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Peucephyllum schottii Shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Peucephyllum schottii Shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This sparse vegetation association is currently described from Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, and has also been reported from the Mojave Desert Network in California and Nevada. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available.It occurs primarily on cliff walls in the far Western Grand Canyon and has been observed from 400 to 425 m (1350-1375 feet) elevation, but presumably occurs within a somewhat wider elevational range. It is primarily found on southwest-facing cliffs or extremely steep rock escarpments (45-80°). Soils are extremely sparse, but where they occur are rapidly drained sandy loams that lie above granite bedrock. Ground cover is strongly dominated by bedrock (97%), with low cover of rocks and gravel. Total shrub cover typically averages 5% in this extremely sparse association which is characterized and dominated by the short shrub <i>Peucephyllum schottii</i> (2%). Tall shrubs are absent from this association. Along with <i>Peucephyllum schottii</i>, the short-shrub layer invariably includes <i>Acacia greggii, Ephedra aspera</i>, and <i>Ferocactus cylindraceus</i>. <i>Mammillaria grahamii</i> (trace cover) is frequently present in a very weak dwarf-shrub layer, while <i>Eriogonum wrightii</i> occurs occasionally. <i>Aristida purpurea</i> (trace cover) consistently occurs in an extremely sparse graminoid layer. <i>Argythamnia neomexicana</i> (1%) and <i>Tidestromia oblongifolia</i> (1%) occur from time to time in a very sparse forb layer. Based upon the 2 stands sampled, this association hosts below-average species diversity among plant communities in Grand Canyon, with 11 species per 400-square-meter plot. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:37543-{971EEBE2-178E-4E04-BBF2-D6883DA69621}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 20-Jul-2018 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.840615
  Code: CEPP009525
  Translated: Schott's Pygmy-cedar Shrubland
  Scientific: Peucephyllum schottii Shrubland