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Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Shrub Herbaceous Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Shrub Herbaceous Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This dry steppe alliance is widespread across the northern part of the western U.S. and southwestern Canada from the Columbia River Basin across the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains and northwestern Great Plains. Stands occur on flat to steeply sloping upland sites. Soils are variable but tend to be well-drained. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial graminoids with Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominating or codominating the open to moderately dense (10-40% cover) short-shrub layer (<2 m tall). The herbaceous layer generally has >20% cover of perennial graminoids which forms the matrix surrounding the shrubs or occurs in patches. The most widespread and common species are Pseudoroegneria spicata, which occurs from the Columbia Basin to the northern Rockies, and Pascopyrum smithii, which is more common in the northwestern Great Plains. Associated shrubs include Artemisia frigida, Atriplex gardneri, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and species of Chrysothamnus or Tetradymia. Trees are uncommon, but individuals of various conifers may occasionally occur. The herbaceous layer is typically abundant and dominated by perennial graminoids. Other locally abundant grass associates include Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Achnatherum thurberianum (= Stipa thurberiana), Elymus lanceolatus, Carex filifolia, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Koeleria macrantha, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), and Leymus ambiguus. Forbs form a minor and highly variable portion of this vegetation. Mosses and lichens may also be important. Diagnostic of this alliance is a moderate to abundant (>20% cover) perennial graminoid layer with an Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis-dominated (or codominated) shrub layer that has 10-40% cover. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis must contribute at least 40% of the total shrub cover (relative cover) if the shrub layer is mixed.  Accession Code: VB.CC.18077.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. wyomingensis Shrub Herbaceous Alliance   Translated: Wyoming Big Sagebrush Shrub Herbaceous Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125674 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.1527