Name:
Ephedra viridis Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer dominated by xeromorphic evergreen microphyllous shrub <i>Ephedra viridis</i>. <i>Artemisia tridentata</i> or <i>Tetradymia canescens</i> may be present to codominant in some stands of this alliance. A variety of other shrubs may be present with low cover, such as <i>Acacia greggii, Agave</i> spp., <i>Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Encelia farinosa</i>, the dwarf-shrub <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>, and cacti <i>Echinocereus engelmannii, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha</i>, and <i>Sclerocactus whipplei</i>. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense, in some stands being more prominent than the shrubs, and is usually dominated by perennial bunchgrasses such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, or the exotic annual grass <i>Bromus tectorum</i>. Other grasses such as <i>Aristida purpurea, Muhlenbergia pungens, Sporobolus airoides</i>, and <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i> may be present depending on the site. Forb cover is generally sparse but may be surprisingly diverse. Biological crusts are often present and provide up to 25% cover. Stands of this alliance occur in the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin and are found on dry, rocky, gravelly or sandy sites in valleys and washes, and on slopes, alluvial fans, mesas, and foothills from 1380 to 2020 m elevation. Slopes are gentle to moderately steep (1-45%).
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38488-{95122D7F-044D-4C80-8011-763241A8C6F5}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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