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CEGL005145 Larrea tridentata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creosotebush Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This creosotebush shrubland association occurs in Arizona, California and Nevada. It is currently described from Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona. More survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this type. It often occurs on sideslopes but can occupy a variety of other landforms, including drainage bottoms, alluvial fans, and valley bottoms. It usually occurs at 375 to 750 m (1250-2550 feet) elevation, but can be found as high as 1350 m (4450 feet), and occurs across all aspects. It is typically found on low gradients (1-10°), but can occasionally occur on steeper slopes (10-30°). Soils are well- to rapidly-drained silty or sandy loams, and the bedrock is often limestone. Vegetation is characterized by a homogenous tall-shrub layer of Larrea tridentata and lacks well-represented or codominant shrub components in any of the other strata. Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, Ferocactus cylindraceus, and Krameria grayi or Krameria erecta occasionally occur in the sparse short-shrub layer. Ambrosia dumosa and Opuntia basilaris occasionally occur in a very weak dwarf-shrub layer. Vulpia octoflora is very common in the graminoid understory, and Bromus rubens also occasionally occurs. Antheropeas lanosum, Plantago ovata, Cryptantha sp., Gilia sp., and Amsinckia menziesii are common components of a fairly well-developed herb layer.
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: Vegetation is characterized by a homogenous tall-shrub layer of Larrea tridentata and lacks well-represented or codominant shrub components in any of the other strata. Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (= Opuntia acanthocarpa), Ferocactus cylindraceus, and Krameria grayi or Krameria erecta occasionally occur in the sparse short-shrub layer. Ambrosia dumosa and Opuntia basilaris occasionally occur in a very weak dwarf-shrub layer. Vulpia octoflora is very common in the graminoid understory, and Bromus rubens also occasionally occurs. Antheropeas lanosum, Plantago ovata, Cryptantha sp., Gilia sp., and Amsinckia menziesii are common components of a fairly well-developed herb layer.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This creosotebush shrubland often occurs on sideslopes but can occupy a variety of other landforms, including drainage bottoms, alluvial fans, and valley bottoms. It usually occurs at 375 to 750 m (1250-2550 feet) elevation, but can be found as high as 1350 m (4450 feet), and occurs across all aspects. It is typically found on low gradients (1-10°), but can occasionally occur on steeper slopes (10-30°). Soils are well- to rapidly-drained silty or sandy loams, and the bedrock is often limestone.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association occurs in northern Arizona, southeastern California and southern Nevada. More survey work is needed to fully document its global range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.840599
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.4 Saguaro - Organ Pipe Cactus - Burrobush Mojave-Sonoran Semi-Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M088 | 3.A.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.4.b Creosotebush - Burrobush - Brittlebush Desert Scrub Group | G295 | 3.A.2.Na.4.b |
| Alliance | A3278 Creosotebush - Ocotillo Upper Bajada & Rock Outcrop Desert Scrub Alliance | A3278 | 3.A.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL005145 Creosotebush Shrubland | CEGL005145 | 3.A.2.Na.4.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Larrea tridentata (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.140.04]
= Larrea tridentata Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Larrea tridentata Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
= Larrea tridentata Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Larrea tridentata Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.