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A.1642 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1642
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: Vegetation in this alliance has been described from the Pawnee National Grasslands in northeastern Colorado at elevations between 1300 and 1935 m. Stands are restricted to hot, dry sites such as exposed siltstone barrens and ravines on convex slopes where erosion is active and moisture penetration is minimal. Soils are shallow with little development, fine-textured and often gravelly. . In Nebraska, a similar community is found in the badlands where substrates are largely clays and marls, which absorb little water, and are subject to excessive erosion during storm events. Stands have a sparse, short herbaceous layer of mostly perennial, mat-forming, cushion plants and a few grasses. These vegetation mats are surrounded by bare ground. These perennials are very drought-tolerant. The diagnostic cushion plant is the perennial forb ~Arenaria hookeri$. Other characteristic plants include ~Comandra umbellata, Astragalus gilviflorus, Astragalus sericoleucus, Astragalus spatulatus, Ipomopsis spicata, Oenothera flava, Phlox hoodii$, and ~Penstemon$ spp. The characteristic graminoid is the medium-tall bunchgrass ~Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides)$. Wet springs bring an abundance of cool-season annuals. Common annuals include ~Vulpia octoflora$ and ~Plantago patagonica$. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1397.A1642
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.B.2.N.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: ARENARIA HOOKERI BARRENS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1642
  Common: Hooker's Sandwort Barrens Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Arenaria hookeri Barrens Herbaceous Alliance