Name:
Coleogyne ramosissima - Purshia stansburiana - Quercus havardii var. tuckeri Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This Colorado Plateau shrub association is characteristic of semi-stabilized sandsheets, dunes and sand-filled pockets in sandstone slickrock in southeastern Utah. Stands occur on plains, ridges, mesatops, canyon rims, escarpments, valley sides, sand dunes, alluvial terraces and benches with flat to gentle slopes (0-12%) between 1275 and 1670 m (4185-5475 feet) elevation. Bare soil, sand, and gravel cover much of the unvegetated surface. Litter cover is sparse to low. Covers of bedrock and biological soil crust are variable; either can be absent to sparse or can provide up to 40% cover. Soils are rapidly drained loamy sands, silt loams, sands, sandy clay loams, or sandy loams derived from eolian sands, alluvium, sandstones or shales. Total vegetation cover ranges from 5 to 70%. The shrub layer is characterized by an open canopy to relatively closed canopy of <i>Coleogyne ramosissima</i> accompanied by either or both <i>Purshia stansburiana</i> and <i>Quercus havardii var. tuckeri</i>. Scattered individuals of <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> are present in many stands but not with more than 5% cover. Occasionally <i>Coleogyne ramosissima</i> may be absent, but then both <i>Purshia stansburiana</i> and <i>Quercus havardii var. tuckeri</i> are prominent. Associated shrubs include <i>Artemisia bigelovii, Brickellia microphylla, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum leptocladon, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha</i>, and <i>Yucca harrimaniae</i>. The herbaceous layer is moderately diverse in terms of species composition but provides only sparse cover. Common species include the grasses <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum), Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and <i>Muhlenbergia pungens</i>. Forbs present include <i>Chaenactis stevioides, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cryptantha crassisepala, Gilia inconspicua, Tetraneuris acaulis</i>, and <i>Streptanthella longirostris</i>. The exotic annual grass <i>Bromus tectorum</i> is common on some sites.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31123.CEGL002348
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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