Print Report
CEGL002056 Sabal mexicana - Ebenopsis ebano Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rio Grande Palmetto - Texas Ebony Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: Subtropical Texas Palmetto Riparian Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is a subtropical, evergreen forest dominated by a mixture of subtropical and temperate riverine species with scattered Sabal mexicana. In addition to Sabal mexicana, the 15-m canopy may include Fraxinus berlandieriana, Celtis laevigata, Ulmus crassifolia, Ebenopsis ebano, Leucaena pulverulenta, and Ehretia anacua. Tillandsia usneoides may occur as an epiphyte in the canopy. Undergrowth may be absent to dense, with a tangle of vines, shrubs, and fallen trees. Typical shrubs include Havardia pallens, Sideroxylon celastrinum, Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii, and Celtis ehrenbergiana. This community occurs on the silts and clays of the Rio Grande River floodplain. Fire and periodic flooding of adjacent resaca channels are thought to be critical factors to maintain Sabal mexicana forests. This community has an extremely limited distribution and exists as fragmented stands within an agricultural landscape.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The understory in remaining sites is too disturbed to recognize species as dominants or diagnostics. Sabal mexicana forest may grade into ~Ebenopsis ebano - Ehretia anacua / Condalia hookeri Riparian Forest (CEGL002054)$$ on the floodplains of the Rio Grande. Present on Audubon Sabal Palm Sanctuary, TNC Southmost Preserve, and Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR (Cameron County, Texas). Occurring somewhat more commonly in Tamaulipas (though eradicated in the Tamaulipan portion of the Rio Grande delta).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is a subtropical, evergreen forest dominated by a mixture of subtropical and temperate riverine species with scattered Sabal mexicana (Clover 1937). In addition to Sabal mexicana, the 15-m canopy may include Fraxinus berlandieriana, Celtis laevigata, Ulmus crassifolia, Ebenopsis ebano (= Pithecellobium ebano), Leucaena pulverulenta, and Ehretia anacua. Tillandsia usneoides may occur as an epiphyte in the canopy. Undergrowth may be absent to dense, with a tangle of vines, shrubs, and fallen trees. Typical shrubs include Havardia pallens, Sideroxylon celastrinum, Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (= Malvaviscus drummondii), and Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida). Ground cover varies from moderate herbaceous cover to no vegetation with litter of leaves and sticks (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988).
Dynamics: Fire and periodic flooding are thought to be critical factors to maintain Sabal mexicana wetland forests (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988, Diamond 1993).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on resaca banks and flatlands in the Rio Grande delta (Everitt et al. 1996).
Geographic Range: This community, which once extended 129 km inland from the mouth of the Rio Grande and south along the Mexican coast, is known only from a few fragmented stands in The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXTAM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686314
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.a Rio Grande Palmetto - Texas Ebony - Cedar Elm Tamaulipan Riparian Scrub Group | G549 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A0041 Texas Ebony - Rio Grande Palmetto / Faux-persil Riparian Scrub Alliance | A0041 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL002056 Rio Grande Palmetto - Texas Ebony Riparian Forest | CEGL002056 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Boscaje de Palma (Clover 1937)
? IIB1f. Subtropical Texas Palmetto Woodland (Allard 1990)
>< Sabal Palm Forest (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988)
? IIB1f. Subtropical Texas Palmetto Woodland (Allard 1990)
>< Sabal Palm Forest (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Clover, E. U. 1937. Vegetational survey of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Madrono 4:41-55, 77-100.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Diamond, D., B. Amos, T. Cook, R. Edwards, W. Elliot, R. Evans, and K. Kennedy. 1992. Endangered, threatened, and watchlist of natural communities of Texas. Texas Organization for Endangered Species. Austin, TX. 14 pp.
- Everitt, J. H., D. E Escobar, M. A, Alaniz, M. R. Davis, and J. V. Richardson. 1996b. Using spatial information techniques to map Chinese tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis) infestations. Weed Science. 44(1):194-201.
- Jahrsdoerfer, S. E., and D. M. Leslie. 1988. Tamaulipan brushland of the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas: Description, human impacts, and management options. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service. Biological Report 88(36). 63 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Wynd, F. L. 1944. The geologic and physiographic background of the soils in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The American Midland Naturalist 32:200-235.