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CEGL004574 Tiquilia hispidissima / Sporobolus airoides Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hairy Crinklemat / Alkali Sacaton Dwarf-shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community occurs on unconsolidated materials, seemingly with both salt and gypsum, within the Trans Pecos region of Texas and possibly adjacent areas. The vegetation is characterized by an open dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Tiquilia hispidissima with Sporobolus airoides dominating the open herbaceous layer. Other species are variable and may include Sartwellia flaveriae or other gypsophilic species as well as non-gypsophilic species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands have been reported from north-central Arizona because of confusion over the taxonomy of Tiquilia. The Chihuahuan Desert species is Tiquilia hispidissima (Torr. & Gray) A. Richards, whereas the Arizona species is Tiquilia latior (I.M. Johnston) A. Richards. The confusion occurred because the latter species was treated as a variety of the former one, as Coldenia hispidissima var. latior I.M. Johnston, which was later elevated to species (and transferred to Tiquilia). Tiquilia hispidissima (and this plant association) is not reported from Arizona, but only Texas, New Mexico and possibly Mexico (Kartesz 1999). More information is needed to fully classify and describe this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by an open dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Tiquilia hispidissima with Sporobolus airoides dominating the open herbaceous layer. Other species are variable and may include Sartwellia flaveriae or other gypsophilic species as well as non-gypsophilic species (Powell and Turner 1974). More information is needed to fully classify and describe this association.
Dynamics: Tiquilia hispidissima is considered to be a gypsophilous species (Warnock 1974). However, many of these species are facultatively gypsophilous, not obligate, and are found on other, usually harsh (saline or alkaline) substrates (Powell and Turner 1974). Sporobolus airoides is a widespread graminoid species able to tolerate moderately high alkalinity and salinity (USFS 1937).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on unconsolidated materials, seemingly with both salt and gypsum, within the Trans Pecos region of Texas and possibly adjacent areas. Site are typically flat. More information is needed to fully classify and describe this association.
Geographic Range: This association occurs locally on gypseous and possibly saline soils in the Trans Pecos region of Texas and possibly New Mexico and Chihuahua, Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: MXCHH?, NM?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683593
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.3 Black Grama - Bullgrass - Tobosa Grass Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland Macrogroup | M087 | 3.A.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.3.b Hairy Crinklemat / Gypsum Grama - Gyp Dropseed Grassland Group | G492 | 3.A.2.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A3243 Hairy Crinklemat / Gyp Dropseed - Fleshy Honeysweet Gypsum Outcrop & Alluvial Flat Desert Scrub Alliance | A3243 | 3.A.2.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL004574 Hairy Crinklemat / Alkali Sacaton Dwarf-shrub Grassland | CEGL004574 | 3.A.2.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Gypsum Outcrops (Warnock 1974)
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Kartesz, J. T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: J. T. Kartesz and C. A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC.
- Powell, A. M., and B. L. Turner. 1974. Aspects of the plant biology of the gypsum outcrops of the Chihuahuan Desert. Pages 315-325 in: R. H. Wauer and D. H. Riskind, editors. Transactions of the Symposium on the Biological Resources of the Chihuahuan Desert region, United States and Mexico. USDI National Park Service, Washington, DC.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1937. Range plant handbook. Dover Publications Inc., New York. 816 pp.
- Warnock, B. H. 1974. Wildflowers of the Guadalupe Mountains and the Sand Dune Country, Texas. Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX.