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CEGL005327 Amaranthus palmeri Ruderal Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Carelessweed Ruderal Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This vegetation type occurs on the valley floor at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, and elsewhere in the desert southwestern U.S. and Sonora where disturbance by cultivation, forage production (conversion to sorghum) or heavy grazing by livestock has reduced natural perennial cover in what was likely desert grasslands. Sites are typically flat to gently sloping basins and plains that may be intermittently flooded. Soils are variable but typically finer textured silt loam or clays. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to dense herbaceous layer dominated by the native annual forb Amaranthus palmeri; it lacks significant (<10% cover) perennial vegetation to be classified as a perennial type. Associated species are sometimes numerous and include scattered shrubs, grasses and forbs such as Chenopodium berlandieri, Chloris virgata, Eragrostis cilianensis, Eragrostis pectinacea, Eriochloa acuminata, Ipomoea spp., Kallstroemia grandiflora, Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata, Prosopis velutina, and Solanum elaeagnifolium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Twelve sites have been sampled at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge 100-m transect #67 is codominated by perennial grass Bouteloua gracilis and should be reclassified.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to dense herbaceous layer dominated by the native annual forb Amaranthus palmeri; it lacks significant (<10% cover) perennial vegetation to be classified as a perennial type. Associated species are sometimes numerous and include scattered shrubs, grasses and forbs such as Chenopodium berlandieri, Chloris virgata, Eragrostis cilianensis, Eragrostis pectinacea, Eriochloa acuminata, Ipomoea spp., Kallstroemia grandiflora, Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata (= Leptochloa filiformis), Prosopis velutina, and Solanum elaeagnifolium.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This vegetation type occurs on the valley floor at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, and elsewhere in the desert southwestern U.S. and Sonora where disturbance by cultivation, forage production (conversion to sorghum) or heavy grazing by livestock has reduced natural perennial cover in what was likely desert grasslands. Sites are typically flat to gently sloping basins and plains that may be intermittently flooded. Soils are variable but typically finer textured silt loam or clays.
Geographic Range: This vegetation has been sampled across the Arivaca Valley and likely has a much wider distribution across southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, MXCOA, MXSON, NM


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.90 Western North American Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M301 2.C.4.Nb.90
Group 2.C.4.Nb.90.a Kentucky Bluegrass - Canadian Horseweed - Canada Thistle Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group G524 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Alliance A2020 Johnson Grass Ruderal Desert Grassland Alliance A2020 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL005327 Carelessweed Ruderal Grassland CEGL005327 2.C.4.Nb.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Amaranthus palmeri Ruderal Herbaceous Vegetation (Schulz 2004)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz (2004)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-17-07
  • Kearney, T. H., and R. H. Peebles, and collaborators. 1969. Arizona flora. University of California, Berkeley, CA. 1085 pp.
  • Schulz, K. A. 2004. Vegetation classification of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. Unpublished report submitted to USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.