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A.1332 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1332
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This alliance occurs throughout much of the semi-arid and arid western U.S. in lowland sites such as playas, swales and terraces along washes that are intermittently flooded. The flooding is usually the result of highly localized thunderstorms. The unpredictable nature of the flooding is the key environmental factor separating this alliance from similar alliances with more predictable flooding regimes. Soils are deep, saline, alkaline and fine-textured. They generally have an impermeable layer and therefore are poorly drained. When the soil is dry, the surface usually has salt accumulations. This intermittently flooded grassland of playas and ephemeral streams has a sparse to dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by ~Distichlis spicata$, sometimes occurring in nearly pure stands. The level of salinity in the soil may restrict associated species. Associated graminoids may include ~Puccinellia nuttalliana, Hordeum jubatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus airoides, Carex filifolia$, and ~Juncus balticus$. Forb cover is generally low and may include ~Salicornia rubra, Triglochin maritima, Suaeda calceoliformis (= Suaeda depressa), Helianthus$ spp., and Asteraceae spp. Diagnostic of this alliance is the ~Distichlis spicata$-dominated herbaceous layer and the presence of surface water for brief periods at unpredictable times during the growing season. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1105.A1332
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.i
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: DISTICHLIS SPICATA INTERMITTENTLY FLOODED HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1332
  Common: Saltgrass Intermittently Flooded Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Distichlis spicata Intermittently Flooded Herbaceous Alliance