Name:
Coleogyne ramosissima - Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus - Ephedra torreyana Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This warm desert 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 4-33% total cover and is characterized by a sparse to open shrub canopy codominated by <i>Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana</i>, and <i>Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus</i>. In some stands, <i>Glossopetalon spinescens</i> is also codominant. A diverse mixture of other associated shrubs may be present with sparse to low cover. The herbaceous layer has sparse to low cover that is generally a weedy mixture of native grasses and exotic annuals. Common species include <i>Aristida purpurea, Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus contractus, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Schismus barbatus</i>, and <i>Vulpia octoflora</i>. Forb cover and diversity are low. Stands occur on mesas, ridges, backslopes, toeslopes, canyon sides, canyon bottoms, bajadas, alluvial fans, and terraces along drainage channels between 1100 and 1486 m elevation. Sites are typically gently to moderately sloping, occurring on all aspects. Bare soil and gravel cover most of the unvegetated surface, with lesser cover by dark cyanobacteria, large rock, bedrock, and litter, and sparse to low cover of moss. Soils are moderately well-drained to rapidly drained with variable textures ranging from sand to sandy clay loams, and silty clays derived from eolian, alluvial, or talus/colluvial deposits, sandstones, or shales.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:37394-{6A08C84F-CA18-47D6-A059-FFBDF9326D6B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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