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A.860 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.860
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This arid shrubland alliance occurs in the Mojave Desert, and is found along drainages that dissect bajadas and in mountain canyons at lower and middle elevations (300-1950 m) in the Creosote and Mixed Shrub zones. Topography is typically flat and rolling to moderately sloping. Soils are well-drained, alkaline, and coarse-textured. Soils are derived from alluvium, colluvium and residuum. A moderately dense woody layer dominated by broad-leaved and microphyllous evergreen shrubs characterizes these shrublands. ~Encelia virginensis$ is the diagnostic species and ~Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus)$ is usually codominant. The shrub layer is diverse. Shrub associates may include ~Gutierrezia microcephala, Viguiera reticulata, Psorothamnus arborescens var. minutifolius, Purshia stansburiana (= Purshia mexicana var. stansburiana), Atriplex confertifolia, Prunus fasciculata$, and ~Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola$. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse with less than 5% cover of perennial species, such as the grasses ~Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa)$ and ~Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella)$, and the forbs ~Eriogonum inflatum, Eriogonum saxatile, Penstemon fruticiformis$, and ~Stanleya elata$. Annuals are seasonally present and include species of ~Mimulus, Cryptantha, Phacelia, Mentzelia, Gilia, Camissonia$, and ~Eschscholzia$. The exotic annual grass ~Bromus rubens$ may dominate the understory during years of favorable winter precipitation. Diagnostic of this shrubland alliance is total vegetation cover over 25% that is dominated by ~Encelia virginensis$. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.2488.A860
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: ENCELIA VIRGINENSIS SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.860
  Common: Virgin River Brittlebush Shrubland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Encelia virginensis Shrubland Alliance