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Ephedra aspera Scrub Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Ephedra aspera Scrub Alliance Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: Vegetation in this shrubland alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderate cover of xeromorphic short shrubs and sparse to moderately dense herbaceous cover. The shrub layer is dominated by <i>Ephedra aspera</i> often with <i>Encelia farinosa</i> and <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i> and less commonly with <i>Acacia greggii, Bernardia myricifolia</i>, and <i>Ferocactus cylindraceus</i>. The sparse to moderately dense understory is dominated by graminoids such as <i>Muhlenbergia porteri, Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum speciosum, Aristida purpurea, Dasyochloa pulchella</i>, and annual <i>Vulpia octoflora</i>. <i>Acourtia wrightii, Artemisia ludoviciana, Galium stellatum, Machaeranthera pinnatifida</i>, and <i>Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia</i> are common forbs. Exotic species such as <i>Erodium cicutarium</i> and <i>Bromus rubens</i> occur in many stands. This semi-arid shrubland alliance occurs in Arizona in the Grand Canyon National Park and likely in the Sonoran Desert. Stands most typically occur on sideslopes at 600 to 1100 m elevation, but can be found as high as 1650 m, or rarely in drainages and valley bottoms at 675 to 950 m. It is primarily found on moderate to steep (15-40°), north- to east-facing slopes, but also occasionally occurs on gentler slopes (8-15°). Soils are well- to rapidly-drained silty or sandy loams that occasionally contain clay. The soils typically obscure various underlying bedrock types. The diagnostic and dominant species <i>Ephedra aspera</i> occurs in the Sonoran, Colorado, and Chihuahuan deserts, but the alliance has not been reported from there. Additional survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this alliance across its full range.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38427-{48A4C6E8-E420-41B8-AB6E-455F6A320BA5} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 18-Dec-2014 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Yucca brevifolia - Eriogonum fasciculatum - Ephedra aspera Mixed Desert Scrub Group This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: Show/Hide   Ephedra aspera / Mixed Semi-Desert Grasses Shrubland   Ephedra aspera Shrubland		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899264 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A3139   Translated: Rough Joint-fir Scrub Alliance   Common: Arizona Joint-fir Scrub   Scientific: Ephedra aspera Scrub Alliance