Print Report
A1033 Celtis laevigata - Rhus trilobata Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance covers shrublands dominated by Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Rhus trilobata, and/or Prunus serotina that are usually monotypic stands. This alliance is restricted to intermittent streams of central and south-central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugarberry - Skunkbush Sumac Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Sugarberry - Skunkbush Sumac Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance contains riparian shrublands dominated by a single species such as Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Prunus serotina, and Rhus trilobata. Other shrubs can include Berberis fendleri, Juniperus monosperma, Prosopis velutina, Prunus serotina, Quercus grisea, Ribes aureum, Rosa woodsii, Salix exigua, and Salix ligulifolia. This alliance occurs on alluvial terraces along the drainages that dissect upper bajadas and lower canyons, and occurs as narrow bands between the high-water line and the upland slopes in moderately wide valleys and along narrow reaches of larger rivers.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this riparian shrubland alliance is the dominance of the tall shrub Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Prunus serotina, or Rhus trilobata.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Dick-Peddie (1993) described montane riparian vegetation in the Hackberry Series that was dominated by Celtis laevigata var. reticulata with codominants Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii and Juglans spp., and an understory dominated by the semi-riparian shrub Brickellia californica. Muldavin et al. (1994a) described two plant associations from the Organ Mountains: Celtis reticulata / Quercus grisea and Celtis reticulata / Juglans microcarpa. Further work is needed to expand the concept of this alliance to include these other associations from New Mexico.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance is characterized by sparse to moderately dense cover of extremely xerophytic deciduous tall shrubs 2-5 m tall. Sparse to moderately dense layers of short- and dwarf-shrub species (0.5-2 m and <0.5 m tall, respectively) may be present. A forb layer consisting of ephemeral spring annuals may be seasonally present.
Floristics: Stands are generally dominated by a single species such as Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Prunus serotina, Rhus trilobata, and others. A sparse to moderately dense understory of short and dwarf-shrubs is usually present and can include Berberis fendleri, Juniperus monosperma, Prosopis velutina, Prunus serotina, Quercus grisea, Ribes aureum, Rosa woodsii, Salix exigua, and Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia). The herbaceous component is usually a sparse layer of mixed perennial graminoids and forbs, but seasonally may have dense cover of annual species. Species may include any of the following: Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex filifolia, Festuca idahoensis, Muhlenbergia montana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, or Schizachyrium scoparium.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Shrublands included in this riparian alliance are found on alluvial terraces along the drainages that dissect the upper bajadas and lower canyons in mountains of central and south-central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 670-1500 m. Climate is arid to semi-arid with hot summers. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 22-28 cm, but can vary greatly from year to year. Drought is not uncommon. Annual precipitation has a bimodal distribution with the proportion of summer precipitation decreasing westward (Barbour and Major 1977). The summer rain often occurs as high-intensity convective storms. Stands are restricted to the corridors of intermittent streams by the arid upland environment. Sites are typically flat to gently sloping with northern and eastern aspects. Substrates are generally well-drained, coarse-textured soils derived from mixed alluvium, frequently sandy with cobbles and boulders. Willis (1939) reported that stands occurred on the second terrace above upper Rillito Wash in the Sonoran Desert. Muldavin et al. (1994a) described communities in this alliance from canyons, ravines and draws in the Organ Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert. This relatively mesic shrubland alliance utilizes moisture from the water table and is dependent on intermittent flows or occasional flooding of washes to supplement soil moisture and maintain the groundwater levels.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in central and south-central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. It may also occur in northern Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899064
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.1033, A.938.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Celtis reticulata Series (Muldavin 1994) [includes Celtis reticulata/Quercus grisea Plant Association]
? Rhus aromatica ssp. trilobata Series (Johnston 1987)
? Hackberry Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [included in the Montane Riparian vegetation type in New Mexico.]
? Rhus aromatica ssp. trilobata Series (Johnston 1987)
? Hackberry Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [included in the Montane Riparian vegetation type in New Mexico.]
- Barbour, M. G., and J. Major, editors. 1977. Terrestrial vegetation of California. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 1002 pp.
- 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, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Muldavin, E. 1994. Organ Mountains sensitive species and plant community inventory. Unpublished report prepared by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Albuquerque.
- Muldavin, E., P. Mehlhop, and E. DeBruin. 1994a. A survey of sensitive species and vegetation communities in the Organ Mountains of Fort Bliss. Volume III: Vegetation communities. Report prepared for Fort Bliss, Texas, by New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Albuquerque.
- Niering, W. A., and C. H. Lowe. 1984. Vegetation of the Santa Catalina Mountains: Community types and dynamics. Vegetatio 58:3-28.
- Willis, E. L. 1939. Plant associations of the Rillito floodplain in Pima County. Unpublished thesis, University of Arizona, Tucson. 48 pp.