Name:
Artemisia bigelovii / Achnatherum hymenoides Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
Stands included in this dwarf-shrubland association are found in southeastern Colorado on breaks and shale plains in the shortgrass steppe west to the foothills near the Front Range. Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, calcareous loams and clay loams, derived from limestone, sandstone, shale and alluvium. The soil surface has high cover of bare soil and rock. This vegetation contains a sparse dwarf-shrub layer that is dominated by Artemisia bigelovii. Other dwarf-shrubs, such as Yucca glauca, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Frankenia jamesii, and Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum, may be present to codominant. Scattered shrubs and the trees are occasionally present. Dominant grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana), Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Sporobolus cryptandrus, Aristida purpurea, and less commonly Pascopyrum smithii. On slopes, cushion plants like Arenaria hookeri, Eriogonum lachnogynum, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), and Paronychia sessiliflora are common. Other forbs, such as Astragalus missouriensis, Heterotheca villosa, Melampodium cinereum, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Stanleya pinnata, and Zinnia grandiflora, are usually present. Exotic annuals, such as Bromus japonicus, Bromus tectorum, Salsola kali, and Descurainia sophia, may be present to common depending on disturbance and amount and season of precipitation. Diagnostic of this association is the Artemisia bigelovii-dominated dwarf-shrub layer with Achnatherum hymenoides typically present in the herbaceous layer.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.24292.ARTEMISIABIGELO
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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