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CEGL001962 Eriogonum deserticola Sand Dune Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Colorado Desert Buckwheat Sand Dune Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Colorado Desert Buckwheat Sand Dune
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on active dunes in the extreme southwestern portion of Arizona, southeastern California and likely occurs in adjacent Sonora, Mexico. Sparse stands of dune vegetation included in this type occur in the lower Sonoran Desert below 100 m elevation. Stands occur on active and partially stabilized dunes. Sites are level to steep, include all aspects, and the substrates are deep, shifting dune sands. Total vegetation canopy cover may be less than 10% and is dominated by the dwarf-shrub Eriogonum deserticola. The perennial bunchgrass Pleuraphis rigida is codominant in some stands. Species diversity is typically low compared to adjacent vegetation. Other species present include shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as Ambrosia dumosa, Croton wigginsii, Ephedra trifurca, Larrea tridentata, Parkinsonia microphylla, Psorothamnus emoryi, and the forbs, Brassica tournefortii, Cryptantha sp., Dicoria canescens, and Palafoxia arida.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation canopy cover may be less than 10% and is dominated by the dwarf-shrub Eriogonum deserticola. The perennial bunchgrass Pleuraphis rigida (= Hilaria rigida) is codominant in some stands. Species diversity is typically low compared to adjacent vegetation. Other species present include shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as Ambrosia dumosa, Croton wigginsii, Ephedra trifurca, Larrea tridentata, Parkinsonia microphylla, Psorothamnus emoryi, and the forbs, Brassica tournefortii, Cryptantha sp., Dicoria canescens, and Palafoxia arida.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Sparse stands of dune vegetation included in this type occur in the lower Sonoran Desert below 100 m elevation. Stands occur on active and partially stabilized dunes. Sites are level to steep, include all aspects, and the substrates are deep, shifting dune sands.
Geographic Range: This association occurs on active dunes in the extreme southwestern portion of Arizona, southeastern California and likely occurs in adjacent Sonora, Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, MXSON
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684600
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.4 Saguaro - Organ Pipe Cactus - Burrobush Mojave-Sonoran Semi-Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M088 | 3.A.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.4.e North American Warm Semi-Desert Dune & Sand Flats Group | G675 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
| Alliance | A4026 Desert Twinbugs - Desert Sand-verbena - Desert Panicgrass Dune Alliance | A4026 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
| Association | CEGL001962 Colorado Desert Buckwheat Sand Dune Sparse Vegetation | CEGL001962 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Desert Dune Sand Plant (Thorne 1982)
< Stabilized and Partially-Stabilized Desert Dunes (#22200) (Holland 1986b)
= Yuma Desert Dunes Site - Eriogonum deserticola dominated (Warren and Laurenzi 1987)
< Stabilized and Partially-Stabilized Desert Dunes (#22200) (Holland 1986b)
= Yuma Desert Dunes Site - Eriogonum deserticola dominated (Warren and Laurenzi 1987)
- 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.
- Bowers, J. E. 1984. Plant geography of southwestern sand dunes. Desert Plants 6(1):31-42, 51-54.
- Felger, R. S. 1980. Vegetation and flora of the Gran Desierto, Sonora, Mexico. Desert Plants 2(2):87-114.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Thorne, R. F. 1982. The desert and other transmontane plant communities of southern California. Aliso 10(2):219-257.
- Warren, P. L., and A. W. Laurenzi. 1987. Rare plant survey of the Yuma District. Unpublished report prepared for USDI Bureau of Land Management, Yuma, AZ. 61 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.