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CEGL001272 Larrea tridentata / Muhlenbergia porteri Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creosotebush / Bush Muhly Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This major Chihuahuan Desert community occupies piedmonts extending out from the San Andres Mountains into the Tularosa basin of New Mexico. Additional stands are less frequent, but present, on the Malpais Lava Flow and within the Jornada del Muerto basin. Regionally, occurrences are common throughout the Southwest, into west Texas, across northern Mexico, and into Arizona and probably southern California. This shrubland type occurs on all aspects and across various landforms at low elevations. However, it is most prevalent on gentle to moderate slopes of remnant alluvial fan platform summits. Here the soils are often calcareous with silty to sandy loam alluvial layers overlying sandy horizons and ground surfaces consisting of near equal distributions of gravel and bare soil, with occasional scattered rocks. This open and generally tall shrubland is dominated by Larrea tridentata and has a characteristic distribution of Muhlenbergia porteri dominating underneath or within the shrub canopy. The shrub layer is diverse and may include Prosopis glandulosa (a suggested phase), or scattered Parthenium incanum, various pad cacti, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Atriplex canescens, and Flourensia cernua (usually at lower elevations). The inter-shrub spaces are usually sparsely vegetated with scattered grasses and forbs such as Dasyochloa pulchella (usually less than 1% average cover), Bahia absinthifolia, and Acourtia nana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association (CEGL001272) is very similar to the Creosotebush/Fluffgrass PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b), which shares the same landform, but is often found higher upslope. They both share similar floristics, but the latter is differentiated by an inter-shrub layer clearly dominated by Dasyochloa pulchella (9% average), with Muhlenbergia porteri growing underneath the shrub canopies. Farther downslope, stands grade into ~Larrea tridentata / Sparse Understory Shrubland (CEGL001276)$$ and eventually onto flats predominated by ~Larrea tridentata / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland (CEGL001277)$$. These differences are probably related to magnitude of deposition or erosion, which is a consequence of position on the piedmont.
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: No Data Available
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687586
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Creosotebush - American Tarwort - Mesquite species Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M086 | 3.A.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.2.a Creosotebush - American Tarwort - Viscid Acacia Chihuahuan Mixed Desert Scrub Group | G288 | 3.A.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A3164 Creosotebush Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Alliance | A3164 | 3.A.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL001272 Creosotebush / Bush Muhly Shrubland | CEGL001272 | 3.A.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Larrea tridentata / Muhlenbergia porteri PA (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Larrea tridentata / Muhlenbergia porteri Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Creosotebush/Bush Muhly PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Larrea tridentata/Muhlenbergia porteri; LARTRI/MUHPOR)]
= Larrea tridentata / Muhlenbergia porteri Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Creosotebush/Bush Muhly PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Larrea tridentata/Muhlenbergia porteri; LARTRI/MUHPOR)]
- 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.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Donart, G. B., D. Sylvester, and W. Hickey. 1978a. A vegetation classification system for New Mexico, USA. Pages 488-490 in: Rangeland Congress, Denver, CO, 14-18 August 1978. Society for Range Management, Denver.
- 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., V. Archer, and P. Neville. 1998a. A vegetation map of the Borderlands Ecosystem Management Area. Final report submitted to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Experiment Station, Flagstaff, AZ, by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. 58 pp.
- 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.