Name:
Eriogonum corymbosum Badlands Sparse Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This unusual sparse short-shrub association occurs on barren shale badlands. Sites are flat to steep slopes, occur between 1219 and 2670 m (4000-8760 feet) elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. The unvegetated surface has high exposure of bare soil, up to 88%. Litter is sparse. Parent materials are Moenkopi, Morrison, Mancos, Tropic or Chinle shales and the Clarion Formation that erode to badlands deposits. Vegetation has difficulty taking hold on the highly erosive surface. Soils are rapidly drained clay loams or silty loams. Total vascular vegetation cover for this association rarely exceeds 20% and is usually closer to 10%. The vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of <i>Eriogonum corymbosum</i> that ranges in foliar cover from 5 to 20%. Associated shrubs include <i>Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Ericameria nauseosa, Psorothamnus fremontii, Salvia dorrii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, </i><i>Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Xylorhiza glabriuscula</i>, and <i>Coleogyne ramosissima</i>. The herbaceous layer is low in species diversity and provides sparse cover. No species of graminoid or forb provides greater than 1% cover. Graminoids recorded include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus</i>, and <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. Forbs include <i>Astragalus kentrophyta, </i><i>Lomatium minimum</i><i>, Machaeranthera canescens, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Chamaesyce fendleri, Amsonia tomentosa, Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum</i>, and <i>Cryptantha tenuis</i>. At Bryce Canyon, <i>Pinus edulis</i> and <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> saplings provide sparse cover in some stands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33680.CEGL002979
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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