Name:
Artemisia tridentata ssp. spiciformis - Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance is widespread in mountainous areas across the western U.S. and is characterized by a moderate to dense shrub layer in which <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana</i> or <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. spiciformis</i> dominates. If other shrubs are present, they have low cover and do not codominate. Perennial graminoids typically dominate the open to dense herbaceous layer. The most widespread species are <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> and <i>Festuca idahoensis</i>, which occur from the Columbia Basin to the Northern Rockies, although they may not be the most abundant species in individual stands. Other locally important species may include <i>Achnatherum occidentale, Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus carinatus, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca thurberi, Festuca viridula, Koeleria macrantha, Leucopoa kingii, Leymus cinereus, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. The forb layer is variable and can be very diverse. Species of <i>Castilleja, Potentilla, Erigeron, Phlox, Astragalus, Geum, Lupinus</i>, and <i>Eriogonum</i> are characteristic. Non-native grasses <i>Poa pratensis</i> and <i>Poa compressa</i> may be abundant. The alliance forms large, continuous stands on mid-elevation mountain slopes and foothills, and can extend above the lower treeline as patches within montane or subalpine coniferous forests. Sites are variable and range from flats to steep slopes to ridgetops with deep to shallow rocky soil.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38494-{7DD54EBB-03BE-4D54-9C20-DE168F621FAF}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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