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CEGL005390 Acacia greggii Wash Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Catclaw Acacia Wash Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This catclaw acacia shrubland association occurs in northern Arizona, southeastern California and southern 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 occurs in drainage channels, along ephemeral washes, and in valley bottoms at 425 to 1100 m (1350-3700 feet) elevation. It typically occurs on gentle gradients (1-4°) and seems to favor south- and west-facing exposures, although it occurs across all aspects. Occasionally, this community occurs outside of washes, on benches, terraces, or sideslopes, often on low levels, interfluves, toeslopes, and step-in-slopes. Soils are predominantly well-drained sandy loams. The tall shrub Acacia greggii dominates and characterizes this community and accounts for the increased cover in denser stands. Other scattered tall shrubs such as Larrea tridentata, Prosopis glandulosa, and Chilopsis linearis occasionally occur. Encelia farinosa and Ephedra aspera commonly occur in the short-shrub layer, while Bebbia juncea occurs in some stands. Approximately 40 different short-shrub species can occur at relatively low individual covers. The dwarf-shrub component is fairly sparse and species composition is variable; Gutierrezia sarothrae and Porophyllum gracile occur most frequently among the roughly 25 species that can occur in this stratum. The exotic Bromus rubens comprises the majority of the graminoid understory, while Aristida purpurea occasionally occurs. Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, Allionia incarnata, Artemisia ludoviciana, Funastrum cynanchoides, Descurainia pinnata, and Lepidium montanum are the most frequent members of the variable forb understory.
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 tall shrub Acacia greggii dominates and characterizes this community and accounts for the increased cover in denser stands. Other scattered tall shrubs such as Larrea tridentata, Prosopis glandulosa, and Chilopsis linearis occasionally occur. Encelia farinosa and Ephedra aspera (= Ephedra fasciculata) commonly occur in the short-shrub layer, while Bebbia juncea occurs in some stands. Approximately 40 different short-shrub species can occur at relatively low individual covers. The dwarf-shrub component is fairly sparse and species composition is variable; Gutierrezia sarothrae and Porophyllum gracile occur most frequently among the roughly 25 species that can occur in this stratum. The exotic Bromus rubens comprises the majority of the graminoid understory, while Aristida purpurea occasionally occurs. Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, Allionia incarnata, Artemisia ludoviciana, Funastrum cynanchoides, Descurainia pinnata, and Lepidium montanum are the most frequent members of the variable forb understory.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This catclaw acacia shrubland occurs in drainage channels, along ephemeral washes, and in valley bottoms at 425 to 1100 m (1350-3700 feet) elevation. It typically occurs on gentle gradients (1-4°) and seems to favor south- and west-facing exposures, although it occurs across all aspects. Occasionally, this community occurs outside of washes, on benches, terraces, or sideslopes, often on low levels, interfluves, toeslopes, and step-in-slopes. Soils are predominantly well-drained sandy loams.
Geographic Range: This 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.2.841776
Confidence Level: Low
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.7 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup | M092 | 3.A.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.7.a Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group | G541 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
| Alliance | A4187 Catclaw Acacia - Desert-lavender - Beloperone Desert Wash Scrub Alliance | A4187 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
| Association | CEGL005390 Catclaw Acacia Wash Shrubland | CEGL005390 | 3.A.2.Na.7.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = 253.422 - Acacia greggii Association (Warren et al. 1982)
= Acacia greggii Wash Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Acacia greggii Wash Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
= Acacia greggii wash (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.040.01]
= Acacia greggii wash (Justicia californica) (Keeler-Wolf et al. 1998a)
= Acacia greggii Wash Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Acacia greggii Wash Shrubland (Reid and Hall 2010)
= Acacia greggii wash (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.040.01]
= Acacia greggii wash (Justicia californica) (Keeler-Wolf et al. 1998a)
- 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.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., C. Roye, and K. Lewis. 1998a. Vegetation mapping and classification of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. Unpublished report on file at California Natural Diversity Database, California Department Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- 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.
- Warren, P. L., K. L. Reichhardt, D. A. Mouat, B. T. Brown, and R. R. Johnson. 1982. Vegetation of Grand Canyon National Park. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit Technical Report 9. Tucson, AZ. 140 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.