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A3144 Coleogyne ramosissima Mojave Desert Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Xeromorphic vegetation characterized by shrublands dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima or codominant with other shrubs within the Mojave Desert.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackbrush Mojave Desert Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mojave Blackbrush Desert Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These communities are characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Coleogyne ramosissima. Associated species include Ambrosia spp., Encelia resinifera, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Ephedra nevadensis, Menodora spinescens, Grayia spinosa, Larrea tridentata, Purshia stansburiana, and Thamnosma montana. Occasionally, scattered individuals of Yucca brevifolia may be emergent through the shrub layer. Scattered Juniperus osteosperma or Pinus monophylla trees are present in some stands. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse with perennial grasses and forbs commonly present. This shrubland alliance occurs in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California and southern Nevada and forms an elevational belt on desert ranges and an latitudinal belt in the transition zone with the southern Great Basin. Stands occur at elevations of 850-1600 m, usually on mountain slopes, mesas or alluvial fans bordering intermountain basins. Soils are highly variable across the large range of this vegetation type and are generally coarse-textured and well-drained, but include finer-textured substrates as well.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands dominated or codominated by Coleogyne ramosissima with associated flora characteristic of the Mojave Desert.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The analogous ~Coleogyne ramosissima Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance (A3220)$$ in ~Colorado Plateau Blackbrush - Mormon-tea Shrubland Group (G312)$$ has a similar concept. Further review may result in the merger of these two alliances.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by somewhat low to moderate cover (15-40%) of cold-deciduous or evergreen shrubs. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse (<20% cover) and dominated by cespitose perennial grasses or annual forbs and grasses. Scattered trees may form a sparse (0-10%) emergent layer in some stands, especially at the upper elevational margin and in the southwestern part of the range.

Floristics: These communities are characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Coleogyne ramosissima. Although Coleogyne is apparently restricted to a particular elevational zone, associated shrub species can be of either Mojavean or Great Basin affinities. Associated species include Ambrosia dumosa, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex canescens, Encelia resinifera, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Ephedra nevadensis, Menodora spinescens, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), Grayia spinosa, Larrea tridentata, Purshia stansburiana and Thamnosma montana. Occasionally, scattered individuals of Yucca brevifolia may be emergent through the shrub layer. Occasional Juniperus osteosperma or Pinus edulis trees are present in some stands. The herbaceous layer in these southern (and more xeric) stands is typically sparse with Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa), Eriogonum spp., Dichelostemma capitatum, Glandularia gooddingii, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Navarretia spp., Sphaeralcea ambigua, and Tridens muticus being commonly associated species. Exotic annual grasses Bromus rubens and Bromus tectorum are common in disturbed stands.

Dynamics:  These shrubland communities have greater cover than most other shrub communities in the Mojave and Great Basin deserts. They are generally of low value for livestock, but form an important element of winter range for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni). Following fire, these communities are often colonized by non-native annual grasses, which serve to encourage recurrent fires and delay shrub regeneration.
Environmental Description:  This shrubland alliance is found in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California and southern Nevada and forms an elevational belt on desert ranges. It also occurs at the longitudinal transition zone between the Mojave and southern Great Basin at elevations of 850-1600 m, usually on mountain slopes, mesas or alluvial fans bordering intermountain basins Some authors regard these shrublands as delimiting the upper elevational boundary of the Mojave Desert in the transition between the Mojave and Great Basin deserts (Mozingo 1987). The climate is arid to semi-arid with precipitation ranging from 15-30 cm annually. Winter precipitation dominates in the western portions, with summer rain becoming more important eastward. Temperatures are continental, with large annual and diurnal ranges. Soils are highly variable across the large range of this vegetation type and are generally coarse-textured and well-drained, but include finer-textured substrates as well. These communities are more drought-tolerant than Artemisia tridentata-dominated communities of the Great Basin but less tolerant of drought than either Larrea tridentata or Atriplex spp. shrublands. Adjacent vegetation is typically Artemisia shrublands at the upper elevational margin and Larrea tridentata or Atriplex - Sarcobatus shrublands where these communities grade into lower-elevation deserts or heavy alkaline soils.
Geographic Range: This shrubland alliance occurs in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California and southern Nevada and forms an elevational belt on desert ranges and an latitudinal belt in the transition zone with the southern Great Basin.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NV, UT


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class C03 3
Subclass 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass S11 3.B
Formation 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation F033 3.B.1
Division 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division D040 3.B.1.Ne
Macrogroup 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup M171 3.B.1.Ne.1
Group 3.B.1.Ne.1.a Joshua Tree - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Rough Joint-fir Mixed Desert Scrub Group G296 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Alliance A3144 Blackbrush Mojave Desert Scrub Alliance A3144 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL001259 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Desert Bitterbrush Shrubland CEGL001259 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL001260 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat Rock Outcrop Shrubland CEGL001260 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL001333 Blackbrush - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL001333 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL002718 Blackbrush - Turpentine-broom Shrubland CEGL002718 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL002720 Blackbrush - Stansbury''s Cliffrose Shrubland CEGL002720 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL005080 Woolly-fruit Bur-ragweed - (Blackbrush) Dwarf-shrubland CEGL005080 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL005297 Blackbrush - Joint-fir species Warm Desert Shrubland CEGL005297 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Association CEGL005746 Blackbrush - Water Jacket Desert Shrubland CEGL005746 3.B.1.Ne.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Coleogyne ramosissima (Black brush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.020.00]
= Coleogyne ramosissima Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Coleogyne ramosissima Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
= Coleogyne ramosissima Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.020.00]
? Blackbush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) [possibly equivalent]
= Blackbush Series (Brown et al. 1979)
Concept Author(s): D.E. Brown, C.H. Lowe and C.P. Pase (1979)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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