their herbaceous component completely replaced by non-native, invasive herbaceous species. Overstory shrubs include Artemisia tridentata (all subspecies), Artemisia tridentata ssp. spiciformis (= Artemisia spiciformis), Artemisia arbuscula, and Artemisia tripartita. Understory dominant herbaceous non-native species include graminoids Bromus tectorum, Agropyron cristatum, Agrostis stolonifera, Taeniatherum caput-medusae, Poa bulbosa, Bromus diandrus, and forbs Sisymbrium altissimum, Descurainia pinnata, Onopordum acanthium, Cirsium spp., Centaurea spp., Lepidium spp., and many others. Native herbaceous species may be present, but occur in very low abundance, less than 10% relative cover of all herbaceous cover.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  These stands occur in all areas where native sagebrush stands occur throughout the western U.S.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout the western U.S.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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 A4213 Sagebrush species - Mixed Shrub Ruderal Understory Shrubland Alliance A4213 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002083 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Disturbed Understory Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002083 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002185 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / (Crested Wheatgrass, Russian Wildrye) Seeded Grasses Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002185 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002339 Mountain Big Sagebrush / (Kentucky Bluegrass, Canada Bluegrass) Ruderal Shrub Grassland CEGL002339 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002355 Mormon-tea / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002355 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002528 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002528 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002699 Big Sagebrush - (Rubber Rabbitbrush) / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002699 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002933 Yellow Rabbitbrush / Kentucky Bluegrass Ruderal Shrub Grassland CEGL002933 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002937 Rubber Rabbitbrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002937 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL002985 Lahontan Sagebrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL002985 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005472 Little Sagebrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005472 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005475 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005475 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005477 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005477 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005480 Threetip Sagebrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005480 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005590 Yellow Rabbitbrush / Crested Wheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005590 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005591 Yellow Rabbitbrush / Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005591 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Association CEGL005593 Yellow Rabbitbrush / Sandberg Bluegrass - Cheatgrass Ruderal Shrubland CEGL005593 3.B.1.Ne.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2015)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-28-16
  • 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.
  • Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Ltd., Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.