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A.1546 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1546
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: Vegetation included in this minor alliance has only been described from alluvial flats within the Rio Puerco basin in northwestern New Mexico. Elevation ranges from 2100-2200 m. Climate is semi-arid with most of the highly variable precipitation falling in July and August. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 22-32 cm within the Rio Puerco watershed. Sites are flat to gently sloping occurring on all aspects. Soils are calcareous, shallow to moderately deep, and poorly developed with pH greater than 8.2. Soil textures range from silty loams to silty clay loams. Bare ground and litter cover ranged from 35-54% and 16-24%, respectively, for three sampled transects. Stands have a conspicuous sparse woody layer (<2 m tall) that is primarily composed of the microphyllous evergreen shrub ~Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus)$. Overall, the stands are dominated by moderately dense cover of the short sod grass ~Bouteloua gracilis$, with ~Pascopyrum smithii$ also present in smaller amounts. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs that may be present are ~Artemisia tridentata, Gutierrezia sarothrae$ or ~Ericameria parryi (= Chrysothamnus parryi)$. Other herbaceous species may include grasses such as ~Sporobolus cryptandrus, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Schedonnardus paniculatus$, and ~Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides)$. Perennial forbs are sparse. The only forbs listed were species of ~Grindelia$ and ~Sphaeralcea$. Annual forbs and grasses may be present seasonally. Canopy cover values from three transects show ~Ericameria nauseosa$ (5-9%), ~Bouteloua gracilis$ (24-37%), ~Pascopyrum smithii$ (2%), and total vegetation (24-37%). 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1306.A1546
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.j
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: ERICAMERIA NAUSEOSA SHRUB SHORT HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1546
  Common: Rubber Rabbitbrush Shrub Short Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Ericameria nauseosa Shrub Short Herbaceous Alliance