SV1

Silurian Valley reference site, Csv2, southern transect, San Bernadino County, California, USA.  35º 28.909' N latitude, 116º 07.335' W longitude; elevation 957 feet.  A gently sloping bajada of coarse alluvium with many small rills but no arroyos.  Lichens were rare, but algal crust was relatively common.  Date of sampling:  June 7, 1998.

Dominant vascular plants:  Creosote, Ambrosia, Schismus barbatus

Mean algal crust thickness:  4.7 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover                % Cover
Shrubs                             1.4
Annuals                          7.4
Perennial grasses          0.0
Perennial forbs              0.0
Algal crust                   53.0
Bryophytes                    0.0
Lichens                           0.1
Bare Soil                       18.7
Rock                               3.2
Gravel                          10.9
Litter                              2.4
Cactus                            0.0