Print Report

G541 Chilopsis linearis - Fallugia paradoxa - Prunus fasciculata Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group

Type Concept Sentence: These are fluvial-driven shrublands and herbaceous communities that line washes in the warm deserts of the western U.S. and northwestern Mexico and may be dominated by Chilopsis linearis, Fallugia paradoxa, Prunus fasciculata, or other shrub species.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group

Colloquial Name: Warm Semi-Desert Shrub & Herb Dry Wash & Colluvial Slope

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group is restricted to intermittently flooded washes or arroyos that dissect bajadas, mesas, plains and basin floors throughout the warm deserts of the western U.S. and northwestern Mexico. A woody layer is usually present and is typically scattered clumps to very open and may be dominated by shrubs and small trees such as Acacia greggii, Brickellia laciniata, Baccharis sarothroides, Chilopsis linearis, Ephedra californica, Ericameria paniculata, Fallugia paradoxa, Forestiera pubescens, Hymenoclea salsola, Hymenoclea monogyra, Hyptis emoryi, Juglans microcarpa, Lepidospartum squamatum, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Prosopis spp., Psorothamnus spinosus, Prunus fasciculata, Rhus microphylla, Salazaria mexicana, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, or Viguiera reticulata. A few known herbaceous communities dominate intermittent drainages and washes with woody vegetation absent or only with scattered individuals present. Dominant species include Panicum bulbosum, Alopecurus aequalis, or Lycurus phleoides. Although often dry, the intermittent fluvial processes are characteristic of this group, which are often associated with rapid sheet and gully flow. This group is restricted to drainages in upland areas or ramaderos that are intermittently flooded and occur as linear or sometimes broader braided strips within desert scrub-or desert grassland-dominated landscapes. The vegetation of desert washes is quite variable in species composition and structure, ranging from sparse and patchy to moderately dense, and typically occurs along the banks, but may occur within the channel.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Characteristic species of shrubs and small trees may include Acacia greggii, Brickellia laciniata, Baccharis sarothroides, Chilopsis linearis, Ephedra californica, Ericameria paniculata, Fallugia paradoxa, Forestiera pubescens, Hymenoclea salsola, Hymenoclea monogyra, Hyptis emoryi, Juglans microcarpa, Lepidospartum squamatum, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Prosopis spp., Psorothamnus spinosus, Prunus fasciculata, Rhus microphylla, Salazaria mexicana, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Viguiera reticulata.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This intermittently flooded desert wash group is wide-ranging with diverse species. There is some species overlap with desert riparian groups that are seasonally or permanently flooded, although cover of these riparian species such as Juglans microcarpa is lower in dry washes than in riparian shrublands and woodlands. Stands may also be dominated by denser cover of upland and facultative wetland (semi-riparian) species such as Acacia greggii, Fallugia paradoxa, Psorothamnus spinosus, Rhus microphylla, and Salazaria mexicana. Also complicating the species composition of this group is the wide soil moisture gradients across its range. In extremely dry area such as found in the Lower Colorado Desert, uplands are sparsely vegetated with non-sparse upland vegetation restricted to dendritic intermittently flooded drainage channels. In other areas, upland dry washes flood so infrequently that they have only upland vegetation present (although sometime denser and more robust). However, if there is no floristic difference between upland area and a dry wash that bisects it, then it is not a distinct wash community.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is typically characterized by an intermittently open to dense woody layer, but includes stands lacking a woody layer that may be dominated by herbaceous vegetation or sparsely vegetated.

