Name:
Artemisia nova Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
Associations within this alliance occur at intermediate elevations (1500-2500 m) in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain West, a region of semi-arid, continental climate regime. Soils are typically young, shallow, coarse-textured, and often derived from calcareous parent materials. Artemisia nova associations occur on well-drained slopes and ridges and often grow with other Artemisia associations on deeper soils. In the Columbia River Basin, the vegetation in this alliance occupies the driest habitats of all the Artemisia-dominated alliances. This alliance is characterized by the dominance of the dwarf-shrub Artemisia nova, which must contribute at least 40% of the total shrub cover in any stand, and by cover of perennial graminoids that is typically less than 20%. Associated shrub species that occur in stands of this alliance include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Atriplex confertifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Artemisia arbuscula, Artemisia cana, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Grayia spinosa, Purshia tridentata, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. The ground layer is dominated by perennial bunch grasses which may exceed the height of the shrubs, but typically have <20% total cover. Recurrent species include Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa), Achnatherum thurberianum (= Stipa thurberiana), Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Elymus elymoides, Poa secunda, and Koeleria macrantha. In southern stands, Bouteloua gracilis and Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii) may also be important. Common forbs include Balsamorhiza sagittata, Senecio integerrimus, Packera multilobata (= Senecio multilobatus), Stenotus armerioides, Heterotheca villosa, Phlox hoodii, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Castilleja angustifolia. At the edges of intermountain basins, this alliance is usually contiguous with Atriplex confertifolia shrublands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18251.ARTEMISIANOVASH
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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