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Encelia farinosa - Ephedra (aspera, nevadensis) Shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Encelia farinosa - Ephedra (aspera, nevadensis) Shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This shrubland association has been described from the inner gorge of Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona. Elevation ranges from 610-1340 m. Stands occur on south-facing colluvial slopes below cliffs. Sites are predominately steep to moderate slopes, often talus with frequent rock outcrops. Substrate is shallow, rocky soil derived from limestone, sandstone, shale or igneous parent materials. Stands have a sparse (less than 20% cover), short woody canopy (less than 1 m tall) that is dominated by the xeromorphic evergreen shrubs <i>Encelia farinosa</i> and the xeromorphic evergreen shrubs <i>Ephedra nevadensis</i> and <i>Ephedra viridis</i>. Other common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include <i>Acacia greggii, Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>, or <i>Lycium andersonii</i>. The sparse herbaceous layer is composed of scattered forbs such as <i>Galium stellatum, Machaeranthera pinnatifida, Eriogonum inflatum</i>, and the introduced annual grass <i>Bromus rubens</i>. Succulents are common and include <i>Opuntia basilaris, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Opuntia phaeacantha, Echinocereus engelmannii, Echinocactus polycephalus, Ferocactus cylindraceus</i>, and <i>Agave utahensis</i>. Extent outside the park is not known. This association appears to be restricted to these inner-canyon habitats in the Grand Canyon. Disturbance from rockslides may be important in maintaining this successional type. Shrublands with similar species composition have been reported from California, but survey and classification work are needed to determine if they represent the same association as this. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30161-{B1E706A3-127E-449A-B28E-6338D2CB23C0}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689542 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001252
  Translated: Brittlebush - (Rough Joint-fir, Nevada Joint-fir) Shrubland
  Scientific: Encelia farinosa - Ephedra (aspera, nevadensis) Shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL001252
(similar) Encelia farinosa - Ephedra (fasciculata, nevadensis) Shrubland
(similar) Encelia farinosa - Ephedra nevadensis - Ephedra viridis Shrubland