Print Report
M092 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup covers shrublands and grasslands along intermittent streams and washes dominated by shrubs such as Acacia greggii, Baccharis sarothroides, Bebbia juncea, Brickellia laciniata, Chilopsis linearis, Ephedra californica, Ericameria paniculata, Fallugia paradoxa, Hymenoclea salsola, Hymenoclea monogyra, Hyptis emoryi, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Salazaria mexicana, and/or Viguiera reticulata and herbs such as Panicum bulbosum, Alopecurus aequalis, or Lycurus phleoides, that are found within the warm temperate deserts of western North America.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup consists of variable vegetation of desert washes ranging from sparse and patchy to moderately dense, and typically occurs along the edges or in the channel bottoms. 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, Baccharis sarothroides, Bebbia juncea, Brickellia laciniata, Chilopsis linearis, Ephedra californica, Ericameria paniculata, Fallugia paradoxa, 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/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 Eriogonum spp., Mirabilis laevis, Penstemon spp., Panicum bulbosum, Alopecurus aequalis, or Lycurus phleoides. This macrogroup occurs on 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.
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, Hymenoclea salsola, Hymenoclea monogyra, Hyptis emoryi, Juglans microcarpa, Lepidospartum squamatum, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Prosopis spp., Psorothamnus spinosus, Prunus fasciculata, Rhus microphylla, Salazaria mexicana, and Viguiera reticulata.
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: This macrogroup has an open to dense woody layer, or an herbaceous layer, or it may be very sparsely vegetated.
Floristics: A woody layer is usually present and is typically open-canopy, or more often clumpy and may be dominated by shrubs and small trees such as Acacia greggii, Baccharis sarothroides, Bebbia juncea, Brickellia laciniata, 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, and/or Viguiera reticulata. Additional species characteristic of Tamaulipan stands are Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Haematoxylum brasiletto, Prosopis glandulosa, and Tecoma stans. Sometimes herbaceous vegetation dominates the wash with woody vegetation absent or only with scattered individuals present. Dominance by Eriogonum spp., Mirabilis laevis, Penstemon spp., Panicum bulbosum, Alopecurus aequalis, or Lycurus phleoides is typical of some herbaceous stands, although it is variable.
Dynamics: This macrogroup is associated with flash flooding and rapid sheet and gully flows that scour channel bottoms. The vegetation is sparse both from the high impact of flooding and the lack of moisture for the rest of the year.
Environmental Description: This macrogroup occurs on intermittently flooded washes or arroyos that dissect bajadas, mesas, plains and basin floors. These are linear features found across the North American warm deserts that experience ephemeral surface waterflows. Soils are well-drained. The macrogroup also sometimes occurs on colluvial, rocky slopes and on sites from disturbed by fire or clearing.
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs throughout the warm deserts of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, MXBCN, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXNLE, MXSON, MXTAM, NM, NV, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860456
Confidence Level: Moderate
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 |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Arroyo Riparian (Dick-Peddie 1993)
> Mojave Wash Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf 2007)
> Ramadero (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988)
> Mojave Wash Vegetation (Keeler-Wolf 2007)
> Ramadero (Jahrsdoerfer and Leslie 1988)
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- 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.
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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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