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CEGL002706 Ericameria paniculata Desert Wash Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mojave Rabbitbrush Desert Wash Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Mojave Rabbitbrush Desert Wash

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Mojave rabbitbrush shrubland association occurs in northern Arizona, southeastern California and southern Nevada. It is currently described from Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona. It is also reported from California and Nevada. More survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this type. It predominantly occurs in desert washes and drainage channels from approximately 375 to 650 m (1225-2150 feet) elevation, but can occasionally occur at higher elevations (1100-1200 m). It typically occurs in flat to very low-sloping (1-4°), mostly south-flowing drainages. Soils are rapidly-drained and composed mostly of sand, but also occasionally contain loam or silt. This association is characteristically sparse. Ericameria paniculata characterizes the association and can occur as either a tall or short shrub. In the short-shrub layer Larrea tridentata and Hymenoclea salsola, and occasionally Ambrosia dumosa and Psorothamnus fremontii may occur. A sparse dwarf-shrub layer occurs, but no species are consistent from site to site. This association supports a very sparse graminoid layer that is not dominated by any particular species. The graminoids Bromus rubens and Vulpia octoflora occur frequently but typically at low cover. Chamaesyce polycarpa, Eriogonum inflatum, Erodium cicutarium, Plantago ovata, Cryptantha sp., Gilia sp., and Sphaeralcea ambigua may be present in the sparse forb layer.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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: This association occurs in northern Arizona, southeastern California and southern Nevada. More survey work is needed to fully document its global range.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NV


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

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.7 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup M092 3.A.2.Na.7
Group 3.A.2.Na.7.a Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group G541 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A2509 Mojave Rabbitbrush Mojave Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A2509 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL002706 Mojave Rabbitbrush Desert Wash Shrubland CEGL002706 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Ericameria paniculata (= Chrysothamnus paniculatus) Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012) [No Hymenoclea salsola listed in plots.]
? Ericameria paniculata (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.340.01]
= Ericameria paniculata Association (Evens 2000)
< Ericameria paniculata Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Ericameria paniculata Wash Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Ericameria paniculata Wash Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf 1997)
= Ericameria paniculata Wash Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
Concept Author(s): T. Keeler-Wolf

Author of Description: R. Meszaros

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-06-17
  • Evens, J. M. 2000. Water course vegetation on granite and calcareous substrates in the eastern Mojave Desert, California. Master''s thesis, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA.
  • Evens, J. M., D. Roach-McIntosh, and D. Stout. 2012. Vegetation descriptions for Joshua Tree National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI, National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T. 1997. Preliminary table of Mojave Desert ecosystem vegetation types.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and K. Thomas. 2000. Draft descriptions of vegetation alliances for the Mojave Ecosystem Mapping project. California Natural Diversity Database, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  • Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.