Name:
Hesperostipa comata Great Basin Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This semi-arid grassland occurs on the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau and high plateaus of southern Utah, east into the western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains. The vegetation is characterized by a relatively sparse to moderate herbaceous layer (10-40% cover) that is strongly dominated by the medium-tall, cool-season bunchgrass <i>Hesperostipa comata</i>, but it may also include stands with less than 10% total vegetation cover. Low cover of other grasses, such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum lettermanii, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Leymus salinus, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana</i>, or <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>, may be present. However, <i>Bouteloua eriopoda</i> is not present. Forb cover ranges from sparse to moderate and may be diverse. Associated forbs include <i>Balsamorhiza sagittata, Hymenopappus filifolius, Machaeranthera canescens, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Vicia americana</i>, and species of <i>Antennaria, Astragalus, Cryptantha, Eriogonum, Gilia</i>, and <i>Lappula</i>. Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may be present with less than 5% total cover. Common species include <i>Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia polyacantha</i>, and <i>Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i>. The widespread introduced annual grass <i>Bromus tectorum</i> often contributes significant cover in disturbed stands. Some stands have high cover of biological soil crusts. Stands are found on a variety of sites, such as on point bars, stream terraces, in sand-filled potholes in slickrock washes, on plains, valleys, canyon floors, gentle hillslopes, knolls and bluffs, mesatops, and plateau parks. Sites are generally flat to gently sloping, but occasionally are steep (to 53% slope). Soils are variable and range from sand to silty clay. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high cover of bare soil with sparse to moderate cover of litter. Fires may be important in maintaining these grasslands by reducing woody cover, but burning during the growing season could also damage <i>Hesperostipa comata</i> plants.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30614-{0DAAD5F9-07FD-4092-9F42-7D8E483F7927}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
3
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