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A.857 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.857
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This arid shrubland alliance occurs in valleys, bajadas, and mountains of the Mojave Desert and Great Basin, from 600-1525 m in elevation. Sites are commonly found on all aspects in drainage bottoms, broad valleys and on alluvial fans. Topography is typically flat or undulating to moderately sloping, but can be more diverse at higher elevations. Soil textures range from sandy loams to loamy sands with rock fragments derived from alluvium. Vegetation in this shrubland alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderate cover of mixed xeromorphic short shrubs and sparse herbaceous cover. The shrub layer is usually dominated by ~Ephedra nevadensis$. Characteristic codominant shrubs are ~Ericameria cooperi$ and ~Eriogonum fasciculatum$. The shrub layer is diverse and may include ~Grayia spinosa, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Salazaria mexicana, Hymenoclea salsola, Psorothamnus arborescens$, and ~Chrysothamnus$ spp. Perennial grasses dominate the sparse herbaceous layer and may include ~Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Elymus elymoides$, and ~Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella)$. Common forbs may include perennials, such as ~Mentzelia multiflora, Camissonia multijuga, Astragalus layneae$, and ~Lomatium mohavense$, and annuals, such as ~Eriogonum polycladon, Camissonia contorta, Navarretia$ spp., ~Eriastrum eremicum, Oxytheca perfoliata$, and ~Phacelia$ spp. Total vegetation cover is sparse on rock outcrop sites and in soils derived from granite. Diagnostic of this shrubland alliance is total vegetation cover over 25% that is dominated by ~Ephedra nevadensis$. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.2484.A857
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: III.A.5.N.a
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: EPHEDRA NEVADENSIS SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.857
  Common: Nevada Joint-fir Shrubland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance