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Grayia spinosa Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Grayia spinosa Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This alliance is found in the transition zone between the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin in eastern California and southern Nevada at elevations from 1000-1800 m. Stands occur in areas with low topographic relief, such as ephemeral drainages and playa margins. Some sites may experience short-term flooding following precipitation or snowmelt. The affinity of this vegetation for basins and drainages may have more to do with winter cold-air drainage than soil moisture or other edaphic characteristics. Soils are generally medium-textured and often somewhat alkaline. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Grayia spinosa, usually in association with Lycium andersonii or Lycium pallidum. Other shrub species include Atriplex canescens, Ephedra nevadensis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), and Tetradymia axillaris. The herbaceous layer is usually very sparse and is composed of perennial bunch grasses, including Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) and Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), with scattered forbs. Frequent perennial forbs include Calochortus kennedyi, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii (= Castilleja chromosa), Lomatium mohavense, and Astragalus spp. Annual grasses and forbs include Bromus rubens, Oxytheca perfoliata, Eriogonum deflexum, Mentzelia spp., and Camissonia spp. Diagnostic of this desert alliance is the dominance of Grayia spinosa in the shrub layer with over 25% cover.  Accession Code: VB.CC.19303.GRAYIASPINOSAIN 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: Grayia spinosa Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance   Translated: Spiny Hop-sage Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126264 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.1045