Name:
Atriplex confertifolia / Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This widespread western shrubland association is reported from the southwestern Great Plains, Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, Columbia Plateau and Mojave Desert mountains. It occurs in a variety of habitats and can be found on two distinct substrates: coarse-textured, non-saline soils derived from sandstone or gravel or deep, fine-textured, alkaline, often saline soils derived from shale. Stands with coarse-textured soils tend to be on slopes, while those with fine-textured soils tend to be on low, relatively flat positions in the landscape (valley bottoms, basins, etc.). The common trait of these different substrates is that they are very dry either because of low precipitation or because of high internal plant moisture stress from soil salinity. The unvegetated surface is composed largely of bare soil, gravel, and large or small rocks. This shrubland association is characterized by a sparse to open canopy (5-25% cover) of short shrubs dominated by <i>Atriplex confertifolia</i> with a sparse to moderate graminoid layer dominated by <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. It includes sparsely vegetated stands with as little as 1-2% cover of shrubs and 1% cover of <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. Total vegetation cover is widely variable (2-70% in sampled stands). Associated shrubs include <i>Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Atriplex canescens, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Ericameria nauseosa, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia polyacantha, Picrothamnus desertorum, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Suaeda calceoliformis, Suaeda moquinii (= Suaeda fruticosa)</i>, and <i>Tetradymia canescens</i> depending on substrate. <i>Amphipappus fremontii, Ambrosia dumosa</i>, and <i>Lycium</i><i> pallidum</i> occur in the Mojave Desert. If other <i>Atriplex</i> species are present, they do not dominate the canopy. Other graminoids include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>, and <i>Elymus elymoides</i> on sandy sites and <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> and <i>Sporobolus airoides</i> on fine-textured soil. Forbs generally have low cover and may include <i>Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, Eriogonum inflatum</i>, and species of <i>Chaenactis, Lappula, Phacelia, Plantago</i>, and <i>Chenopodium</i>. Introduced species such as <i>Bromus tectorum</i> and <i>Salsola kali</i> are common on some sites.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.34378.CEGL001304
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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