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A.1045 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1045
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This alliance is found in the transition zone between the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin in eastern California and southern Nevada at elevations from 1000-1800 m. Stands occur in areas with low topographic relief, such as ephemeral drainages and playa margins. Some sites may experience short-term flooding following precipitation or snowmelt. The affinity of this vegetation for basins and drainages may have more to do with winter cold-air drainage than soil moisture or other edaphic characteristics. Soils are generally medium-textured and often somewhat alkaline. Vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of ~Grayia spinosa$, usually in association with ~Lycium andersonii$ or ~Lycium pallidum$. Other shrub species include ~Atriplex canescens, Ephedra nevadensis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens)$, and ~Tetradymia axillaris$. The herbaceous layer is usually very sparse and is composed of perennial bunch grasses, including ~Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides)$ and ~Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii)$, with scattered forbs. Frequent perennial forbs include ~Calochortus kennedyi, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii (= Castilleja chromosa), Lomatium mohavense$, and ~Astragalus$ spp. Annual grasses and forbs include ~Bromus rubens, Oxytheca perfoliata, Eriogonum deflexum, Mentzelia$ spp., and ~Camissonia$ spp. Diagnostic of this desert alliance is the dominance of ~Grayia spinosa$ in the shrub layer with over 25% cover. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.816.A1045
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: III.B.3.N.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: GRAYIA SPINOSA INTERMITTENTLY FLOODED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1045
  Common: Spiny Hopsage Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Grayia spinosa Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance