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Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua gracilis - Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua gracilis - Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This shrubland association has only been described from a small area of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; this summary is derived from plot data collected in the park in 1986 and 2004. The sampled plots are located on top of a mesa capped with basalt boulders. Sampled sites are flat to gently sloping (0-9%), occur between 1677 and 1755 m elevation, and are oriented to any aspect. The unvegetated surface has moderate cover of large rocks, small rocks and gravel. There is low exposure of bare soil and low cover of litter and live vegetation basal area. Soils are rapidly drained sandy clays derived from basalt that has eroded and been re-deposited as terrace boulder gravels. Total vegetation cover ranges from 25 to 75%. The vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of <i>Ephedra torreyana</i> shrubs with between 15 and 25% cover and a relatively dense understory dominated by the grasses <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> and <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i> with between 5 and 35% cover. Associated shrubs provide low cover and include <i>Atriplex confertifolia, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, Opuntia polyacantha</i>, and <i>Yucca harrimaniae</i>. The remaining herbaceous layer is depauperate and provides sparse cover, including the graminoids <i>Aristida purpurea</i> and <i>Hesperostipa comata</i> and the forbs <i>Chaetopappa ericoides</i> and <i>Sphaeralcea coccinea</i>. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.32021.CEGL002351
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: association
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769039 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Translated: Torrey's Joint-fir / Blue Grama - James' Galleta Shrubland
  Scientific: Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua gracilis - Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland
  Code: CEGL002351