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CEGL001486 Sporobolus wrightii - Panicum obtusum Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Grassland
Colloquial Name: Big Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This desert grassland is found in southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and Chihuahua, Mexico. It possibly occurs in Trans-Pecos Texas and Sonora, Mexico. Stands are restricted to bottomlands, washes, lowland swales and alluvial stream terraces that are subject to flooding. Elevations are roughly 1400-1560 m. Soil texture ranges from silt to clay to clay loam. Some sites had significant amounts of gravel. Parent material is silt or clay alluvium. Stands have a moderately dense herbaceous layer (30-70% cover) dominated by the tall perennial bunchgrass Sporobolus wrightii. Panicum obtusum, Bouteloua gracilis, Chloris virgata, and Eragrostis spp. are commonly present. Forbs are generally sparse (<5% cover) and may include species of Portulaca, Ambrosia, Solanum, and Datura. The diagnostic characteristics of this grassland association are the dominance of Sporobolus wrightii and the presence of Panicum obtusum (which can dominant local areas).
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: Stands have a moderately dense herbaceous layer (30-70% cover) dominated by the tall perennial bunchgrass Sporobolus wrightii. Panicum obtusum, Bouteloua gracilis, Chloris virgata, and Eragrostis spp. are commonly present. Forbs are generally sparse (<5% cover) and may include species of Portulaca, Ambrosia, Solanum, and Datura. The diagnostic characteristics of this grassland association are the dominance of Sporobolus wrightii and the presence of Panicum obtusum (which can dominant local areas).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are restricted to bottomlands, washes, lowland swales and alluvial stream terraces that are subject to flooding. Elevations are roughly 1400-1560 m. Soil texture ranges from silt to clay to clay loam. Some sites had significant amounts of gravel. Parent material is silt or clay alluvium.
Geographic Range: This association is uncommon in the "Borderlands" region of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northwestern Mexico, and potentially in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas and Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH, MXSON?, NM, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686165
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.d Tobosa Grass - Alkali Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Semi-Desert Lowland Grassland Group | G489 | 3.A.2.Na.3.d |
| Alliance | A3186 Alkali Sacaton - Big Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Lowland Desert Grassland Alliance | A3186 | 3.A.2.Na.3.d |
| Association | CEGL001486 Big Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Grassland | CEGL001486 | 3.A.2.Na.3.d |
Concept Lineage: Merged into this because the Sporobolus airoides of that type is actually Sporobolus airoides ssp. wrightii.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sporobolus wrightii - Panicum obtusum PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
= Sporobolus wrightii - Panicum obtusum PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b)
= Sporobolus wrightii - Panicum obtusum Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Sporobolus wrightii - Panicum obtusum PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b)
= Sporobolus wrightii - Panicum obtusum Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
- Bock, J. H., and C. E. Bock. 1986. Habitat relationships of some native perennial grasses in southeastern Arizona. Desert Plants 8:3-14.
- 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.
- Muldavin, E., G. Shore, K. Taugher, and B. Milne. 1998d. A vegetation map classification and map for the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. Final report submitted to USDI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, NM, by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 73 pp. + appendices.
- 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.
- Schulz, K. A. 2004. Vegetation classification of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. Unpublished report submitted to USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.