Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
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<strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Classification</strong> <strong>and</strong> Distribution <strong>Mapping</strong> <strong>Report</strong>: Petrified Forest National Park<br />
C.4 Herbaceous<br />
C.4.5. Calamovilfa gigantea Desert Wash Shrub Herbaceous <strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
Base map class<br />
NatureServe common name<br />
NatureServe code<br />
Giant.S<strong>and</strong>reed.Desert.Wash.Shrub.Herbaceous.<strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
Big.S<strong>and</strong>reed.Desert.Wash.Shrub.Herbaceous.<strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
CEGL004012<br />
Summary:<br />
This vegetated wash association occurs at Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona <strong>and</strong><br />
likely occurs elsewhere in the southern Colorado Plateau. Elevations at the national park range from<br />
1650 to 1680 m (5400-5500 ft). St<strong>and</strong>s occur in or near gently sloping washes that experience periodic<br />
streamflow. The substrate is mixed alluvium, sometimes with a surface layer of rocks derived from<br />
s<strong>and</strong>stone, petrified wood, <strong>and</strong> mixed gravel. The vegetation cover is characterized by a relatively diverse<br />
(21 to 42 species) <strong>and</strong> open canopy that ranges from 17 to 23% total cover. The vegetation cover<br />
is composed of an open herbaceaous layer (9-14% cover) dominated by the tall graminoid, Calamovilfa<br />
gigantea (5-9% cover). Scattered shrubs such as Ericameria nauseosa (2-3% cover) are present,<br />
with total shrub cover of 6-9%.<br />
<strong>Classification</strong> confidence: 3 - Weak.<br />
<strong>Classification</strong> comments:<br />
Globally. Data are not available.<br />
Petrified Forest National Park. This association had a similar composition <strong>and</strong> environment<br />
as Ericameria nauseosa Desert Wash Shrubl<strong>and</strong> (CEGL002261), except that it had a higher<br />
cover of the grass Calamovilfa gigantea.<br />
<strong>Vegetation</strong> hierarchy:<br />
Physiognomic class V Herbaceous.<strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
Physiognomic subclass V.A. Perennial.graminoid.vegetation<br />
Physiognomic group V.A.5. Temperate.or.subpolar.grassl<strong>and</strong><br />
Physiognomic subgroup V.A.5.N. Natural/Semi-natural.temperate.or.subpolar.grassl<strong>and</strong><br />
Formation name V.A.5.N.a. Tall.sod.temperate.or.subpolar.grassl<strong>and</strong><br />
Alliance name<br />
Calamovilfa gigantea.Herbaceous.Alliance.(A.2680),.Big.<br />
S<strong>and</strong>reed.Herbaceous.Alliance<br />
Ecological systems placement:<br />
Ecological system unique ID<br />
CES304.781<br />
Ecological system name<br />
Inter-Mountain.Basins.Wash<br />
NatureServe conservation status:<br />
Global rank. GNR (14-Feb-2007)<br />
Distribution:<br />
Globally. This association has only been described from Petrified Forest National Park in<br />
northeastern Arizona <strong>and</strong> likely occurs elsewhere in the Painted Desert of the southern Colorado<br />
Plateau. Until further inventory is completed, there is no global information.<br />
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