Name:
A.1105
Reference:
EcoArt 2002
Description:
Associations within this alliance occur at intermediate elevations (1500-2500 m) in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain West, a region of semi-arid, continental climate regime. Soils are typically young, shallow, coarse-textured, and often derived from calcareous parent materials. ~Artemisia nova$ associations occur on well-drained slopes and ridges and often grow with other ~Artemisia$ associations on deeper soils. In the Columbia River Basin, the vegetation in this alliance occupies the driest habitats of all the ~Artemisia$-dominated alliances. This alliance is characterized by the dominance of the dwarf-shrub ~Artemisia nova$, which must contribute at least 40% of the total shrub cover in any stand, and by cover of perennial graminoids that is typically less than 20%. Associated shrub species that occur in stands of this alliance include ~Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Atriplex confertifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Artemisia arbuscula, Artemisia cana, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Grayia spinosa, Purshia tridentata$, and ~Gutierrezia sarothrae$. The ground layer is dominated by perennial bunch grasses which may exceed the height of the shrubs, but typically have <20% total cover. Recurrent species include ~Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa), Achnatherum thurberianum (= Stipa thurberiana), Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Elymus elymoides, Poa secunda$, and ~Koeleria macrantha$. In southern stands, ~Bouteloua gracilis$ and ~Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii)$ may also be important. Common forbs include ~Balsamorhiza sagittata, Senecio integerrimus, Packera multilobata (= Senecio multilobatus), Stenotus armerioides, Heterotheca villosa, Phlox hoodii, Sphaeralcea coccinea$, and ~Castilleja angustifolia$. At the edges of intermountain basins, this alliance is usually contiguous with ~Atriplex confertifolia$ shrublands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.878.A1105
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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