Floristics: The vegetation of this group is quite variable in species composition and structure, ranging from sparse and patchy to moderately dense, and typically occurs along the banks, but may occur within the channel. A woody layer is usually present and is typically intermittent to open and may be dominated by shrubs and small trees such as Acacia greggii, Brickellia laciniata, Baccharis sarothroides, Chilopsis linearis, Ephedra californica, Ericameria paniculata, Fallugia paradoxa, Forestiera pubescens, Hymenoclea salsola, Hymenoclea monogyra, Hyptis emoryi, Juglans microcarpa, Lepidospartum squamatum, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Prosopis pubescens, Psorothamnus spinosus, Prunus fasciculata, Rhus microphylla, Salazaria mexicana, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, or Viguiera reticulata. Additional species characteristic of Tamaulipan stands are Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Haematoxylum brasiletto, Prosopis glandulosa, or Tecoma stans. Prosopis glandulosa is not dominant. Sometimes herbaceous vegetation dominates the wash with woody vegetation absent or only with scattered individuals present. Dominance by Panicum bulbosum, Alopecurus aequalis, or Lycurus phleoides is typical of some herbaceous stands, although it is variable. Floristic information was compiled from Shreve and Wiggins (1964), Brown (1982a), Barbour and Major (1988), Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie (1988), MacMahon (1988), Szaro (1989), Dick-Peddie (1993), Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf (1995), Barbour et al. (2007), Schoenherr and Burk (2007), and Sawyer et al. (2009).

Dynamics:  This group is associated with intermittent fluvial processes, which affect the vegetation enough to distinguish it from surrounding upland vegetation. Sites are often associated with rapid sheet and gully flow that scours the channel bottoms.
Environmental Description:  This group is restricted to intermittently flooded washes or arroyos that dissect bajadas, mesas, plains and basin floors throughout the warm deserts and subtropical Tamaulipan region of North and Central America. Although often dry, the intermittent fluvial processes are characteristic of this group, which are often associated with rapid sheet and gully flow. This group is restricted to drainages in upland areas or ramaderos that are intermittently flooded and occur as linear or sometimes broader braided strips within desert scrub-or desert grassland-dominated landscapes. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group is restricted to drainages in upland areas or ramaderos (isolated strips of dense brush associated with arroyos) that are intermittently flooded.
Geographic Range: This group is restricted to intermittently flooded washes or arroyos that dissect bajadas, mesas, plains and basin floors throughout the warm deserts of North America and northern Central America.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, MXBCN, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXNLE, MXSON, MXTAM, NM, NV, TX, UT


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 A0303 Wingleaf Soapberry Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A0303 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A0588 Blue Paloverde - Desert-ironwood Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A0588 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A1044 Desert-willow - Smoketree Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A1044 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A1356 Bulb Panicgrass Intermittent Desert Wash Grassland Alliance A1356 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A2509 Mojave Rabbitbrush Mojave Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A2509 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A2536 California Joint-fir - Longleaf Joint-fir Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A2536 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A3258 Willow Baccharis Southern Great Plains Wash Scrub Alliance A3258 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A3259 Apache Plume Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A3259 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A3262 Single-whorl Burrobrush - Splitleaf Brickellbush Chihuahuan-Sonoran Desert Wash Alliance A3262 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A4163 Acton''s Brittlebush - Virgin River Brittlebush - Netvein Goldeneye Desert Scrub Alliance A4163 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A4185 Desert Almond - Mexican Bladdersage Northern Mojave Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A4185 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A4186 Fremont''s Smokebush - Nevada Smokebush Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A4186 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A4187 Catclaw Acacia - Desert-lavender - Beloperone Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A4187 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A4188 Burrobrush - Sweetbush Mojave-Sonoran Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A4188 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: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and E. Muldavin

Acknowledgements: E. Muldavin

Version Date: 11-06-15
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  • Barbour, M. G., and J. Major, editors. 1988. Terrestrial vegetation of California: New expanded edition. California Native Plant Society, Special Publication 9, Sacramento. 1030 pp.
  • 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]
  • Jahrsdoerfer, S. E., and D. M. Leslie. 1988. Tamaulipan brushland of the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas: Description, human impacts, and management options. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service. Biological Report 88(36). 63 pp.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T. 2007. Mojave Desert scrub vegetation. Pages 609-656 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California. Third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  • MacMahon, J. A. 1988. Warm deserts. Pages 232-264 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York.
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  • NHNM [Natural Heritage New Mexico]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
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  • Schoenherr, A. A., and J. H. Burk. 2007. Colorado Desert vegetation. Pages 657-682 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. 2007. Terrestrial vegetation of California. Third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  • Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
  • Shreve, F., and I. L. Wiggins. 1964. Vegetation and flora of the Sonoran Desert. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. 840 pp.
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