Print Report

A0933 Baccharis salicifolia Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes riparian shrublands dominated by Baccharis salicifolia with or without other shrubs such as Salix exigua. It occurs at lower elevations in mountain ranges of Trans-Pecos Texas and in central and southern California, along sandy watercourses and dry arroyos.


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mule-fat Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mule-fat Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes riparian shrublands dominated by Baccharis salicifolia. Salix gooddingii may be an emergent tree at low cover in some stands. Other associated species can include shrubs such as Artemisia californica, Baccharis emoryi, Baccharis neglecta, Baccharis pilularis, Malosma laurina, Nicotiana glauca, Pluchea sericea, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Rubus spp., Salix exigua, Salix lasiolepis, and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis. Stands are found at lower elevations in mountain ranges of Trans-Pecos Texas and in central and southern California, along sandy watercourses, dry arroyos and wetlands in sand dunes.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian or wash shrublands dominated by Baccharis salicifolia.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Washes, stream courses, seasonally flooded interdune ponds where the water table is within 2 m of the surface.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: These shrublands are dominated by Baccharis salicifolia. Non-native Tamarix is often found but usually in relatively low cover. Salix gooddingii may be emergent in some stands. Other associated species can include Muhlenbergia rigens and Echinochloa muricata var. microstachya. Associates include shrubs Artemisia californica, Baccharis emoryi, Baccharis neglecta, Baccharis pilularis, Malosma laurina, Nicotiana glauca, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Rubus spp., Salix exigua, Salix lasiolepis, and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis; emergent trees Pinus sabiniana, Platanus racemosa, Populus fremontii, Quercus spp., Salix spp.; and herbs Artemisia douglasiana, Cyperus spp., Eustoma exaltatum, and Xanthium strumarium. Non-native species that may be present include Bromus diandrus, Tamarix spp., and others.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs at lower elevations, along sandy watercourses, dry arroyos and seasonally flooded interdune ponds.

Geographic Range: This alliance is found in moist washes of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, MXBCN, NM, NV, TX, UT




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Baccharis salicifolia (Mulefat thickets) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [63.510.00]
= Baccharis salicifolia Alliance (Mulefat thickets) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Baccharis salicifolia Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [63.510.00]
= Mule Fat Scrub (#63310) (Holland 1986b)
= Mulefat Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)

Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley, K.D. Patterson, G. Kittel, J. Evens, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14

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