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A.871 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.871
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: Shrublands included in this alliance are found on hilltops and colluvial slopes in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. Elevation ranges from 1530-1780 m. Climate is semi-arid with most of the highly variable precipitation falling in July and August as high-intensity thunderstorms. In the Rio Puerco watershed, mean annual precipitation ranges from 22-32 cm. Soils are typically derived from shale and are shallow, poorly developed, eroded and alkaline. Textures range from fine sandy loams to silty clay loams to clays. Soil surface is mostly barren with 90% bare ground, 5% rock and no litter. The sparse vegetation cover (usually <20%) is codominated by two shrubs, ~Atriplex cuneata$ and ~Frankenia jamesii$ (5% and 7% mean canopy cover, respectively). Other shrubby plants include ~Yucca glauca$ and ~Krascheninnikovia lanata$. The perennial grass ~Sporobolus airoides$ usually dominates the sparse herbaceous layer with only 3.3% mean canopy. Other species include the grasses ~Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides)$, and ~Bouteloua gracilis$, perennial forbs ~Sphaeralcea coccinea$ and ~Astragalus$ spp., cacti ~Opuntia$ spp., and annual forbs ~Lappula occidentalis var. occidentalis (= Lappula redowskii)$ and ~Phacelia crenulata var. corrugata$. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.2500.A871
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.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: ATRIPLEX CUNEATA SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.871
  Common: Valley Saltbush Shrubland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Atriplex cuneata Shrubland Alliance