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Eriogonum spp. / Poa secunda Dwarf-shrub Steppe Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Eriogonum spp. / Poa secunda Dwarf-shrub Steppe Alliance
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: Stands have a sparse to moderately dense, short herbaceous layer (10-60% cover) with a very sparse to moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer (2-40% cover). The herbaceous layer is dominated or codominated by the cool-season, perennial bunchgrass <i>Poa secunda</i>. Codominant species may include one or more <i>Eriogonum</i> dwarf-shrub species. Associates include perennial graminoids such as <i>Elymus elymoides</i> and <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> and perennial forbs. Scattered dwarf-shrubs and shrubs such as <i>Artemisia rigida, Ericameria nauseosa</i>, and <i>Nestotus stenophyllus</i> may be present. Moss and lichen cover in undisturbed stands is often high and ranges from 5-60% cover. Adjacent stands include other grasslands dominated by <i>Festuca idahoensis, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, or other perennial grasses, shrublands dominated by <i>Artemisia tridentata</i> or woodlands dominated by <i>Pinus ponderosa</i>. Grasslands included in this alliance occur in the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Idaho and into western Wyoming. Stands also likely occur in northeastern California. These grasslands are characteristic of the scablands in the Columbia Basin and portions of the Snake River plain, but extend east into Wyoming. Elevations range from 280-1650 m. Climate is temperate and continental, with mean annual precipitation ranging from 33-60 cm. Precipitation primarily occurs in the winter as snow or rain. Stands are found on flat to undulating ridgetops, plateaus, plains, and benches on steep canyon slopes. Sites are nearly level to moderately sloping (to 15%), but these communities may also occur in soil pockets between rocks on cliffs lining the sides of ravines. They occur on all aspects, but are more common on southern slopes. Soils are shallow with a high percentage of rock fragments and exposed rock (lithic soil). They are moderately to well-drained, sandy to clay loams, non-calcareous, and derived from alluvium, colluvium, residuum or loess. Parent materials include basalt lava. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38251-{AC28FE98-6442-4B2A-BE73-084C0A351619}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 14-Mar-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899153 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A1568
  Translated: Buckwheat species / Sandberg Bluegrass Dwarf-shrub Steppe Alliance
  Common: Buckwheat / Sandberg Bluegrass Dwarf-shrub Steppe
  Scientific: Eriogonum spp. / Poa secunda Dwarf-shrub Steppe Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) A.1568
(similar) Poa secunda Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Alliance