Name:
Hesperostipa comata Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
Grasslands included in this alliance are characterized by a sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by <i>Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata</i>, or <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>. Other common to codominant graminoids include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Carex filifolia, Koeleria macrantha, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, Sporobolus contractus</i>, and <i>Sporobolus giganteus</i>. The invasive species <i>Bromus tectorum</i> is common in disturbed stands. Forb cover is also sparse, but can be relatively diverse. Common forbs are <i>Gaura coccinea, Lappula occidentalis, Lithophragma glabrum, Lithophragma glabrum, Lupinus pusillus, Opuntia aurea, Opuntia polyacantha, Plantago patagonica</i>, or <i>Pediomelum argophyllum</i>. Cryptogams are important in some stands with up to 40% ground cover on sites in the Colorado Plateau. This grassland alliance is found primarily from Wyoming Basins, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin. Sites are on flat to moderately steep, often south-facing slopes, but can occur on any aspect. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, well-drained, coarse-textured, and non-saline. Sites include intermountain basins, alluvial flats, alluvial terraces of large rivers, sandy upper stream terraces along intermittent washes, and on sand deposits on mesas and plains.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38193-{A0CE6A9E-4F69-4F14-BCAA-A360076AE069}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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