Print Report
CEGL005329 Bouteloua aristidoides - (Chloris virgata, Eriochloa lemmonii) Annual Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Needle Grama - (Feather Fingergrass, Canyon Cupgrass) Annual Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This desert annual grassland association occurs on mesas, alluvial fans, valley floors, washes and disturbed areas in southern Arizona, and likely across southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Sites are flat to gently sloping. Substrate is variable but is reported from well-drained sandy soil. The open to dense herbaceous layer is strongly dominated by annual grasses with low cover (<10%) of perennial grasses. Bouteloua aristidoides, Eriochloa lemmonii, and/or Chloris virgata dominate the herbaceous layer. Cover of vegetation is variable depending on amount and season of annual precipitation, but it is moderately dense to dense most years. Scattered shrubs Prosopis velutina, Baccharis sarothroides, and Gutierrezia ssp. may be present in low cover. Other associates are mostly annuals and small patches of perennial vegetation such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua rothrockii, Boerhavia coccinea, Eragrostis intermedia, and Tetraclea coulteri. Common annual species include Amaranthus palmeri, Aristida adscensionis, Bouteloua barbata, Urochloa arizonica, Chamaecrista nictitans, Chamaesyce hyssopifolia, Kallstroemia grandiflora, Mollugo verticillata, Physalis crassifolia, Polygala barbeyana, Portulaca umbraticola, Sida abutifolia, and Tidestromia lanuginosa. Exotic grasses Eragrostis curvula, Eragrostis lehmanniana, and Eragrostis cilianensis are present in some stands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Annual grasslands often result from disturbance and are difficult to classify. This association is defined by strong dominance of annual grasses and low cover of perennial species (<10%).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The open to dense herbaceous layer is strongly dominated by annual grasses with low cover (<10%) of perennial grasses. Bouteloua aristidoides, Eriochloa lemmonii, and/or Chloris virgata dominate the herbaceous layer. Cover of vegetation is variable depending on amount and season of annual precipitation, but it is moderately dense to dense most years. Scattered shrubs Prosopis velutina, Baccharis sarothroides, and Gutierrezia ssp. may be present in low cover. Other associates are mostly annuals and small patches of perennial vegetation such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua rothrockii, Boerhavia coccinea, Eragrostis intermedia, and Tetraclea coulteri. Common annual species include Amaranthus palmeri, Aristida adscensionis, Bouteloua barbata, Urochloa arizonica (= Brachiaria arizonica), Chamaecrista nictitans, Chamaesyce hyssopifolia, Kallstroemia grandiflora, Mollugo verticillata, Physalis crassifolia, Polygala barbeyana, Portulaca umbraticola, Sida abutifolia, and Tidestromia lanuginosa. Exotic grasses Eragrostis curvula, Eragrostis lehmanniana, and Eragrostis cilianensis are present in some stands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This desert annual grassland association occurs on mesas, alluvial fans, valley floors, washes and disturbed areas. Sites are flat to gently sloping. Substrate is variable but is reported from well-drained sandy soil.
Geographic Range: This grassland is found in southern Arizona, but it likely occurs across southern New Mexico and northern Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCOA?, MXSON?, NM?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.806296
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.3 Black Grama - Bullgrass - Tobosa Grass Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland Macrogroup | M087 | 3.A.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.3.a Black Grama - Chino Grama - Bush Muhly Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G490 | 3.A.2.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3204 Black Grama - Chino Grama Piedmont Desert Grassland Alliance | A3204 | 3.A.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL005329 Needle Grama - (Feather Fingergrass, Canyon Cupgrass) Annual Grassland | CEGL005329 | 3.A.2.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bouteloua aristidoides - (Chloris virgata, Eriochloa lemmonii) Annual Herbaceous Vegetation (Schulz 2004)
- Gould, F. W. 1988. Grasses of the southwestern United States. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. 343 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.