Sand desert shrub

Sand desert shrub (SDS) is a plant community, or vegetation type, found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region in areas of shifting sands or very sandy soils.[1]:3 Dominant plant species include old man sage (Artemisia filifolia), yucca, Indian ricegrass (Stipa hymenoides), and wavy leaf oak (Quercus welshii).[1]:3 A common characteristic of plants in this community is a very deep and extensive root system, which helps stabilize the sand dunes, or an ability to adjust to the shifting sands.[1]:3 In the Glen Canyon area, it can be found in lower elevation mesas, canyons, and terraces to 4,500 feet (1,400 m) in elevation.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7
  2. ↑ Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante & the Glen Canyon Region, 2nd ed, Ron Adkison


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