Name:
Pleuraphis jamesii - Achnatherum hymenoides - Hesperostipa comata Semi-Desert Grassland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This widespread group includes semi-arid to arid grasslands found throughout the intermountain western U.S. The dominant perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs within this group are all drought-resistant plants. Dominant or codominant species are <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum nelsonii, Achnatherum speciosum, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa cusickii, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, and <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>. Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs often are present, especially <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Atriplex</i> spp., <i>Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra</i> spp., <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>, and <i>Krascheninnikovia lanata</i>, which are the typical dominant species of adjacent shrublands. Stands occur on sites on a variety of landforms, including swales, playas, mesas, alluvial flats, and plains over an elevational range of approximately 1100 to 3290 m in most of its range and 350 to 425 m in the Columbia Basin. This group may constitute the matrix over large areas of intermountain basins, and also may occur as large patches in mosaics with semi-desert shrublands. Grasslands in areas of higher precipitation, at higher elevation, typically belong to other groups. Substrates are often well-drained sandy or loam soils derived from sedimentary parent materials but are quite variable and may include fine-textured soils derived from igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40068-{BF55658F-A4D0-4BDB-89CB-43844F2FF2A3}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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