Name:
Artemisia bigelovii / Achnatherum hymenoides Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
Stands included in this dwarf-shrubland association are found in southeastern Colorado on breaks and shale plains in the shortgrass steppe west to the foothills near the Front Range. Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, calcareous loams and clay loams, derived from limestone, sandstone, shale and alluvium. The soil surface has high cover of bare soil and rock. This vegetation contains a sparse dwarf-shrub layer that is dominated by <i>Artemisia bigelovii</i>. Other dwarf-shrubs, such as <i>Yucca glauca, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Frankenia jamesii</i>, and <i>Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum</i>, may be present to codominant. Scattered shrubs and the trees are occasionally present. Dominant grasses include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana), Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Sporobolus cryptandrus, Aristida purpurea</i>, and less commonly <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i>. On slopes, cushion plants like <i>Arenaria hookeri, Eriogonum lachnogynum, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis)</i>, and <i>Paronychia sessiliflora</i> are common. Other forbs, such as <i>Astragalus missouriensis, Heterotheca villosa, Melampodium cinereum, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Stanleya pinnata</i>, and <i>Zinnia grandiflora</i>, are usually present. Exotic annuals, such as <i>Bromus japonicus, Bromus tectorum, Salsola kali</i>, and <i>Descurainia sophia</i>, may be present to common depending on disturbance and amount and season of precipitation. Diagnostic of this association is the <i>Artemisia bigelovii</i>-dominated dwarf-shrub layer with <i>Achnatherum hymenoides</i> typically present in the herbaceous layer.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.34134.CEGL000990
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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