Name:
Krascheninnikovia lanata / Hesperostipa comata Dwarf-shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association is known from the Colorado Plateau in western Colorado, Utah and northern Arizona and in the northwestern Great Plains in northeastern Montana, and reported from Washington and Wyoming; it may also occur in Saskatchewan, Canada. Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderate (10-60% cover) dwarf-shrub layer dominated by <i>Krascheninnikovia lanata</i> with an open to moderate herbaceous layer dominated by <i>Hesperostipa comata</i>. On the Colorado Plateau, other shrubs occurring with minimal cover include <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus</i>, and <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>. The herbaceous layer is dominated by <i>Hesperostipa comata</i>; other grasses, such as <i>Bromus tectorum, Poa secunda, Poa fendleriana</i>, and <i>Achnatherum hymenoides</i>, may occur with few forbs. In the northwestern Great Plains, constant associates are <i>Artemisia frigida, Bouteloua gracilis</i>, and <i>Carex filifolia</i> with <i>Atriplex nuttallii, Artemisia tridentata, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Koeleria macrantha</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. Forbs such as <i>Phlox hoodii, Plantago patagonica</i>, and <i>Sphaeralcea coccinea</i> are inconspicuous and contribute little cover. Introduced species <i>Bromus arvensis, Bromus tectorum</i>, and <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> are often present but not abundant. In the Colorado Plateau, stands occur on colluvial slopes at around 2000 m elevation and canyon bottoms at 1635 m elevation. Soils are moderately deep and sandy. In northeastern Montana, it is a minor type that occurs on the periphery of badlands and breaks usually on alluvial flats and gently sloping footslopes.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30236-{8DBA2CEA-1AA6-4105-84EF-7AAFE0CF2AC7}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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