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Betula occidentalis / Purshia tridentata / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Betula occidentalis / Purshia tridentata / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This association has been described from extreme southeastern Idaho, in Caribou County, in the Soda Springs valley. The only stand is known from Formation Springs Preserve. It occurs in the foothills of a small mountain range in a semi-arid region. This region is characterized by thrust faulting, with north/south-trending ranges and intervening broad, gentle valleys. The climate is semi-arid. Summers are warm and winters cold. This association occurs on a gently sloping valley-side at approximately 1873 m (6140 feet) elevation. Formation Spring emanates from the base of the Aspen Range and flows across the valley floor for about 1 mile, where it then sinks into the porous substrate. The water of the spring is supersaturated with very pure calcium carbonate (CaCO2), and extensive deposits of travertine have precipitated out of solution along the course of the spring water. The direction of waterflow has been continuously changed by damming action resulting from the travertine deposition. This process has occurred over thousands of years and has resulted in many features, including active and inactive (dry) rimmed pools that have built up to a depth of 3.7 m (12 feet), and level barren plains. This plant association occurs somewhat away from the creek, but the presence and dominance of <i>Betula occidentalis</i> implies a permanent, subsurface water source. This association is otherwise poorly defined and described. The broad-leaved deciduous tall (8-12 m) shrub <i>Betula occidentalis</i> occurs within a matrix of the shorter (1-2 m tall) broad-leaved deciduous shrub <i>Purshia tridentata</i>. The understory apparently has an unusual assemblage of herbaceous species, with the perennial bunchgrass <i>Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata)</i> the most common species.  Accession Code: VB.CC.33939.CEGL001084 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.2.689098 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Water Birch / Antelope Bitterbrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland   Code: CEGL001084   Scientific: Betula occidentalis / Purshia tridentata / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland