Name:
Artemisia filifolia - Ephedra cutleri Sandsheet Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This sandsheet shrubland association is known from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and likely occurs more widely on sandy sites in the Colorado Plateau. It is characterized by an open shrub canopy codominated by <i>Artemisia filifolia</i> and <i>Ephedra cutleri</i>. Several associated shrubs may be present with sparse to low cover such as <i>Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Eriogonum leptocladon, Gutierrezia</i> spp., <i>Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Psoralidium junceum, Psorothamnus fremontii, Quercus havardii var. tuckeri, Vanclevea stylosa</i>, and <i>Yucca angustissima</i>. The herbaceous layer is dominated by low to moderate cover of native graminoids such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua eriopoda, Sporobolus contractus, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus flexuosus</i>, and <i>Vulpia octoflora</i>. It may also include sparse to low cover of the exotic annual grass <i>Bromus tectorum</i>. Forbs have sparse cover and are often dominated by the exotic annual <i>Salsola tragus</i>. Total vegetation cover does not exceed 34% and may be as low as 3% in areas with actively blowing sand. Stands occur on benches, dunes, plains, plateaus, mesas, piedmont slopes, hills, toeslopes, canyon bottoms, valley floors, and terraces along drainages between 1104 and 1468 m elevation (though one plot was sampled at 1936 m elevation). Sites range from flat to moderately sloping and occur on all aspects. Bare soil and sand cover most of the unvegetated surface, with lesser cover by dark cyanobacteria and litter. Soils are sandy loams, loamy sands, and sands derived from eolian or alluvial deposits or from sandstones.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:37392-{1CCCE305-DE65-4426-B034-12A548C9AA7C}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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