Print Report
A0368 Arbutus xalapensis - Acer grandidentatum - Quercus spp. Forest & Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This montane forest alliance is characterized by a mixed evergreen-deciduous tree canopy composed of Arbutus xalapensis, Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus flaccida, and Quercus grisea (evergreen), and Acer grandidentatum, Quercus gravesii, Quercus muehlenbergii, Ostrya knowltonii, and Juglans microcarpa (deciduous). It occurs in canyons of the mountain ranges of the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southeastern New Mexico and northern Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Texas Madrone - Bigtooth Maple - Oak species Forest & Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Texas Madrone - Bigtooth Maple - Oak Forest & Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance occur in most of the mountains of the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southeastern New Mexico and northern Mexico. The vegetation is characterized by a mixed evergreen-deciduous tree canopy composed of Arbutus xalapensis, Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus flaccida, and Quercus grisea (evergreen), and Acer grandidentatum, Quercus gravesii, Quercus muehlenbergii, Ostrya knowltonii, and Juglans microcarpa (deciduous). Other associated evergreen tree species may be present to codominant, including Juniperus monosperma, Juniperus pinchotii, Pinus arizonica, Pinus cembroides, Pinus edulis, Pinus ponderosa, Quercus emoryi, Quercus graciliformis, and Quercus rugosa. Understory is an open to moderately dense shrub layer of rosette stem succulents such as Agave havardiana, Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Nolina erumpens, Nolina texana, and Salvia regla. Stands occur in mountain canyons at montane elevation and extend down in mesic canyon bottoms in the foothills.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The mixed evergreen-deciduous tree canopy is characterized by Arbutus xalapensis and a variable mix of diagnostic species, including Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus flaccida, Acer grandidentatum, Quercus gravesii, Quercus grisea, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Associated understory species include Agave havardiana, Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Nolina erumpens, Nolina texana, and Salvia regla.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Additional information is needed to fully describe associations occurring in various isolates ranges (Chisos Mountains, Davis Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, Glass Mountains, Sierra Vieja).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation structure is characterized by a tree canopy composed a mixture of broad-leaved- and needle-leaved evergreen trees and broad-leaved deciduous trees. The understory is composed of rosette stem succulents and broad-leaved evergreen and deciduous shrubs. No information is available on the herbaceous layer.
Floristics: The vegetation included in this alliance is characterized by a mixed evergreen-deciduous tree canopy composed of Arbutus xalapensis, Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus flaccida, and Quercus grisea (evergreen), and Acer grandidentatum, Quercus gravesii, Quercus muehlenbergii, Ostrya knowltonii, and Juglans microcarpa (deciduous). Other associated tree species may be present to codominant, including Hesperocyparis arizonica (= Cupressus arizonica), Juniperus monosperma, Juniperus pinchotii, Pinus arizonica, Pinus cembroides, Pinus edulis, Pinus ponderosa, Quercus emoryi, Quercus graciliformis, and Quercus rugosa. Understory is an open to moderately dense shrub layer of rosette stem succulents such as Agave havardiana, Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana (= Agave neomexicana), Dasylirion leiophyllum, Nolina erumpens, Nolina texana, Ostrya spp., Prunus serotina var. virens, and Salvia regla.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in most of the mountain ranges of the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southeastern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Stands occur in canyons in these ranges at montane elevation and extend down in mesic canyon bottoms in the foothills. Substrates are shallow, rocky soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the mountain ranges of Trans-Pecos, Texas, southeastern New Mexico and in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXCHH, MXCOA, MXNLE, NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899240
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nd Madrean-Balconian Forest & Woodland Division | D060 | 1.B.1.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nd.2 Chihuahuan Pine - Douglas-fir / Silverleaf Oak Madrean Montane Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M011 | 1.B.1.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a Apache Pine - Chihuahuan Pine - Arizona Pine Forest & Woodland Group | G203 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A0368 Texas Madrone - Bigtooth Maple - Oak species Forest & Woodland Alliance | A0368 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004504 Texas Madrone - Gray Oak - Alligator Juniper - Bigtooth Maple - Chinquapin Oak Forest | CEGL004504 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004553 Texas Madrone - Gray Oak - Drooping Juniper - Bigtooth Maple - Chisos Red Oak Forest | CEGL004553 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance I.C.2.N.a. Arbutus xalapensis - Acer grandidentatum - Quercus spp. Forest Alliance (A.368)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Bigtooth Maple-Oak Series (Diamond 1993)
>< IA3a. Bigtooth Maple - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
>< IA3a. Bigtooth Maple - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 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.