Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

Vegetation Classification and Distribution Mapping Report: Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park. This association occurred at 1820 and 1830 m (5980-6000 ft)
elevation. The slopes were steep (29-38%) with northeastern and northwestern orientations.
Both relevés had mudstone surface rocks.
USFWS wetland system: Not applicable.
Vegetation description:
Globally. This association has only been described from Petrified Forest National Park. Until
further inventory is completed, there is no global information.
Petrified Forest National Park. Two relevés were classified as Salvia pachyphylla Dwarfshrubland
(Park Special), with total vegetation cover of 11 and 19%. This vegetation cover
consisted of a tree stratum of 2% cover in both relevés, a shrub stratum with 9 and 14% cover,
and an herbaceous stratum with 0.5 and 3% cover. The species diversity was 20 and 23 species.
The vegetation in the shrub layer was dominated by Salvia pachyphylla, with 3 and 4% cover.
Most abundant species:
Stratum Global species PEFO species
Tall.shrub/sapling Data are not available. Salvia pachyphylla
Other noteworthy species:
Global species
Data are not available.
PEFO species
Achnatherum hymenoides,
Artemisia bigelovii, Bromus
tectorum, Chaetopappa ericoides,
Chamaesyce fendleri, Cordylanthus
wrightii, Cryptantha sp., Ephedra
torreyana, Eriogonum corymbosum,
Gutierrezia sarothrae, Hesperostipa
neomexicana, Juniperus
monosperma, Parryella filifolia,
Pleuraphis jamesii, Rhus trilobata,
Yucca angustissima
References:
Data are not available.
C54