Name:
Ephedra cutleri - Opuntia spp. / Mixed Grass Shrub-Steppe
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This shrub-steppe association is known from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and likely occurs more widely in the Colorado Plateau. It is characterized by an open shrub canopy dominated or codominated by <i>Ephedra cutleri</i> (with up to 20% cover) and often codominated by <i>Opuntia</i> spp. (with up to 20% cover). The herbaceous layer is typically abundant with nearly equal cover to the shrub layer and is dominated by one or more of the following (mostly warm-season) native grasses: <i>Sporobolus</i> spp. (<i>Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus contractus, Sporobolus flexuosus</i>) (with up to 16% total cover), <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and <i>Achnatherum hymenoides</i>. If <i>Hesperostipa comata</i> is present, it is only with trace to 2% cover. Commonly associated shrubs include <i>Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Gutierrezia</i> spp., <i>Psoralidium junceum, Psorothamnus fremontii</i>, and <i>Yucca angustissima</i>. Forb cover is typically sparse and is composed of weedy annuals, as well as native perennial species of <i>Amsonia, Eriogonum, Hymenopappus, Machaeranthera, Oenothera</i>, and <i>Sphaeralcea</i>. The exotic annual grasses <i>Bromus tectorum</i> and <i>Schismus barbatus</i> are present with low cover in some stands. Scattered <i>Pinus edulis</i> and <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> trees may be present with sparse to low cover on the margins of the community. Total vegetation cover ranges from 45% down to 3% in areas with current grazing and/or past overgrazing. Stands occur on mesas, plains, benches, canyon sides, hills, sand dunes, basins, valley bottoms, and terraces between 1120 and 1923 m elevation. Sites are flat to moderately sloping and can occur on all aspects. Sand and bare soil cover most of the unvegetated surface, with lesser cover by dark cyanobacteria and moss, and sparse to low cover of litter. Soils are variable texture ranging from sand to sandy clay loams derived from eolian or older alluvial deposits, sandstones or shales.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:37397-{4BEC038C-BE91-4637-9286-CFD26CF41A78}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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