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Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata - Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata - Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This mesic shrubland and steppe alliance occur throughout the Intermountain West from the western Great Basin to the northern Rocky Mountains, the Columbian Basin and Colorado Plateau. The vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a somewhat sparse to moderately dense (10-70% cover) shrub layer of <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata</i> or <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis</i>. Shrub associates include <i>Ericameria nauseosa</i> or <i>Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus</i> which increase with disturbance. Other shrubs occasionally present include <i>Atriplex</i> spp., <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>, and <i>Symphoricarpos longiflorus</i>. Occasionally individual trees are present in some stands. The sparse to dense herbaceous layer is dominated by bunchgrasses that occupy patches in the shrub matrix. The most widespread species is <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, which occurs from the Columbia Basin to the Northern Rockies. Other locally dominant or important species include <i>Elymus elymoides, Elymus lanceolatus, Festuca idahoensis, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Leymus cinereus, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. Forbs are generally of low importance and are highly variable across the range. Mosses and lichens are important ground cover in some stands. This mesic shrubland and steppe alliance occurs on sloping fans, footslopes, rolling hills, and especially deep, well-drained alluvial bottomlands. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38471-{1CE04D09-3A2C-4FA4-A6A8-B79C6886BFC7}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 18-Dec-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899308 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A3183
  Translated: Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
  Common: Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland
  Scientific: Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata - Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance