Login | Datasets | Logout
Jump to... Home PLOT search PLANT search COMMUNITY search Simple search Manage datasets Tutorial About FAQ ------- Site map VegBranch Data dictionary ERD

stdcommconcept2202422024

View Community Concepts - Detail

Atriplex confertifolia / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
click to update datacart
Name: Atriplex confertifolia / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This plant association typically occurs at elevations between 6800-7200 feet on nearly level to gently sloping low terraces, narrow valley floodplains, mesa tops, flat ridge tops and plateaus. It can occur on steeper surfaces but slopes generally do not exceed 10%. Precipitation is usually less than 10 inches/year. Atriplex confertifolia is a xeric shrub associated with subdesert ecosystems. The soils that are commonly associated with this community are moderately coarse to fine, calcareous, saline-alkaline with an average pH of 7.9. The vegetation cover in this community is sparse and the surface of the soil is often described as a gravel pavement due to the scouring action of the wind. This association has relatively low species diversity with Atriplex confertifolia dominating the shrub layer with 4-20% cover. Other desert shrubs are usually present in low percentages. Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata) dominates the herbaceous layer with 15-30% cover. Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) and Poa secunda (= Poa sandbergii) are always present each with a 2-6% cover. At lower elevations where Atriplex confertifolia is more abundant there is more Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii) and Hesperostipa comata does not become abundant until further uphill where the Atriplex confertifolia then becomes less abundant. (P. Lyon pers. comm.)  Accession Code: VB.CC.22024.ATRIPLEXCONFERT 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: Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Shadscale / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686118 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL001314   Scientific: Atriplex confertifolia / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Atriplex confertifolia / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland