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Ephedra viridis / Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Ephedra viridis / Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This shrubland association has been described from the inner gorge of Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona. Elevations range from 580-980 m. Sites are moderate to steep, north-facing colluvial slopes below cliffs often with talus and rock outcrops. Substrate is a shallow and rocky soil that is derived from limestone, sandstone, igneous rocks. Stands have an open, short woody canopy (less than 1 m tall) that is codominated by the xeromorphic evergreen and deciduous shrubs, <i>Ephedra viridis</i> and <i>Acacia greggii</i>, with an herbaceous layer dominated by <i>Pleuraphis rigida</i>. Total vegetation cover ranges from 15-20%. Other common species may include shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae, Sphaeralcea ambigua, Encelia farinosa</i> or <i>Lycium andersonii</i>, and scattered forbs such as <i>Galium stellatum, Machaeranthera pinnatifida</i> or <i>Eriogonum inflatum</i>. Succulents are common and include <i>Ferocactus cylindraceus, Echinocereus engelmannii, Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Opuntia basilaris, Echinocactus polycephalus</i>, and <i>Agave utahensis</i>. Extent of the association outside the park is not known. This shrubland appears 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 is needed to determine if they represent the same association as this type. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30166-{DB5126CE-7716-4853-B5CC-4DA81823680A}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684318 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001257
  Translated: Mormon-tea / Big Galleta Shrubland
  Scientific: Ephedra viridis / Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Ephedra viridis / Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland
(similar) CEGL001257
(similar) Ephedra viridis / Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland