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Ericameria nauseosa / Bouteloua gracilis Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Ericameria nauseosa / Bouteloua gracilis Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This shrub herbaceous association occurs on valley floors, swales and alluvial flats in the southern and central part of the Colorado Plateau, southern Rocky Mountains and western New Mexico mountains. Its presence generally indicates disturbance from grazing and/or recent flooding, and it may represent degraded forms of other grassland, shrubland or woodland communities. Stands occupy gentle to moderate slopes (2-13%) between 1635 and 2400 m (5360-7870 feet) elevation. Aspect does not affect the distribution of this association. Litter and bare soil cover most of the unvegetated surface. Parent materials are variable and include sandstones and shale that have eroded and been re-deposited as alluvium or windblown sediments (loess). Soils are well-drained and fine-sandy or silty in texture. Occasionally <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> or <i>Pinus edulis</i> seedlings, saplings, or mature individuals may be found in these grasslands, but shrubs are the most common woody vegetation. Total vegetation cover ranges from 10 to 65%, roughly equally divided between the shrub and herbaceous layers. The vegetation is characterized by an open short-shrub canopy of <i>Ericameria nauseosa</i> that ranges in cover from 5 to 25% and an understory dominated by <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> that ranges in cover from 5 to 35%. Other shrubs may be present with very low cover, including <i>Tetradymia canescens, Atriplex</i> spp., <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>, and <i>Opuntia polyacantha</i>. Associated graminoids present include the bunchgrasses <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>, and <i>Muhlenbergia pungens</i>. Only scattered forbs are present but diversity can be high.  Accession Code: VB.CC.33770.CEGL003495 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.2.689069 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Rubber Rabbitbrush / Blue Grama Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   Scientific: Ericameria nauseosa / Bouteloua gracilis Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   Code: CEGL003495