Print Report

CEGL002333 Rhus trilobata - Ribes cereum Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Skunkbush Sumac - Wax Currant Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland association is currently only known from El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico, and the following description is based on occurrences there. Additional information will be added as it becomes available. This association occurs between 2110-2420 m (6930-7940 feet) in elevation on gently rolling lava plateaus and collapse features. Substrates are typically weathered, rough, and broken lava from Twin Craters and Bandera flows. The ground surface cover is composed of lava rock and gravel, with areas interspersed where finer wind- or water-borne soils have accumulated. A well-developed shrub canopy is characteristic of this mesic association, with Rhus trilobata and Ribes cereum the dominant species and Forestiera pubescens a frequent associate. Tree species such as Juniperus monosperma, Pinus edulis, or Populus tremuloides are frequently present in these shrublands as saplings or mature individuals, but never exceed 10% total cover. Herbaceous species occur most abundantly in the patches of finer soil and reach about 8% cover, which is typically equally distributed between graminoids and forbs. Bouteloua gracilis, Piptatheropsis micrantha, and Poa fendleriana are the most frequently occurring graminoids, though individual cover is low. Artemisia carruthii is the most frequently occurring among the forb species identified from this association.

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: A well-developed shrub canopy (mean cover around 13%) is characteristic of this mesic association, with Rhus trilobata and Ribes cereum the dominant species and Forestiera pubescens a frequent associate. Tree species such as Juniperus monosperma, Pinus edulis, or Populus tremuloides are frequently present in these shrublands as saplings or mature individuals, but never exceed 10% total cover. Herbaceous species occur most abundantly in the patches of finer soil and reach about 8% cover, which is typically equally distributed between graminoids and forbs. Bouteloua gracilis, Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Piptatherum micranthum), and Poa fendleriana are the most frequently occurring graminoids, though individual cover is low. Artemisia carruthii is the most frequently occurring among the forb species identified from this association.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association occurs between 2110-2420 m (6930-7940 feet) in elevation on gently rolling lava plateaus and collapse features. Substrates are typically weathered, rough, and broken lava from Twin Craters and Bandera flows. The ground surface cover is composed of lava rock and gravel, with areas interspersed where finer wind- or water-borne soils have accumulated.
Geographic Range: This association is currently only known from El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico. Additional range information will be added as it becomes available.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  NM


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup M049 2.B.2.Nf.1
Group 2.B.2.Nf.1.b Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak - Skunkbush Sumac Foothill Shrubland Group G276 2.B.2.Nf.1.b
Alliance A3730 Apache Plume - Skunkbush Sumac Shrubland Alliance A3730 2.B.2.Nf.1.b
Association CEGL002333 Skunkbush Sumac - Wax Currant Shrubland CEGL002333 2.B.2.Nf.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rhus trilobata - Ribes cereum Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
= Rhus trilobata - Ribes cereum Shrubland (Muldavin et al. 2013c)
Concept Author(s): E. Muldavin et al. (2013c)

Author of Description: A. Kennedy and E. Muldavin

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-24-10
  • Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, T. Neville, P. Neville, A. Kennedy, H. Hulse, P. Arbetan, K. Schultz, M. Hall, and M. Reid. 2013c. Vegetation classification and map: El Malpais National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2013/803. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. [http://nhnm.unm.edu/vlibrary/pubs_archive/nhnm/nonsensitive/R13MUL01NMUS.pdf]
  • Shaw, R. B., S. L. Anderson, K. A. Schultz, and V. E. Diersing. 1989. Plant communities, ecological checklist, and species list for the U.S. Army Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado. Colorado State University, Department of Range Science, Science Series No. 37, Fort Collins. 71 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.