Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

A.1252 | EcoArt 2002
  click to update datacart
Name: A.1252
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This grassland alliance is found in the lower Salmon and Snake river canyons of Idaho, Oregon and Washington, the Columbia River in central Washington, and the Green and Virgin rivers in Utah. Stands occur on river terraces, footslopes of benches and alluvial fans. The elevation ranges from 240-1460 m. Sites are flat to gently sloping (to 30%) and occur on all aspects. Climate in the canyon bottoms is relatively hot and dry. Soils are moderately deep and derived from loess and alluvium-colluvium. Surface soil texture varies from sandy loam to silt loam. These grasslands are characterized by the dominance or codominance of ~Sporobolus cryptandrus$ and ~Aristida purpurea var. longiseta$. Associated species, such as ~Pseudoroegneria spicata$ and ~Poa secunda$, may be present in lesser amounts on the more upland sites. Associated perennial forbs include ~Achillea millefolium, Astragalus inflexus, Erigeron pumilus$, and ~Opuntia polyacantha$. Common annuals are the forbs ~Epilobium brachycarpum (= Epilobium paniculatum)$ and ~Plantago patagonica$, and the grasses ~Vulpia octoflora (= Festuca octoflora)$ and ~Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora (= Festuca pacifica)$. The shrub ~Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus)$ is present in some stands and will increase with overgrazing. Diagnostic of this grassland alliance is the dominance or codominance of ~Sporobolus cryptandrus$. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1019.A1252
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.d
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: SPOROBOLUS CRYPTANDRUS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1252
  Common: Sand Dropseed Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Sporobolus cryptandrus Herbaceous Alliance