Name:
Ephedra spp. - Leymus salinus - Eriogonum corymbosum Badlands Cold Desert Sparse Vegetation Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance consists of sparsely vegetated (<10% vascular cover) areas with varied characteristic species such as <i>Enceliopsis nudicaulis, Eriogonum brevicaule, Leymus salinus ssp. salinus, Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis, Lupinus argenteus, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, and/or <i>Zuckia brandegeei</i>. Other species include dwarf-shrubs such as <i>Atriplex confertifolia, Gutierrezia</i> spp., and <i>Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. stenophyllus</i>. Characteristic forbs and grasses include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Arenaria hookeri, Astragalus</i> spp., <i>Cryptantha</i> spp., <i>Eriogonum pauciflorum, Machaeranthera grindelioides, Pleuraphis jamesii, Platyschkuhria integrifolia, Poa secunda</i>, and/or <i>Xylorhiza venusta</i>. This alliance occurs throughout the Intermountain West. Habitats are badlands of marine shales, siltstones and mudstones (clay). Landforms are typically rounded hills and plains that form a rolling topography, but at time can be steep and highly eroded. The harsh soil properties and high rate of erosion and deposition are driving environmental variables.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39262-{A1106A24-AF1E-476B-A48A-725B1E134B66}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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