Name:
Krascheninnikovia lanata / Bouteloua gracilis Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This widespread, open dwarf-shrub type is found in the western Great Plains from eastern Wyoming, western Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico to the Colorado Plateau and semi-desert mountains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. This shrub herbaceous association occurs on alluvial flats, plains, mesas, and desert mountains. Stands occupy flat to moderate slopes between 1630 and 2130 m (5360-7000 feet) elevation. The sometimes rocky soils are typically shallow, alkaline, calcareous, and loamy or clayey in soil texture and are derived from shale or alluvium; elsewhere sites may have sandy, alluvial soil at the foot of sandstone cliffs. Ground cover ranges from bare soil to scattered bunchgrasses and litter with exposed soil and gravel in the intergrass spaces. In Colorado Plateau stands, there is often significant cover of biotic crusts (to 30% cover). This community contains open shrub and graminoid layers dominated by the shrub <i>Krascheninnikovia lanata</i> with a sparse to dense herbaceous understory dominated by <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i>. Other shrubs may be present with very low cover, including <i>Artemisia nova, Atriplex</i> spp., <i>Chrysothamnus greenei, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Cylindropuntia imbricata</i>, and <i>Opuntia polyacantha</i>. Associated graminoids present may include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus airoides</i>, and <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>. Forb cover is typically low but may be diverse.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30230-{D4369A96-B2BF-4063-BB53-44C2696BFAC6}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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