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A.1540 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1540 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: This alliance includes stands of herbaceous vegetation with a sparse shrub layer growing on sandstone outcrops and sandy soils in the northwestern Great Plains. Elevations range from 1100-1850 m. In the western Great Plains, precipitation occurs mostly in the spring. Summers are hot and dry, except for locally occurring, high-intensity convective storms. Stands typically occur along ridgetops and upper slopes, on sandstone or scoria outcrops and probably on stabilized sand dunes as well. Soils in some cases are residual and relatively deep, with genetic horizons. Texture varies from nearly pure sand on the surface to medium-textured and medium-coarse-textured at depth. Stands of this alliance contain an open to moderately dense (at least 10% cover), low-shrub layer above a species-rich herbaceous layer. Dominance of the shrub layer by ~Yucca glauca$ is characteristic (cover ranging from 5-15%). ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis$ and ~Artemisia cana ssp. cana$ may be present but are sparse and contribute little cover. In the herbaceous layer, ~Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata)$ and ~Calamovilfa longifolia$ are the most abundant and constant species, and ~Bouteloua gracilis, Schizachyrium scoparium$, and ~Carex filifolia$ often are present but contribute much less cover than do ~Hesperostipa$ or ~Calamovilfa$. ~Pseudoroegneria spicata$ is dominant in some stands. Forbs are common but contribute little cover; ~Artemisia frigida$ has the highest constancy, but no forbs are characteristic of the alliance. Litter covers can be high, up to 50% of the ground surface, and bare soil covers the rest of the ground surface.  Accession Code: VB.CC.1301.A1540 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.7.N.h This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: YUCCA GLAUCA SHRUB HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE   Code: A.1540   Common: Soapweed Yucca Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Yucca glauca Shrub Herbaceous Alliance