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Ephedra torreyana - (Atriplex spp.) / Nonvascular Gypsum Sparse Vegetation | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Ephedra torreyana - (Atriplex spp.) / Nonvascular Gypsum Sparse Vegetation Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This sparse shrubland is restricted to the barren slopes of badlands, ridges, hills and gullies with gypsum soils in the northern Colorado Plateau of eastern Utah and western Colorado, and Mojave Desert of Nevada. Sites are flat to moderately steep (0-36° slopes), occur between 1280 and 1845 m (4200-6050 feet) elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. The unvegetated surface has up to 95% cover of ground lichens or bare soil. Litter and rocks are scarce, but surface erosion may expose a layer of gravel. Parent materials are gypsiferous shales of the Paradox, Moenkopi or Carmel formations. Soils are rapidly drained and range in texture from sandy loam to silty clay, although the sand often consists entirely of unweathered gypsum crystals. The vegetation is characterized by the moderate to near-total cover by gypsophilous ground lichens. The total vascular vegetation cover ranges from 1 to 10% and rarely as high as 30%. It consists of a scattering of <i>Ephedra torreyana</i> shrubs that ranges in cover from 1 to 15%. Other shrubs may be present, including <i>Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Ericameria nauseosa</i>, and <i>Opuntia polyacantha</i>. The herbaceous layer is absent to extremely sparse in terms of cover, but some plots may contain occasional plants of <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Poa fendleriana, Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and the forbs <i>Eriogonum inflatum, Lepidium montanum, Lappula occidentalis</i>, and <i>Sphaeralcea parvifolia</i>.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31257-{6B858830-409F-4BDE-9BD2-AE4CFFC3CD05} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 06-Jan-2017 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Ephedra spp. - Leymus salinus - Eriogonum corymbosum Badlands Cold Desert Sparse Vegetation Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769027 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL002349   Translated: Torrey's Joint-fir - (Saltbush species) / Nonvascular Gypsum Sparse Vegetation   Scientific: Ephedra torreyana - (Atriplex spp.) / Nonvascular Gypsum Sparse Vegetation (convergence) and Synonyms: (similar) Ephedra torreyana - (Atriplex spp.) / Nonvascular Gypsum Sparse Vegetation