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A3136 Artemisia filifolia Desert Sand Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These moderately open, plains shrublands (25-30% average cover) are dominated by Artemisia filifolia, with an understory often characterized by scattered, tall bunchgrasses, typically Sporobolus flexuosus or Sporobolus giganteus. It occurs on smooth to hummocky sandsheets within the Jornada del Muerto and Tularosa basins of New Mexico at low elevations (1160-1520 m).
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Sagebrush Desert Sand Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Sand Sagebrush Desert Sand Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Stands are moderately open shrubland (25-30% average cover) dominated by Artemisia filifolia, with an understory often characterized by scattered, tall bunchgrasses, typically Sporobolus flexuosus or Sporobolus giganteus. The shrub layer may include over a dozen species, the most common being Yucca elata, Atriplex canescens, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Other shrubs associated with sandy soils, and occasionally present, include Psorothamnus scoparius. Grass cover may be abundant and diverse with up to 23 mostly sandy-soil-adapted, warm-season species. A common associate is Achnatherum hymenoides. A rich forb layer of late summer bloomers is possible within intershrub spaces. The most common are Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, Baileya multiradiata, Sphaeralcea spp., and Helianthus annuus. This shrubland alliance occurs in southern New Mexico, western and central Texas, and adjacent northern Mexico. Stands occur on smooth to hummocky sandsheets found within the Jornada del Muerto and Tularosa basins of New Mexico at low elevations (1160-1520 m). Occasionally stands are reported from sandy deposits at higher elevations such as leeward footslopes of the southern San Andres Mountains at about 1710 m elevation. Aspect is not important as slopes are mostly gentle. Soils are deep and sandy Torripsamments, and probably of relatively recent origin with little structure development.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These desert shrublands occur on sand substrates and are characterized by dominance of Artemisia filifolia. Other psammophilous shrubs such as Atriplex canescens, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra trifurca, Poliomintha incana, Psorothamnus scoparius, or Rhus microphylla may be present. If Prosopis glandulosa is present, then cover is relatively low. The understory is variable, ranging from sparse to abundant psammophilous grasses or forbs such as Sporobolus flexuosus and Dimorphocarpa wislizeni.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Shrubs with broad ecological amplitudes such as Atriplex canescens are included in this alliance when diagnostic psammophilous Chihuahuan Desert species are present in stand.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense cover of microphyllous evergreen shrubs less than 1.5 m tall. The sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer is dominated by tall, medium-tall or short bunchgrasses. Forb cover is generally sparse. Scattered broad-leaved deciduous tall shrubs may be present.
Floristics: This shrubland alliance is characterized by a moderately open shrubland (25-30% average cover) dominated by Artemisia filifolia, with an understory often characterized by scattered, tall bunchgrasses, typically Sporobolus flexuosus or Sporobolus giganteus. The shrub layer may include over a dozen species, the most common being Yucca elata, Atriplex canescens, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Other shrubs associated with sandy soils, and occasionally present, include Psorothamnus scoparius. Grass cover may be abundant and diverse with up to 23 mostly sandy-soil-adapted, warm-season species. A common associate is Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides). A rich forb layer of late summer bloomers is possible within intershrub spaces. The most common are Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, Baileya multiradiata, Sphaeralcea spp., and Helianthus annuus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur on smooth to hummocky sandsheets found within the Jornada del Muerto and Tularosa basins of New Mexico at low elevations (1160-1520 m). Occasionally stands are reported from sandy deposits at higher elevations such as leeward footslopes of the southern San Andres Mountains at about 1710 m elevation. Aspect is not important as slopes are mostly gentle. Soils are deep and sandy Torripsamments, and probably of relatively recent origin with little structure development.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in sandy plains and sand deposits from southern New Mexico, western and central Texas, and adjacent northern Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, TX, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899261
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.2 Creosotebush - American Tarwort - Mesquite species Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M086 | 3.A.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.2.c Sand Sagebrush - Broom Smokebush Sand Scrub Group | G287 | 3.A.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A3136 Sand Sagebrush Desert Sand Scrub Alliance | A3136 | 3.A.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001077 Sand Sagebrush / Black Grama Shrubland | CEGL001077 | 3.A.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001078 Sand Sagebrush / Giant Dropseed Shrubland | CEGL001078 | 3.A.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL001547 Sand Sagebrush / Mesa Dropseed Shrubland | CEGL001547 | 3.A.2.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance III.A.4.N.a. Artemisia filifolia Shrubland Alliance (A.816) in part (2 associations).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia filifolia shrubland alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
< Sand Sagebrush (Dick-Peddie 1993) [New Mexico]
= Sandsage-Midgrass Series (Diamond 1993) [Texas]
< Sand Sagebrush (Dick-Peddie 1993) [New Mexico]
= Sandsage-Midgrass Series (Diamond 1993) [Texas]
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 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.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Muldavin, E., and P. Mehlhop. 1992. A preliminary classification and test vegetation map for White Sands Missile Range and San Andreas National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. University of New Mexico, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.