Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

Appendix E: Plant community and map class key
18b..
19a..
19b..
20a..
20b..
21a..
21b..
22a..
22b..
23a..
23b..
24a..
•.
Association:.Bouteloua eriopoda.-.Pleuraphis jamesii Herbaceous.Vegetation
Herbaceous.species.cover.not.as.above..(19a)
.Sporobolus airoides.is.the.next.most.abundant.grass.after.Pleuraphis jamesii and.in.some.
areas.is.the.two.species.codominate..Commonly.occurs.on.sandy.soils.and.may.have.a.low.
cover.of.native.shrubs..
•. Base.map.class:.Galleta.-.Alkali.Sacaton.Herbaceous.Vegetation
•. Group.map.class:.Inter-Mountain.Basins.Semi-Desert.Grassland
•. Management.map.class:.Alkali.Sacaton.Steppe.and.Mixed.Grasslands
•. Association:.Pleuraphis jamesii -.Sporobolus airoides.Herbaceous.Vegetation
.Bouteloua gracilis.is.the.next.most.abundant.grass.after.Pleuraphis jamesii and.in.some.areas.the.two.species.codominate..Commonly.occurs.on.sandy.soils.and.may.have.a.low.cover.
of.native.shrubs..
•. Base.map.class:.Alkali.Sacaton.-.Blue.Grama.Herbaceous.Vegetation
•. Group.map.class:.Inter-Mountain.Basins.Semi-Desert.Grassland
•. Management.map.class:.Alkali.Sacaton.Steppe.and.Mixed.Grasslands
•. Association:.Sporobolus airoides.-.Bouteloua gracilis.Herbaceous.Vegetation
.Bouteloua eriopoda.is.the.dominant.herbaceous.species,.and.Pleuraphis jamesii commonly.
occurs.as.a.significant.component.of.the.herbaceous.cover..This.map.class.typically.has.a.low.
cover.of.shrubs.as.well..
Dominant.herbaceous.vegetation.not.as.above..(21a)
.Calamovilfa gigantea.is.the.dominant.herbaceous.species..This.tall.grass.commonly.occurs.in.
long.linear.stretches.along.washes.and.in.areas.with.periodic.water.flow.
•. Base.map.class:.Giant.Sandreed.Desert.Wash.Shrub.Herbaceous.Vegetation
•. Group.map.class:.Inter-Mountain.Basins.Wash
•. Management.map.class:.Vegetated.Wash.Complex
•. Association:.Calamovilfa gigantea.Desert.Wash.Shrub.Herbaceous.Vegetation
Dominant.herbaceous.vegetation.not.as.above..(22a)
.Sporobolus cryptandrus.is.the.dominant.herbaceous.species..Typically.occurs.on.sandy.soils.
or.on.sand.dunes.and.is.found.in.small.patches.throughout.the.park..Where.it.occurred,.it.
was.mapped.as.part.of.the.polygon.describing.the.vegetation.surrounding.it.
•. Association:.Sporobolus cryptandrus.Great.Basin.Herbaceous.Vegetation
Dominant.herbaceous.vegetation.not.as.above..(23a)
.Sporobolus coromandelianus.is.the.dominant.herbaceous.species.and.composes.over.half.
of.the.total.herbaceous.cover..No.perennial.grasses.occur.with.>1%.of.the.total.cover..This.
grass.is.an.annual.species.and.its.cover.may.fluctuate.depending.on.the.growing.season.and.
year..Where.it.occurred,.it.was.mapped.as.part.of.the.polygon.describing.the.vegetation.surrounding.it.
•. Association:.Sporobolus coromandelianus.Herbaceous.Vegetation.[Park.Special]
Dominant.herbaceous.species.not.as.above..(24a)
.Salsola tragus,.an.annual.exotic.species,.is.the.dominant.herbaceous.species..A.very.low.
cover.of.perennial.species.may.occur,.however.Salsola tragus.generally.has.>90%.of.the.total.
vegetation.cover..If.a.low.cover.of.perennial.species.occurs.on.the.site,.use.the.Lifeform.Key.
above.to.determine.if.the.perennial.vegetation.better.defines.the.site..Salsola tragus.varies.
significantly.in.cover.depending.on.seasonality.and.annual.precipitation..This.map.class.
tends.to.be.restricted.to.sites.that.are.almost.entirely.homogenous.patches.of.Salsola tragus.
and.occurs.on.unstable,.disturbed.surfaces,.and/or.sandy.substrates..It.typically.occurs.on.
sand.dunes.or.in.human.disturbed.areas,.such.as.along.roads.or.pipeline.corridors.
•. Base.map.class:.Russian.Thistle.Sand.Dune.Vegetation
•. Group.map.class:.Inter-Mountain.Basins.Active.and.Stabilized.Dune
•. Management.map.class:.Russian.Thistle.Sand.Dune.Vegetation
•. Association:.Salsola tragus.Sand.Dune.Vegetation.[Park.Special]
E5