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CEGL001387 Prosopis pubescens Wet Scrub
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Screwbean Wet Scrub
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has been described only along the Rio Grande valley of southern New Mexico, in Socorro, Sierra, and Dona Ana counties. Apparently it does not extend into Texas. It occurs along the valley floor of a large river in southern New Mexico, from 1130 to near 1220 m (3700-4000 feet) elevation. Materials of stone, gravel, sand, silt, and clay have been deposited in the valley to the depth of many hundreds of feet, over which a relatively flat floodplain has developed consisting of alluvial materials deposited by tributaries. This association occurs on the most xeric portions of the valley floor, but Prosopis pubescens is able to tap deep groundwater. However, the common presence of Distichlis spicata indicates the water table is usually within 1.2 m (4 feet) of the surface. Spring floods may or may not reach individual stands every year. The species structure and composition of ~Prosopis pubescens Wet Scrub (CEGL001387)$$ is not well-described. The canopy consists the broad-leaved, deciduous thorny shrub Prosopis pubescens, which may reach heights of 10 m. Cover of this species is highly variable, but typically is over 30% and up to 60%. There is a shorter shrub layer, also composed of broad-leaved, deciduous species, including Baccharis salicifolia, Lycium andersonii, Suaeda suffrutescens and Pluchea sericea. Total cover of this shorter layer (<2 m) is less than 10%. The most common species in the herbaceous layer are the perennial grasses Distichlis spicata and Sporobolus airoides. There is also a component of weedy, annual forbs.
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: The structure and composition of the Prosopis pubescens phreatophyte association is not well-described. The canopy consists the broad-leaved deciduous thorny shrub Prosopis pubescens, which may reach heights of 10 m. Cover of this species is highly variable, but typically is over 30% and up to 60%. There is a shorter shrub layer, also composed of broad-leaved deciduous species, including Baccharis salicifolia, Lycium andersonii, Suaeda suffrutescens and Pluchea sericea. Total cover of this shorter layer (<2 m) is less than 10%. The most common species in the herbaceous layer are the perennial grasses Distichlis spicata and Sporobolus airoides. There is also a component of weedy, annual forbs. Most stands of this association have been invaded by the exotic small tree Tamarix chinensis, which either codominates with or has nearly eliminated Prosopis pubescens. Only the most xeric of sites, where flooding is very infrequent and the water table is too deep for Tamarix to tap, still support stands dominated solely by screwbean.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs along the valley floor of a large river in southern New Mexico, from 1130 to near 1220 m (3700-4000 feet) elevation. The valley is a structurally controlled feature, running for several hundred miles south from southern Colorado into southern New Mexico. Materials of stone, gravel, sand, silt, and clay have been deposited in the valley to the depth of many hundreds of feet, over which a relatively flat floodplain has developed consisting of alluvial materials deposited by tributaries. From the vicinity of Albuquerque south, the river drops an average of 5 feet per mile. The climate of the southern portion of this valley is hot and arid. There is great fluctuation in precipitation between wet and dry years, but the annual average is 20 cm (7.9 inches). Periodic droughts can result in the river becoming dry.
This association occurs on the most xeric portions of the valley floor, but Prosopis pubescens is able to tap deep groundwater. However, the common presence of Distichlis spicata indicates the water table is usually within 4 feet of the surface. Spring floods may or may not reach individual stands every year. Soils are not described in detail, but are probably deep, river-deposited silts over stratified layers of coarser-textured materials, such as sand and gravels. Organic matter occurs in the surface horizons, and soluble salts can have high values in some soils.
This association occurs on the most xeric portions of the valley floor, but Prosopis pubescens is able to tap deep groundwater. However, the common presence of Distichlis spicata indicates the water table is usually within 4 feet of the surface. Spring floods may or may not reach individual stands every year. Soils are not described in detail, but are probably deep, river-deposited silts over stratified layers of coarser-textured materials, such as sand and gravels. Organic matter occurs in the surface horizons, and soluble salts can have high values in some soils.
Geographic Range: This association has been described only along the Rio Grande valley of southern New Mexico, in Socorro, Sierra, and Dona Ana counties. Apparently it does not extend into Texas.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684799
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division | D032 | 2.C.4.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M076 | 2.C.4.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nc.1.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - False Willow species North American Warm Desert Riparian Low Bosque & Shrubland Group | G533 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A3877 Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - Screwbean Mesquite Wet Scrub Alliance | A3877 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001387 American Screwbean Wet Scrub | CEGL001387 | 2.C.4.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- Campbell, C. J., and W. A. Dick-Peddie. 1964. Comparison of phreatophyte communities on the Rio Grande in New Mexico. Ecology 45:492-501.
- Metcalfe, O. B. 1902. Flora of Mesilla Valley. Unpublished thesis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. 22 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.