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A3150 Eriogonum fasciculatum - Viguiera parishii Desert Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Low shrublands dominated by Viguiera parishii occupying wash and arroyo margins, rocky to bouldery alluvium, on moderate to steep colluvial slopes of the southwest deserts.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Parish''s Goldeneye Desert Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Parish''s Goldeneye Desert Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance occurs in a variety of upland habitats in the southwestern deserts from southern California to the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona, and extends into southern Nevada. The vegetation is characterized by an open shrub layer dominated or codominated by the facultatively deciduous Viguiera parishii and Eriogonum fasciculatum. Other short shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present may include Agave deserti, Bebbia juncea, Ephedra nevadensis, Encelia farinosa, Ericameria teretifolia, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Galium stellatum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Krameria grayi, Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, Salazaria mexicana, Salvia dorrii, Simmondsia chinensis, or Yucca schidigera. Occasional emergent tall shrubs or small trees may be present such as Acacia greggii, Fouquieria splendens, or Juniperus californica. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse. Achnatherum speciosum, Adenophyllum porophyllum, Mirabilis laevis var. villosa, short cacti such as Echinocereus engelmannii or Opuntia basilaris, and introduced annual grasses such as Bromus madritensis and Bromus rubens are commonly present. Sites are commonly on moderate to steep colluvial slopes. Stands may also be found in valleys on rocky or bouldery alluvium and along washes and arroyos. Elevation ranges from 900 to 1400 m. Disturbance may be important to stands of this alliances. Soils are coarse-textured and often derived from granitic or volcanic rock.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Viguiera parishii greater than or equal to any other species in absolute cover in the shrub canopy. Emergent shrubs such as Juniperus californica and Rhus ovata have <5% absolute cover(Sawyer et al. 2009). These low shrublands occupy wash and arroyo margins, rocky to bouldery alluvium, on moderate to steep colluvial slopes of the southwestern deserts.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: More information, plot data and classification analysis are needed to clarify the concept of this alliance within its full extent, especially in the Sonoran Desert. The central distribution may be more oriented in the Sonoran Desert. Therefore, this alliance may be better placed in ~Mojave-Sonoran Bajada & Valley Desert Scrub Group (G295)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands in this low shrubland alliance are dominated by sparse to open cover of xeromorphic short shrubs.
Floristics: This alliance is characterized by an open shrub layer dominated or codominated by the facultatively deciduous Viguiera parishii and Eriogonum fasciculatum. Other short shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present may include Agave deserti, Bebbia juncea, Ephedra nevadensis, Encelia farinosa, Ericameria teretifolia, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Galium stellatum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Krameria grayi, Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (= Opuntia acanthocarpa), Salazaria mexicana, Salvia dorrii, Simmondsia chinensis, or Yucca schidigera. Occasional emergent tall shrubs or small trees may be present such as Acacia greggii, Fouquieria splendens, or Juniperus californica. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse. Achnatherum speciosum, Adenophyllum porophyllum, Mirabilis laevis var. villosa (= Mirabilis bigelovii), short cacti such as Echinocereus engelmannii or Opuntia basilaris, and introduced annual grasses such as Bromus madritensis and Bromus rubens are commonly present (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000, Thomas et al. 2004, Sawyer et al. 2009).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in a variety of upland habitats in the southwestern deserts from southern California to the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona, and extends into southern Nevada. Elevation ranges from 900 to 1400 m. Sites are commonly moderate to steep colluvial slopes. Stands may also be found in valleys on rocky or bouldery alluvium and along washes and arroyos. Disturbance may be important to stands of this alliances. Soils are coarse-textured and often derived from granitic or volcanic rock (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000, Thomas et al. 2004, Sawyer et al. 2009).
Geographic Range: This alliance is known from the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of Arizona, California and southern Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899275
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.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 | A3150 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Parish''s Goldeneye Desert Scrub Alliance | A3150 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002721 Parish''s Goldeneye Shrubland | CEGL002721 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005775 Parish''s Goldeneye - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat Desert Shrubland | CEGL005775 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
Concept Lineage: A.2526
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eriogonum fasciculatum - Viguiera parishii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
= Eriogonum fasciculatum-Viguiera parishii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Viguiera parishii (Parish’s goldeneye scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.032.00]
= Eriogonum fasciculatum-Viguiera parishii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Viguiera parishii (Parish’s goldeneye scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.032.00]
- Evens, J. M., D. Roach-McIntosh, and D. Stout. 2012. Vegetation descriptions for Joshua Tree National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI, National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Evens, J., and S. San. 2006. Vegetation alliances of the San Dieguito River Park region, San Diego County, California. Final report (August 2005) Version 2 (revised May 2006). Prepared by California Native Plant Society in cooperation with the California Natural Heritage Program of the California Department of Fish and Game and San Diego Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. 271 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.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., C. Roye, and K. Lewis. 1998a. Vegetation mapping and classification of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. Unpublished report on file at California Natural Diversity Database, California Department Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., and K. Thomas. 2000. Draft descriptions of vegetation alliances for the Mojave Ecosystem Mapping project. California Natural Diversity Database, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Thomas, K. A., T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Franklin, and P. Stine. 2004. Mojave Desert Ecosystem Program: Central Mojave vegetation mapping database. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Regional Science Center. 251 pp.
- VegCAMP and AIS [Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2013. 2012 California desert vegetation map and accuracy assessment in support of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Unpublished report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Renewable Energy Program and the California Energy Commission. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.