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Pleuraphis rigida / Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub Herbaceous Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Pleuraphis rigida / Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub Herbaceous Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: Vegetation included in this alliance occurs extensively in Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona from 1160-1430 m of elevation. The climate is semi-arid, and total mean annual precipitation is approximately 25-30 cm. Flat to gently rolling sites of all aspects occur in Toroweep Valley and Tuckup Canyon. The substrate is derived from basalt lava flow or consolidated alluvium. Soils are shallow and cobbly. The vegetation is dominated by graminoids with sparse sclerophyllous evergreen and deciduous shrubs and dwarf-shrubs, all less than 1 m in height. Total vegetation canopy cover is less than 50%. The graminoid layer is a mixture of perennial and annual grasses codominated by the perennial grass Pleuraphis rigida (= Hilaria rigida) and the annual exotic grass Bromus tectorum. Other characteristic grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides) and species of Aristida, Bouteloua, Muhlenbergia, and Stipa. The dwarf-shrub Gutierrezia sarothrae dominates the woody layer. Other characteristic shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Atriplex canescens, Lycium pallidum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Ephedra viridis. Succulents may include the cacti Opuntia whipplei, Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia erinacea, Coryphantha spp., and the rosette Yucca baccata. Other common annual forbs are Plantago ovata (= Plantago insularis), Eriogonum inflatum, Cleome lutea, and the exotic Salsola kali.  Accession Code: VB.CC.26981.PLEURAPHISRIGID Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Pleuraphis rigida / Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub Herbaceous Alliance   Translated: Big Galleta / Snakeweed Shrub Herbaceous Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126470 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.1529