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Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This shrub prairie association, which generally occurs in small patches (less than 1 hectare), occurs in the northwestern Great Plains. In Montana, it is found on benches to gently inclined slopes (30% maximum recorded) in the vicinity of breaklands. Similar habitats (old river terraces, badlands, ravine sideslopes and valley walls) support its occurrence in Alberta. Sites occur on various parent materials, but mostly well-drained, often sandy, glacial drift and sandy alluvium. <i>Artemisia cana</i> is decidedly the dominant shrub with canopy coverages to 50%, but averaging around 25%, which places it on the cusp of being a true shrub type. <i>Artemisia frigida</i> is the only shrub/subshrub with greater than 50% constancy and its cover does not exceed 3%. A number of graminoids have high constancy, including <i>Bouteloua gracilis, Carex filifolia, Koeleria macrantha</i>, and <i>Poa secunda (= Poa sandbergii)</i>, but only <i>Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata)</i> exhibits both 100% constancy and the highest cover values (averaging 38%). Forbs constitute an insignificant component, virtually none occurring in greater than trace amounts. Those exceeding 50% constancy are <i>Sphaeralcea coccinea, Pediomelum argophyllum (= Psoralea argophylla)</i>, and <i>Gaura coccinea</i>. This association is hypothesized to represent the driest environment capable of supporting <i>Artemisia cana</i>. Occasional fire probably has reduced <i>Artemisia</i> spp. cover and density to low levels and maintains the shrub herbaceous community structure. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.34484.CEGL001553
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.2.683570 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Common: Silver Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrub Prairie
  Translated: Plains Silver Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
  Scientific: Artemisia cana ssp. cana / Hesperostipa comata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
  Code: CEGL001553