Print Report
CEGL002054 Ebenopsis ebano - Ehretia anacua / Condalia hookeri Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Texas Ebony - Knockaway / Brazilian Bluewood Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: Texas Ebony Resaca Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These forests occur on deep, well-drained soils of the Rio Grande River delta, and are most often associated with mesic resaca banks, low lying areas formed by old river channels. These areas are not part of the active river floodplain but may be subject to periodic inundation and drying. This evergreen subtropical community once occurred as dense forests with 15-m canopies and large-diameter subtropical trees. Remaining examples are described as having no clear dominant. Larger tree species (both in diameter and height) may include Ebenopsis ebano, Ehretia anacua, and Leucaena pulverulenta. Other characteristic trees and shrubs include deciduous trees more characteristic of floodplain forests, such as Celtis laevigata var. laevigata, Fraxinus berlandieriana, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, and Ulmus crassifolia. Other characteristic tree and shrub species are of subtropical affinities, such as Adelia vaseyi, Amyris madrensis, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Chiococca alba, Condalia hookeri, Cordia boissieri, Esenbeckia berlandieri, Havardia pallens, Malpighia glabra, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Pisonia aculeata, Randia rhagocarpa, Sabal mexicana, Sideroxylon celastrinum, Xylosma flexuosa, Zanthoxylum fagara, and Ziziphus obtusifolia, and may occur as tall shrubs or small trees. Typical shrubs are Cardiospermum corindum, Cocculus diversifolius, Mimosa malacophylla, Passiflora suberosa, Serjania brachycarpa, and Urvillea ulmacea. The ground layer is often poorly developed and very sparse, because of shading, but in some examples may include Iresine palmeri, Petiveria alliacea, Sporobolus buckleyi, Leersia monandra, and Plumbago scandens. The epiphyte Tillandsia baileyi is also characteristic.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community is floristically similar to subtropical shrublands dominated by Ebenopsis ebano and Phaulothamnus spinescens, which occupy drier sites in the same area [see ~Ebenopsis ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Thornscrub Alliance (A3193)$$].
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This evergreen subtropical community once occurred as dense forests with 15-m canopies and large-diameter subtropical trees. Remaining examples are described as having no clear dominant. Larger tree species (both in diameter and height) may include Ebenopsis ebano (= Pithecellobium ebano), Ehretia anacua, and Leucaena pulverulenta. Phaulothamnus spinescens, Sideroxylon celastrinum, Havardia pallens, Zanthoxylum fagara, Condalia hookeri, Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Ziziphus obtusifolia, and Prosopis glandulosa may occur as tall shrubs or small trees. Other characteristic tree and shrub species are of subtropical affinities, such as Adelia vaseyi, Amyris madrensis, Chiococca alba, Cordia boissieri, Esenbeckia berlandieri (= Esenbeckia runyonii), Malpighia glabra, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Pisonia aculeata, Randia rhagocarpa, Sabal mexicana, Sideroxylon celastrinum (= Bumelia celastrina), and Xylosma flexuosa, and may occur as tall shrubs or small trees. Typical shrubs are Cardiospermum corindum, Cocculus diversifolius, Mimosa malacophylla, Passiflora suberosa, Serjania brachycarpa, and Urvillea ulmacea. The ground layer is often poorly developed and very sparse, because of shading, but in some examples may include Iresine palmeri, Petiveria alliacea, Sporobolus buckleyi, Leersia monandra, and Plumbago scandens. The epiphyte Tillandsia baileyi is also characteristic
Dynamics: These areas are not part of the active river floodplain but may be subject to periodic inundation and drying.
Environmental Description: These forests occur on deep, well-drained soils of the Rio Grande River delta. This community is most often associated with mesic resaca banks, low-lying areas formed by old river channels. These areas are not part of the active river floodplain but may be subject to periodic inundation and drying. This community occurs in an area of subtropical climate with over 300 frost-free days per year. Precipitation averages 66 cm per year.
Geographic Range: This community is known from a few sites in the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas, in Cameron and Hidalgo counties, and apparently ranged (at least historically) into Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXTAM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688254
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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 | CEGL002054 Texas Ebony - Knockaway / Brazilian Bluewood Riparian Forest | CEGL002054 | 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: ? IA2a. Texas Ebony - Anacua Forest (Allard 1990)
= Mid-Delta Thorn Forest (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988)
= Mid-Delta Thorn 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.
- Correll, D. S., and M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation. Renner, TX. (Second printing, 1979. University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson) 1881 pp.
- 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.
- 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.