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CEGL005769 Menodora spinescens - Atriplex confertifolia Scrub
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Spiny Menodora - Shadscale Saltbush Scrub
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dwarf-shrubland association is found at upper elevations across the northern Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, including Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada. It is characterized by an open to patchy shrub canopy (7-22% cover) dominated or codominated by Menodora spinescens with Atriplex confertifolia and Lycium andersonii usually present to codominant. Other shrubs may be present, including Ephedra nevadensis, Hymenoclea salsola, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Psorothamnus arborescens. Occasional emergent Yucca brevifolia trees are sometimes present. If present, the herbaceous layer is open and composed of forbs Eriogonum inflatum and Sphaeralcea ambigua. Stands are on a variety of upland surfaces from toeslopes to midslopes extending onto the upper alluvial fans from approximately 1500 to 1950 m elevation. Sites are flat to moderately steep slopes on all aspects. Soils are typically coarse-textured, ranging from sand to loam, though sometimes include finer-textured soils and are most often derived from sedimentary and metamorphic substrates such as alluvium, sandstone, and limestone.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
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: The vegetation is characterized by an open to patchy shrub canopy (7-22% cover) dominated or codominated by Menodora spinescens with Atriplex confertifolia and Lycium andersonii usually present to codominant (Evens et al. 2014). Many other shrubs may be present, including Ephedra nevadensis, Hymenoclea salsola, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Psorothamnus arborescens (Evens et al. 2014). Occasional emergent Yucca brevifolia trees are sometimes present. If present, the herbaceous layer is open, ranging to 14% cover, and composed of forbs Eriogonum inflatum and Sphaeralcea ambigua (Evens et al. 2014).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This dwarf-shrubland association is found at upper elevations across the northern Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, including Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada. It occurs on a variety of upland surfaces from toeslopes to midslopes extending onto the upper alluvial fans from approximately 1500 to 1950 m elevation (Evens et al. 2014). Sites are flat to moderately steep slopes (to 17°) on all aspects. Soils are typically coarse-textured, ranging from sand to loam, though sometimes include finer-textured soils, including clay loam or silty clay. Soils are most often derived from sedimentary and metamorphic substrates such as alluvium, sandstone, and limestone, but occasionally granodiorite and rhyolite (Evens et al. 2014).
Geographic Range: This dwarf-shrubland association is found at upper elevations across the northern Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, including Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971747
Confidence Level: Low
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a Joshua Tree - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Rough Joint-fir Mixed Desert Scrub Group | G296 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Alliance | A2515 Spiny Menodora Scrub Alliance | A2515 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005769 Spiny Menodora - Shadscale Saltbush Scrub | CEGL005769 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Menodora spinescens - Atriplex confertifolia (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.290.01]
= Menodora spinescens - Atriplex confertifolia Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Menodora spinescens-Atriplex confertifolia (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
< Menodora spinescens (Provisional) Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Menodora spinescens - Atriplex confertifolia Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Menodora spinescens-Atriplex confertifolia (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
< Menodora spinescens (Provisional) Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., and K. Thomas. 2000. Draft descriptions of vegetation alliances for the Mojave Ecosystem Mapping project. California Natural Diversity Database, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.