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CEGL005334 Fouquieria splendens - Calliandra eriophylla Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ocotillo - Fairy Duster Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland occurs in southern Arizona, typically on gentle to moderate slopes of ridges, foothills and mountain canyons. Sites may occur on any aspect but are typically found on warmer southern and western aspects. Plot data from Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge indicate an elevational range of 1090-1290 m (3580-4230 feet) on well-drained sandy loam. Substrates are often rocky with 10-50% surface rock. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense (30-60% cover), short-shrub canopy dominated by Calliandra eriophylla (20% cover or more) and a tall-shrub layer dominated by Fouquieria splendens with 10% or more cover. Prosopis velutina has low cover (<10%) and does not codominate the tall-shrub layer. Other shrubs include Acacia greggii, Dasylirion wheeleri, and Mimosa dysocarpa. The herbaceous layer is open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) and is dominated by mixed perennial graminoids. Characteristic species are Aristida ternipes, Bothriochloa barbinodis, Bouteloua chondrosioides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua repens, and Setaria macrostachya. Other common species include Evolvulus arizonicus, Gutierrezia microcephala, Janusia gracilis, Krameria erecta, Mammillaria grahamii, Cylindropuntia versicolor, Opuntia engelmannii, and Phemeranthus aurantiacus. Eragrostis lehmanniana may be present but has less than 25% cover and less than a third of the total perennial graminoid cover.
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: The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense (30-60% cover), short-shrub canopy dominated by Calliandra eriophylla (20% cover or more) and a tall-shrub layer dominated by Fouquieria splendens with 10% or more cover. Prosopis velutina has low cover (<10%) and does not codominate the tall-shrub layer. Other shrubs include Acacia greggii, Dasylirion wheeleri, and Mimosa dysocarpa. The herbaceous layer is open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) and is dominated by mixed perennial graminoids. Characteristic species are Aristida ternipes, Bothriochloa barbinodis, Bouteloua chondrosioides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua repens, and Setaria macrostachya. Other common species include Evolvulus arizonicus, Gutierrezia microcephala, Janusia gracilis, Krameria erecta, Mammillaria grahamii, Cylindropuntia versicolor (= Opuntia versicolor), Opuntia engelmannii, and Phemeranthus aurantiacus (= Talinum aurantiacum). Eragrostis lehmanniana may be present but has less than 25% cover and less than a third of the total perennial graminoid cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrubland occurs in southern Arizona, typically on gentle to moderate slopes of ridges, foothills and mountain canyons. Sites may occur on any aspect but are typically found on warmer southern and western aspects. Plot data from Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge indicate an elevational range of 1090-1290 m (3580-4230 feet) on well-drained sandy loam. Substrates are often rocky with 10-50% surface rock.
Geographic Range: This desertscrub association occurs on foothills in southern Arizona and likely occurs in adjacent Sonora, Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXSON?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.806351
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.2 Creosotebush - American Tarwort - Mesquite species Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M086 | 3.A.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.2.a Creosotebush - American Tarwort - Viscid Acacia Chihuahuan Mixed Desert Scrub Group | G288 | 3.A.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A3167 Ocotillo - Fairy Duster - Mariola Desert Scrub Alliance | A3167 | 3.A.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL005334 Ocotillo - Fairy Duster Shrubland | CEGL005334 | 3.A.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fouquieria splendens - Calliandra eriophylla Shrubland (Schulz 2004)
- 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.