Name:
Coleogyne ramosissima Sparse Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This sparse blackbrush shrubland occurs in canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah. Total vegetation cover is less than 5%, and is limited by poor growing conditions or a lack of rooting substrate in bedrock-dominated sites. The canopy consists of scattered <i>Coleogyne ramosissima</i>, usually accompanied by <i>Ephedra torreyana, Artemisia bigelovii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Yucca angustissima</i>, and <i>Opuntia polyacantha</i>. The herbaceous layer contributes little to the community in terms of either diversity or cover. <i>Pleuraphis jamesii, Aristida purpurea, Bromus tectorum, Chamaesyce fendleri, Tetraneuris acaulis, Amsonia tomentosa, Mirabilis linearis, Salsola tragus, Heterotheca villosa</i>, and <i>Comandra umbellata</i> are the most commonly reported species. This association occurs on canyon rims, hills, ridges, mesas, plateaus, canyon sides, badlands and valley bottoms. Sites are flat to moderately sloping, oriented to all aspects, and lie between 1134 and 1470 m elevation. The unvegetated surface is often more than 95% of the community and consists primarily of bedrock or gravel, with lesser cover by bare soil and litter. Soils are often rapidly drained sandy loams, loamy sands, or sands derived from sandstone, but include loams, silt loams, sandy clay loams, or clay loams derived from shales.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:32694-{5BF5CD22-19E2-4572-8699-09E6D3F6B24F}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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