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Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) Shrubland Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) Shrubland Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: These shrublands occur throughout the Intermountain West from the western Great Basin to the northern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau. Sites supporting this alliance include sloping fans, footslopes, rolling hills, and deep, well-drained alluvial bottomlands. Soils are deep, fine- to medium-textured alluvial soils with some source of subirrigation during the summer season, but moderately deep upland soils with ample moisture storage also support these shrublands. Some stands occur on deep, sandy soils, or soils that are highly calcareous. The vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a somewhat sparse to moderately dense (10-70% cover) shrub layer of Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata or Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis. Shrub associates include Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus) or Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus which increase with disturbance. Other shrubs occasionally present include Purshia tridentata, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Tetradymia canescens, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Atriplex spp. Occasionally individual trees are present in some stands. The relatively sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by bunch grasses (<20% cover) that occupy patches in the shrub matrix. The most widespread species is Pseudoroegneria spicata, which occurs from the Columbia Basin to the northern Rockies. Other locally dominant or important species include Leymus cinereus, Festuca idahoensis, Pascopyrum smithii, Elymus lanceolatus, Elymus elymoides, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), and Poa secunda. Forbs are generally of low importance and are highly variable across the range. Mosses and lichens are important ground cover in some stands. Diagnostic of this alliance is the Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata- or Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis-dominated shrub layer that lacks a significant graminoid layer (<20% cover perennial graminoids) or has over 40% total cover of shrubs.  Accession Code: VB.CC.17875.ARTEMISIATRIDEN Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) Shrubland Alliance   Translated: (Basin Big Sagebrush, Foothill Big Sagebrush) Shrubland Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126668 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.830