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Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This shrub prairie association, which generally occurs in small patches (less than 1 hectare), occurs in the northwestern Great Plains. In Montana, it is found on benches to gently inclined slopes (30% maximum recorded) in the vicinity of breaklands. Similar habitats (old river terraces, badlands, ravine sideslopes and valley walls) support its occurrence in Alberta. Sites occur on various parent materials, but mostly well-drained, often sandy, glacial drift and sandy alluvium. Artemisia cana is decidedly the dominant shrub with canopy coverages to 50%, but averaging around 25%, which places it on the cusp of being a true shrub type. Artemisia frigida is the only shrub/subshrub with greater than 50% constancy and its cover does not exceed 3%. A number of graminoids have high constancy, including Bouteloua gracilis, Carex filifolia, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda (= Poa sandbergii), but only Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata) exhibits both 100% constancy and the highest cover values (averaging 38%). Forbs constitute an insignificant component, virtually none occurring in greater than trace amounts. Those exceeding 50% constancy are Sphaeralcea coccinea, Pediomelum argophyllum (= Psoralea argophylla), and Gaura coccinea. This association is hypothesized to represent the driest environment capable of supporting Artemisia cana. Occasional fire probably has reduced Artemisia spp. cover and density to low levels and maintains the shrub herbaceous community structure.  Accession Code: VB.CC.18450.ARTEMISIACANASS Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Artemisia cana ssp. cana Shrub Herbaceous Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Plains Silver Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683570 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL001553   Scientific: Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   Common: Silver Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrub Prairie (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation