Print Report
CEGL000645 Platanus wrightii - Juglans major Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arizona Sycamore - Arizona Walnut Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riparian forest is found along perennial and seasonally intermittent streams in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Stands occur in narrow stream valleys and on gently sloping alluvial terraces. Elevations range from 1240-1700 m. This association requires reliable surface flow during the winter-spring months, is periodically inundated during spring runoff and generally occurs along small, perennial streams. The Gray Ranch stand in southwestern New Mexico occurs on gravelly alluvium deposited among boulders derived from rhyolite alluvium parent material. These depositional soils are silty loam in texture. The tree canopy is codominated by the broad-leaved trees Platanus wrightii and Juglans major. Total canopy cover is over 70%, and is usually composed of a few large Platanus wrightii dominating the stand, with larger numbers of smaller Juglans major trees. Height of the canopy is typically 18-23 m. Other broad-leaved deciduous trees that may be present in some stands include Fraxinus velutina, Populus angustifolia, and Alnus oblongifolia. The understory has a sparse shrubby layer, with less than 10% total cover composed of saplings of Platanus and Juglans spp., and a highly variable mix of shrub species that may include Baccharis salicifolia, Rhus microphylla, and Chilopsis linearis. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer may have high species diversity. At Gray Ranch, NM, the most abundant herbaceous species are the perennial grasses Bouteloua curtipendula (15% cover) and Setaria grisebachii (10% cover). Other grasses that may occur include Leptochloa dubia, Muhlenbergia spp., Elymus elymoides, and Elymus glaucus. Forbs are sparse, with less than 5% cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type has not been well-defined in the literature. Szaro (1989) reports a Juglans major - Platanus wrightii Community Type, which is somewhat similar to the type reported from Gray Ranch in southeastern New Mexico (Bourgeron et al. 1995). More review is needed to confirm if the vegetation community described in Szaro (1989) is the same.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a deciduous, riparian forest association, dominated by the broad-leaved trees Platanus wrightii and Juglans major. Total canopy cover is over 70%, and is usually composed of a few large Platanus wrightii dominating the stand, with larger numbers of smaller Juglans major. Height of the canopy is typically 18-23 m. Other broad-leaved deciduous trees that may be present in some stands include Fraxinus velutina, Populus angustifolia, and Alnus oblongifolia. The understory has a sparse shrubby layer, with less than 10% total cover, composed of saplings of Platanus and Juglans, and a highly variable mix of shrub species. Some shrubs that may be present include the broad-leaved deciduous Baccharis salicifolia (= Baccharis glutinosa), Rhus microphylla, and Chilopsis linearis. The herbaceous layer is diverse and also variable. The stand on the Gray Ranch was dominated by perennial grasses; most abundant are Bouteloua curtipendula (15% cover) and Setaria grisebachii (10% cover). Other grasses that may occur include Leptochloa dubia, Muhlenbergia spp., Elymus elymoides, and Elymus glaucus. Forbs are sparse, with less than 5% cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges. Most of the annual precipitation of less than 45 cm occurs during the summer months as the result of convectional thunderstorms, and during winter as occasional rains. Late spring and early summer are typically dry. Summers are hot, and winters can have periods of cold weather, with occasional snows at higher elevations.
This is a riparian association occurring in narrow stream valleys, on gently sloping alluvial terraces. Elevations range from 1240 to 1700 m. This association requires reliable surface flow during the winter-spring months, is periodically inundated during spring runoff, and generally occurs along small, perennial streams. The parent material of the Gray Ranch occurrence is described as rhyolite alluvium, a gravelly alluvium deposited among boulders. Soils are depositional in nature and silty loams in texture.
This is a riparian association occurring in narrow stream valleys, on gently sloping alluvial terraces. Elevations range from 1240 to 1700 m. This association requires reliable surface flow during the winter-spring months, is periodically inundated during spring runoff, and generally occurs along small, perennial streams. The parent material of the Gray Ranch occurrence is described as rhyolite alluvium, a gravelly alluvium deposited among boulders. Soils are depositional in nature and silty loams in texture.
Geographic Range: Documented stands are known only from the Animas Mountains, New Mexico, but the association probably occurs elsewhere in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683800
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division | D013 | 1.B.3.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup | M036 | 1.B.3.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b Western Interior Riparian Forest & Woodland Group | G797 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3801 Arizona Sycamore Riparian Forest Alliance | A3801 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000645 Arizona Sycamore - Arizona Walnut Riparian Forest | CEGL000645 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juglans major - Platanus wrightii Community Type (Szaro 1989)
= Platanus wrightii - Juglans major PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a) [1 plot]
= Platanus wrightii - Juglans major PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b) [1 plot]
? Platanus sp. series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
? Mixed Broadleaf series (Brown et al. 1979)
= Platanus wrightii - Juglans major PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a) [1 plot]
= Platanus wrightii - Juglans major PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b) [1 plot]
? Platanus sp. series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
? Mixed Broadleaf series (Brown et al. 1979)
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1995a. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Brown, D. E., C. H. Lowe, and C. P. Pase. 1979. A digitized classification system for the biotic communities of North America with community (series) and association examples for the Southwest. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 14:1-16.
- Dick-Peddie, W. A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present, and future. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 244 pp.
- NHNM [Natural Heritage New Mexico]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Studd, S. E., J. A. Hubbard, B. Fallon, S. Drake, and M. Villarreal. 2017. Vegetation inventory, mapping, and characterization report, Tonto National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/SODN/NRR--2017/1498. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 166 pp.
- Szaro, R. C. 1989. Riparian forest and scrubland community types of Arizona and New Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 9(3-4):70-139.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.