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Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis - Lupinus argenteus Sparse Vegetation | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis - Lupinus argenteus Sparse Vegetation
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This type has been mapped only from a small region in east-central Idaho known as the Challis Endemic region. This region is to the east of a major mountain mass which strongly affects the climate of the region. The high mountains to the west create a rainshadow, allowing only occasional incursions of moisture-laden winter storms from the Pacific. The region is mountainous with high, massive ranges, dissected by deep valleys. The bedrock is a heterogeneous formation of volcanic and sedimentary rock, known as Challis Volcanics, with only minor amounts of granitics. At lower elevations along the Salmon River, the most common rock types of this formation are tuffs and andesites. A flora endemic to this region, known collectively as Challis Endemics, occurs on these substrates and is joined by a flora of species disjunct from drier regions of the Great Basin. Much of the Challis Endemic region roughly coincides with an area receiving less than 20.3 cm (8 inches) of precipitation annually, combined with low-elevation occurrences of andesites and tuffs of the Challis Volcanics. <br /><br />This plant association occurs on steep, north-facing slopes composed of volcanic tuffs at low elevations, from roughly 1586 to 1891 m (5200-6200 feet). This substrate is typically unstable, with constant downslope movement of soil surface layers, and a high shrink-swell ratio. Chronic soil disturbance is therefore a major factor in the species composition of this association, which includes several of the Challis Endemics. Little information is available regarding the structure and composition of this association. It is sparsely vegetated, dominated by herbaceous species. The two most important species are <i>Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis</i>, a perennial grass species commonly considered a bunchgrass due to its cespitose form (but which typically has rhizomes), and <i>Lupinus argenteus</i>, a perennial forb. The grass variety is one of the Challis Endemics. No cover or abundance information is available. Several other Challis Endemics apparently occur in this association, but a more specific list is not available, and no other information is available on species composition. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30552-{55B81107-9780-4273-B0E3-A80C35531189}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 03-Nov-1993 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684777 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL001643
  Translated: Salmon Wildrye - Silvery Lupine Sparse Vegetation
  Scientific: Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis - Lupinus argenteus Sparse Vegetation
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis - Lupinus argenteus Sparse Vegetation
(similar) Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis - Lupinus argenteus Sparse Vegetation
(similar) CEGL001643