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Purshia tridentata Shrub Herbaceous Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Purshia tridentata Shrub Herbaceous Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This shrub steppe alliance occurs throughout the Intermountain West and forms a landscape matrix which occurs over a broad range of landforms and microhabitats. Stands are often found on the margins of Pinus ponderosa woodlands or forests, forming the transition into sagebrush vegetation. They also occur on flats to moderate slopes in foothills, on slopes of lakebeds with ash or pumice soils, stabilized dunes and on dry sites within lower forest zones as shrub-steppe inclusions in forest. Soils are generally well-drained, coarse-textured without high salinity or pH. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a sparse shrub canopy of Purshia tridentata, often with Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana or Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis as codominants. Other important or occasional shrubs include Ericameria nauseosa)(= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ribes cereum, and Ceanothus velutinus. Scattered trees may form an emergent layer of individual trees; species include Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus occidentalis, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, or Cercocarpus ledifolius. The herbaceous layer is usually strongly dominated by perennial bunch grasses, including Pseudoroegneria spicata, Festuca idahoensis, Festuca campestris, Carex pensylvanica, and Carex geyeri, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), and Achnatherum occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis). Balsamorhiza sagittata is an important forb associate. Other forbs include several species of Penstemon, Erigeron, Eriogonum, Castilleja, Astragalus, and Lupinus. Diagnostic of this shrub steppe alliance is a typically sparse shrub layer (10-25% cover) dominated by Purshia tridentata over an herbaceous layer that is typically dominated by perennial bunch grasses.  Accession Code: VB.CC.19863.PURSHIATRIDENTA 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: Purshia tridentata Shrub Herbaceous Alliance   Translated: Bitterbrush Shrub Herbaceous Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125972 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.1523