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CEGL001731 Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Torrey''s Joint-fir / Black Grama Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: On White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, this is a major community within the northern Jornada Del Muerto basin but also occurs in valleys on the east side of the Oscura Mountains. This type is typically found on sandy rolling plains within the northern Jornada Del Muerto basin. It occurs less frequently on the northern Jornada lava flow and within valleys on the eastern slopes of the Oscura Mountains, at elevations of 1400 to 1610 m (4600-5300 feet). Slopes are generally flat to gentle, with little aspect differentiation, and occur on many different substrates. Stands on the Jornada plains receive wind-blown deposits, mostly from the Rio Grande valley, while stands in the Oscura Mountains receive alluvial deposits from the surrounding Paleozoic limestone and sandstone slopes. Low rolling sandy plains broken up by occasional swales characterize the landscape on the northern Jornada plains. Lava flow stands are characterized by flat platform summits overlain by wind-blown deposits. The landscape in the Oscura Mountain valleys is characterized by large, dissected, and gently sloped alluvial fans. Soils can be poorly developed (plains stands) or well-developed (lava flows or alluvial fans). Surface textures are generally coarse but become finer on the alluvial or lava stands. This Chihuahuan Desert grassland is dominated by Bouteloua eriopoda, with a shrub layer of scattered Ephedra torreyana. The grass layer is well-represented to luxurious and may include Sporobolus cryptandrus, Aristida purpurea, Sporobolus flexuosus (on sandy soils), Bouteloua gracilis (on the Jornada lava flow) along with Dasyochloa pulchella. Other shrubs are scattered and include an occasional Yucca elata along with dwarf-shrubs and succulents such as Gutierrezia sarothrae, Gutierrezia microcephala, Grusonia clavata, and Opuntia phaeacantha. The forb layer is moderate in diversity (41 species) and commonly includes Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, Sphaeralcea spp., Solanum elaeagnifolium, Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. pinnatifida, and Zinnia grandiflora.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of this type generally occur on the rolling sandy plains of the Jornada Del Muerto basin. They occur within a patchy grassland matrix, which includes ~Yucca elata / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Grassland (CEGL001735)$$, Galleta/Soaptree Yucca and Mesa Dropseed/Soaptree Yucca grassland PAs (Muldavin et al. 2000b). Scattered throughout are swales in which ~Sporobolus airoides - Scleropogon brevifolius Grassland (CEGL001692)$$, ~Sporobolus airoides - Bouteloua gracilis Grassland (CEGL001686)$$, or Tobosagrass/Alkali Sacaton grasslands (Muldavin et al. 2000b) occur. ~Tiquilia hispidissima / Sporobolus nealleyi Dwarf-shrub Grassland (CEGL001546)$$ and Fourwing Saltbush/Gyp Dropseed PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) are found on gypsum outcrops, which dot the area. In addition, small patches of ~Artemisia filifolia / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrubland (CEGL001077)$$ may grade in from shrublands to the north. Chihuahuan Desert shrublands dominated by Larrea tridentata or Flourensia cernua may be present in adjacent areas that are influenced by alluvial deposition. Coarse soils appear to be the dominant factor determining distribution of this community. Bouteloua eriopoda is a dominant on coarse soils in other parts of the Chihuahuan Desert (Brown 1982a, Cornelius et al. 1991, Wondzell et al. 1987) and, in this community, Bouteloua eriopoda is at much higher cover compared to the surrounding gypsum or swale grasslands. Furthermore, Bouteloua gracilis, common on the finer soils of the Jornada lava flow, is poorly represented in sandy stands.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: Found in south-central, southwestern and southeastern New Mexico, and highly likely to extend into the Trans-Pecos area of Texas and into northern Mexico. All element occurrences in New Mexico Natural Heritage Program database are from the northern Jornada basin, the northern San Andres Mountains and the Oscura Mountains on White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: MXCHH?, NM, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686750
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.c Soaptree Yucca / Black Grama - Mesa Dropseed Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G491 | 3.A.2.Na.3.c |
| Alliance | A3244 Soaptree Yucca - Torrey''s Joint-fir / Black Grama Sandy Plains Semi-Desert Grassland Alliance | A3244 | 3.A.2.Na.3.c |
| Association | CEGL001731 Torrey''s Joint-fir / Black Grama Shrub Grassland | CEGL001731 | 3.A.2.Na.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Black Grama/Torrey''s Joint-fir PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Bouteloua eriopoda/Ephedra torreyana; BOUERI/EPHTOR)]
= Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Black Grama/Torrey''s Joint-fir PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Bouteloua eriopoda/Ephedra torreyana; BOUERI/EPHTOR)]
- 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. 1982b. Chihuahuan desertscrub. Desert Plants 4(1-4):169-179.
- Cornelius, J. M., P. R. Kemp, J. A. Ludwig, and G. L. Cunningham. 1991. The distribution of vascular plant species and guilds in space and time along a desert gradient. Journal of Vegetation Science 2:59-72.
- 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.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Muldavin, E., and P. Mehlhop. 1992. A preliminary classification and test vegetation map for White Sands Missile Range and San Andreas National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. University of New Mexico, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Wondzell, S. M., G. L. Cunningham, and D. Bachelet. 1987. A hierarchical classification of landforms: Some implications for understanding local and regional vegetation dynamics. Pages 15-23 in: E. L. Aldon, C. E. Gonzales Vicente, and W. H. Moir, editors. Strategies for Classification and Management of Native Vegetation for Food Production in Arid Zones, October 12-16, 1987. General Technical Report RM-GTR-150. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.