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Rhus glabra / Aristida purpurea var. longiseta Shrub Grassland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Rhus glabra / Aristida purpurea var. longiseta Shrub Grassland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This open shrubland association has been described from river canyons in the Columbia Basin in Washington, and possibly occurs in Idaho and Oregon. Stands are found on sandy alluvial or colluvial soils in the driest and warmest canyon sites, from 250-800 m elevation. Aspects are usually southerly, and slopes are gentle to steep. The soils are highly variable, but typically weakly developed, low in organic matter, and range from shallow and rocky to deep, nearly stone-free profiles. Soil texture is silt loam to sandy loam. This association is dominated by the clonal, broad-leaved deciduous shrub <i>Rhus glabra</i>. This is the only shrub species present and is highly variable in cover and density, ranging from 20% to over 50% cover, and 2 to 4 live stems/square meter. Most stems are 0.6-1 m in height. The moderately dense herbaceous layer is generally 0.5 m in height and is dominated by the perennial bunchgrass <i>Aristida purpurea var. longiseta</i> with over 40% cover. The other perennial bunchgrasses <i>Poa secunda</i> and <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> are minor components, and perennial forbs are infrequent. A cryptogamic layer may be present on better sites with less disturbance, while litter may cover as much as 65% of the ground surface. The association is separated from other <i>Rhus glabra</i>-dominated types by its restricted range of distribution and unusual edaphic conditions. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30416-{7982E904-F114-4117-AF73-8BBB41385197}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 04-Jun-1993 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685324 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001507
  Translated: Smooth Sumac / Red Three-awn Shrub Grassland
  Scientific: Rhus glabra / Aristida purpurea var. longiseta Shrub Grassland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL001507
(similar) Rhus glabra / Aristida purpurea var. longiseta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
(similar) Rhus glabra / Aristida purpurea var. longiseta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation