Print Report
CEGL005348 Prosopis velutina / Mixed Grasses Ruderal Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Velvet Mesquite / Mixed Grasses Ruderal Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland is described from the foothills of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. Plot data indicate an elevational range of 915-1130 m (3000-3700 feet) where it is found on valley floors, swales and ridges. Sites are flat or gentle midslopes on all aspects. Substrates are typically well-drained sandy loam but include silt loam and clayey soils. Bare ground or small rocks frequently dominate the ground cover. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) herbaceous layer with an open (10-25% cover) tall-shrub canopy dominated by Prosopis velutina (10-20% cover). Mixed short shrubs are often present but are generally not dense enough to form a stratum. Associated tall and short shrubs may include Acacia greggii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Isocoma tenuisecta, Lycium spp., and Cylindropuntia versicolor. The herbaceous layer is composed of mixed native grasses and forbs. Common species include Abutilon incanum, Aristida ternipes, Bouteloua chondrosioides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua repens, Bouteloua rothrockii, Croton pottsii, Digitaria californica, Gutierrezia microcephala, Kallstroemia grandiflora, Muhlenbergia porteri, Portulaca oleracea, and Phemeranthus aurantiacus. Forbs often have high species richness but with typically relatively low cover. If present, Eragrostis lehmanniana has low cover (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 an open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) herbaceous layer with an open (10-25% cover) tall-shrub canopy dominated by Prosopis velutina (10-20% cover). Mixed short shrubs are often present but are generally not dense enough to form a stratum. Associated tall and short shrubs may include Acacia greggii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Isocoma tenuisecta, Lycium spp., and Cylindropuntia versicolor (= Opuntia versicolor). The herbaceous layer is composed of mixed native grasses and forbs. Common species include Abutilon incanum, Aristida ternipes, Bouteloua chondrosioides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua repens, Bouteloua rothrockii, Croton pottsii, Digitaria californica, Gutierrezia microcephala, Kallstroemia grandiflora, Muhlenbergia porteri, Portulaca oleracea (= Portulaca retusa), and Phemeranthus aurantiacus (= Talinum aurantiacum). Forbs often have high species richness but with typically relatively low cover. If present, Eragrostis lehmanniana has low cover (less than 25% cover and less than a third of the total perennial graminoid cover).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrubland is described from the foothills of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. Plot data indicate an elevational range of 915-1130 m (3000-3700 feet) where it is found on valley floors, swales and ridges. Sites are flat or gentle midslopes on all aspects. Substrates are typically well-drained sandy loam but include silt loam and clayey soils. Bare ground or small rocks frequently dominate the ground cover.
Geographic Range: This shrubland is found on foothills of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona and likely occurs in Sonora, Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXSON?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.806425
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Honey Mesquite / Red Brome - Lehmann''s Lovegrass Desert Ruderal Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M512 | 3.A.2.Na.90 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.90.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite Warm Desert Ruderal Scrub Group | G819 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
| Alliance | A3163 Velvet Mesquite Ruderal Desert Scrub Alliance | A3163 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
| Association | CEGL005348 Velvet Mesquite / Mixed Grasses Ruderal Shrubland | CEGL005348 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Prosopis velutina / Mixed Grasses 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.