Name:
Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Bouteloua gracilis Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This common sagebrush association occurs on ridges, plateaus and benches, and valleys in Wyoming, western Colorado and southeastern Utah. Elevations range from 1840 to 2430 m (6030-7975 feet). Sites are on gentle to steep slopes and may be oriented to any aspect. Substrates include sandstone, granite and metamorphic rocks, and soils range from clay to sandy loam. The cover of bare ground is high in areas that are grazed by domestic livestock. Total vegetation cover may be sparse to moderately dense, depending on site conditions and grazing history. <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis</i> dominates the shrub layer, which may also include lesser amounts of <i>Artemisia cana, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Rhus trilobata, Opuntia polyacantha</i>, and <i>Atriplex canescens</i>. The understory usually is dominated by <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> together with a combination of <i>Pascopyrum smithii, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>, and <i>Elymus elymoides</i>. The introduced grasses <i>Bromus tectorum</i> and <i>Bromus japonicus</i> are often present. A mix of herbs, including <i>Artemisia frigida, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Vulpia octoflora (= Festuca octoflora), Phlox hoodii</i>, and <i>Sphaeralcea coccinea</i>, contribute little cover. The combination of relatively high cover by sagebrush and dominance of the understory by a grazing increaser such as <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> indicate that this association may represent degraded forms of other Wyoming sagebrush / native grass associations.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.34614.CEGL001041
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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