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Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Balsamorhiza sagittata Shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Balsamorhiza sagittata Shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This shrubland occurs on ridges, benches and mesas in the northern Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur in somewhat isolated upland patches in western Colorado and in southwestern Wyoming. Slopes range from level to moderate and occur between 2300 and 2675 m (7545-8776 feet) elevation. Soils are derived from a wide variety of substrates; textures vary accordingly from clays to sandy loams. Biological soil crusts may be present but rarely have significant cover. Total vegetation cover ranges from 25 to nearly 100%. The vegetation is characterized by a shrub canopy of <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana</i> (15-75%), often associated with <i>Amelanchier utahensis, Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i>, and <i>Purshia tridentata</i>. The herbaceous understory is dominated by <i>Balsamorhiza sagittata</i> and other forbs, including <i>Phlox</i> spp., <i>Eriogonum umbellatum, Castilleja linariifolia, Senecio integerrimus, Arenaria congesta</i>, and <i>Crepis acuminata</i>. Total herbaceous cover ranges from 10 to 30%. Grasses vary among sites and may include <i>Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Hesperostipa comata, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum pinetorum, Achnatherum lettermanii</i>, and <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i>. Scattered <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> may be present, but pinyon or juniper trees appear not to threaten stands on high slopes and ridgetops because of their relatively thin soils. Fire tends to convert these sites to grasslands dominated by the herbaceous species present before the burn. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29929-{436540A9-CD2D-4D82-AD76-F72BF42DFC83}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 12-Nov-2008 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686099 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001020
  Translated: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Arrowleaf Balsamroot Shrubland
  Scientific: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Balsamorhiza sagittata Shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Balsamorhiza sagittata Shrubland
(similar) CEGL001020
(similar) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Balsamorhiza sagittata Shrubland