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CEGL003001 Abronia villosa Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Desert Sand-verbena Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on the dune systems in southern California, in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It is found in active and partially stabilized dune systems throughout these southwestern deserts at elevations between -10 and 1200 m. These dune systems are shaped by abiotic factors and move too rapidly to be stabilized by plant communities. Plant cover is therefore very sparse. Water is held for long periods of time just under the surface by sand, so shrubs that can persist long enough to get rooted can persist through long droughts. This association of desert dune systems is characterized by scattered forbs and grasses in the herbaceous layer. No one species is diagnostic, but typically three or more of the following can be found: Abronia villosa, Pleuraphis rigida, Oenothera deltoides, Croton californicus, Geraea canescens, Dicoria canescens, Achnatherum hymenoides, Cleome sparsifolia, and/or Rumex hymenosepalus. Individual emergent shrubs may be present, such as Eriogonum deserticola, Larrea tridentata, Atriplex canescens, and/or Ambrosia dumosa. Total plant cover rarely exceeds 10%.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Currently this association can be recognized by substrate and a grouping of at least three of the important plant species listed in the global concept summary. Total cover is probably less than 10%.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association of desert dune systems is characterized by scattered forbs and grasses in the herbaceous layer. No one species is diagnostic, but typically three or more of the following can be found: Abronia villosa, Pleuraphis rigida (= Hilaria rigida), Oenothera deltoides, Croton californicus, Geraea canescens, Dicoria canescens, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Cleome sparsifolia and/or Rumex hymenosepalus. Individual emergent shrubs may be present, such as Eriogonum deserticola, Larrea tridentata, Atriplex canescens, and/or Ambrosia dumosa. Total plant cover rarely exceeds 10%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It is found in active and partially stabilized dune systems throughout these southwestern deserts at elevations between -10 and 1200 m. These dune systems are shaped by abiotic factors and move too rapidly to be stabilized by plant communities. Plant cover is therefore very sparse. Water is held for long periods of time just under the surface by sand, so shrubs that can persist long enough to get rooted can persist through long droughts.
Geographic Range: This type is found throughout the desert dune systems of California in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It may also occur on similar dunes in northern Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXSON?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689173
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.4 Saguaro - Organ Pipe Cactus - Burrobush Mojave-Sonoran Semi-Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M088 | 3.A.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.4.e North American Warm Semi-Desert Dune & Sand Flats Group | G675 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
| Alliance | A4026 Desert Twinbugs - Desert Sand-verbena - Desert Panicgrass Dune Alliance | A4026 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
| Association | CEGL003001 Desert Sand-verbena Sparse Vegetation | CEGL003001 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Desert Sand-verbena Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Stabilized and Partially-Stabilized Desert Dunes (#22200) (Holland 1986b)
< Stabilized and Partially-Stabilized Desert Sand Fields (#22300) (Holland 1986b)
< Stabilized and Partially-Stabilized Desert Dunes (#22200) (Holland 1986b)
< Stabilized and Partially-Stabilized Desert Sand Fields (#22300) (Holland 1986b)
- Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Ltd., Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.