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G280 Quercus intricata - Quercus laceyi - Quercus pungens Chaparral Group
Type Concept Sentence: This chaparral group occurs in the Madrean Oriental in northern Mexico and desert mountains across Trans-Pecos Texas and is characterized by a moderate to dense shrub canopy dominated by evergreen shrub oak species Quercus intricata, Quercus laceyi, Quercus pringlei, Quercus pungens, Quercus vaseyana, and other chaparral species, such as Acacia roemeriana, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Fallugia paradoxa, Fendlera rigida, Fraxinus greggii, Garrya ovata, Garrya wrightii, Juniperus pinchotii, Purshia mexicana, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Salvia lycioides, Salvia regla, Salvia roemeriana, and Sophora secundiflora that occur on foothills, mountain slopes and canyons.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Dwarf Oak - Lacey Oak - Pungent Oak Chaparral Group
Colloquial Name: Eastern Madrean Chaparral
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This chaparral group is found in mid-elevation sites in the Madrean Oriental in northern Mexico and desert mountains across Trans-Pecos Texas extending to the Guadalupe Mountains. It is characterized by a moderate to dense shrub canopy dominated by evergreen shrub oak species, such as Quercus intricata, Quercus laceyi, Quercus pringlei, Quercus pungens, and Quercus vaseyana, and several chaparral species, such as Acacia roemeriana, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Fallugia paradoxa, and Garrya wrightii. Other Madrean species characteristic of this group include Acacia roemeriana, Fendlera rigida, Fraxinus greggii, Garrya ovata, Juniperus pinchotii, Purshia mexicana, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Salvia lycioides, Salvia regla, Salvia roemeriana, and Sophora secundiflora. Stands occur on foothills, mountain slopes and canyons in drier habitats below the encinal and pine woodlands. Sites are often associated with more xeric and coarse-textured substrates such as limestone, basalt or alluvium, especially in higher-elevation transition areas with more mesic woodlands. In the Trans-Pecos of Texas, disjunct Quercus gambelii may occur as a significant component of this shrubland. Most chaparral species are fire-adapted, resprouting vigorously after burning or producing fire-resistant seeds. Stands occurring within montane woodlands are seral and a result of recent fires. Grass cover may be significant. Dominant grasses often include Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, and Muhlenbergia emersleyi.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This upland shrubland is characterized by Sierra Madre Oriental shrub indicator species that may be present to dominate. These diagnostic species include shrubby evergreen oaks such as Quercus intricata, Quercus invaginata, Quercus laceyi, Quercus pringlei, Quercus pungens, and Quercus vaseyana, and many other species such as Acacia roemeriana, Arbutus xalapensis, Fendlera rigida, Fraxinus greggii, Garrya ovata, Purshia mexicana, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Salvia lycioides, Salvia roemeriana, Salvia regla and Sophora secundiflora. Widespread shrub species such as Arctostaphylos pungens, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Fallugia paradoxa, Garrya wrightii, and Quercus gambelii may dominate or codominate, but are not diagnostic. Stands dominated by shrubby evergreen oaks such as Quercus emoryi and Quercus grisea are included in ~Madrean Encinal Group (G201)$$.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Similar ~Western Madrean Chaparral Group (G281)$$ has floristics mostly derived from the Sierra Madre Occidentale, whereas floristics of this group are derived from the Sierra Madre Oriental. However, this group is not mattoral (thornscrub) as it is typically dominated by shrubby evergreen oaks and chaparral species, not thornscrub species. More survey is needed to determine if Quercus turbinella, common in ~Western Madrean Chaparral Group (G281)$$, also occurs in this group.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This upland shrubland is typically dominated by a moderate to dense evergreen sclerophyllous shrub canopy usually less than 3 m tall. Herbaceous layers may be present and are typically dominated by perennial graminoids.
Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense sclerophyllous shrub canopy, usually less than 3 m tall, dominated by evergreen shrub oak species, such as Quercus intricata, Quercus invaginata, Quercus laceyi, Quercus pringlei, Quercus pungens, and Quercus vaseyana, and several widespread chaparral species, such as Arctostaphylos pungens, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Fallugia paradoxa, and Garrya wrightii. Other Madrean species characteristic of this group include Acacia roemeriana, Arbutus xalapensis (= Arbutus texana), Fraxinus greggii, Fendlera rigida (= Fendlera linearis), Garrya ovata, Juniperus pinchotii, Purshia mexicana, Rhus virens var. choriophylla (= Rhus choriophylla), Salvia lycioides (= Salvia ramosissima), Salvia roemeriana, and Salvia regla. In the Trans-Pecos of Texas, disjunct Quercus gambelii may occur as a significant component of this shrubland. The widespread shrub species such as Arctostaphylos pungens, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Fallugia paradoxa, Garrya wrightii, and Quercus gambelii may dominate or codominate, but are not diagnostic. Most chaparral species are fire-adapted, resprouting vigorously after burning or producing fire-resistant seeds. Stands occurring within montane woodlands are seral and a result of recent fires. Grass cover may be significant. Dominant grasses often include Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, and Muhlenbergia emersleyi.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands often dominate along the mid-elevation transition zone from the Chihuahuan Desert into mountains (1700-2500 m). It occurs on foothills, mountain slopes and canyons in drier habitats below the encinal and pine woodlands, and is often associated with more xeric and coarse-textured substrates such as limestone, basalt or alluvium, especially in transition areas with more mesic woodlands.
Geographic Range: This group is found in the Madrean Oriental in northern Mexico, in mountains across Trans-Pecos Texas, such as the Chisos and Davis mountains, and extends into southeastern New Mexico in the Guadalupe Mountains. Stands often dominate along the mid-elevation transition from the Chihuahuan Desert into mountains (1700-2500 m elevation).
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXCHH, MXCOA, NM, OK, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833222
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Ng Western North American Interior Chaparral Division | D061 | 2.B.2.Ng |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Ng.2 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Pointleaf Manzanita - Desert Ceanothus Warm Interior Chaparral Macrogroup | M091 | 2.B.2.Ng.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Ng.2.a Dwarf Oak - Lacey Oak - Pungent Oak Chaparral Group | G280 | 2.B.2.Ng.2.a |
| Alliance | A0505 Pinchot''s Juniper Chaparral Alliance | A0505 | 2.B.2.Ng.2.a |
| Alliance | A3971 Pungent Oak - Dwarf Oak - Sandpaper Oak Chaparral Alliance | A3971 | 2.B.2.Ng.2.a |
| Alliance | A3972 Mescalbean - Round-flower Catclaw - Hairy Mountain-mahogany Chaparral Alliance | A3972 | 2.B.2.Ng.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = "Coahuilan" Chaparral (Brown 1982a)
- Brown, D. E., C. H. Lowe, and C. P. Pase. 1979. A digitized classification system for the biotic communities of North America with community (series) and association examples for the Southwest. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 14:1-16.
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- Dick-Peddie, W. A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present, and future. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 244 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Muldavin, E., P. Mehlhop, and E. DeBruin. 1994a. A survey of sensitive species and vegetation communities in the Organ Mountains of Fort Bliss. Volume III: Vegetation communities. Report prepared for Fort Bliss, Texas, by New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Albuquerque.
- Muldavin, E., P. Neville, P. Arbetan, Y. Chauvin, A. Browder, and T. Neville. 2003a. A vegetation map of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. Final report submitted in partial fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement No. Ca-7170-99-004. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 102 pp.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.