Name:
Sphaeralcea ambigua Dry Meadow
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This herbaceous association occurs in the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mojave Desert in California, Nevada and Arizona. It is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer (5-24% cover) that is dominated or codominated by <i>Sphaeralcea ambigua</i> with a variety of other forbs and scattered grasses present. The amount of <i>Sphaeralcea ambigua</i> depends on site conditions and time since disturbance, including fire and grazing, ranging from 5-20% cover. <i>Erigeron divergens, Heliomeris multiflora</i>, and <i>Penstemon linarioides</i> are common associates on burned sites. Other associates include <i>Antheropeas</i> spp., <i>Cryptantha</i> spp., <i>Eriogonum inflatum, Eriogonum nidularium, Salvia columbariae</i>, and invasive exotics <i>Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum</i>, and <i>Erodium cicutarium</i>. Perennial grasses such as <i>Achnatherum speciosum, Elymus elymoides</i>, and <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i> may be present at very low cover. Depending on sites, occasional emergent trees, shrubs or dwarf-shrubs may be present, such as <i>Juniperus osteosperma, Pinus monophylla, Quercus chrysolepis, Yucca brevifolia, Lycium andersonii, Thamnosma montana</i>, or <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>. Stands occur on plateaus, valley bottoms, and sideslopes at mid to upper elevations (750-1875 m). Slopes are gentle to somewhat steep (1-25°). It is found primarily on low to mid slopes with various aspects. Soils are normally moderately well-drained, range between silt, loam or sand, and are derived from sandstone or igneous substrates such as granodiorite or rhyolite.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:37544-{D35EFCA3-4FA3-4263-899C-35090A186F6B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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