Print Report
A3151 Atriplex canescens Lowland Basin Desert Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert, and is characterized by the dominance of Atriplex canescens with saline indicator species Allenrolfea occidentalis, Sarcocornia utahensis, Suaeda moquinii, or other halophytic plants that may be present to codominant.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fourwing Saltbush Lowland Basin Desert Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Fourwing Saltbush Lowland Basin Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert, and is characterized by the dominance of Atriplex canescens with saline indicator species Allenrolfea occidentalis, Sarcocornia utahensis, Suaeda moquinii, or other halophytic plants that may be present to codominant. Scattered invasive Prosopis glandulosa may also be present. The understory ranges from barren or sparse to abundant graminoid cover dominated by Distichlis spicata, Panicum obtusum, Pleuraphis mutica, Scleropogon brevifolius, Sporobolus airoides, or Sporobolus wrightii .Stands often occur on alluvial flats and around playas, as well as in floodplains. Substrates are generally fine-textured, often saline soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These open-canopied shrublands are dominated by Atriplex canescens, usually with the presence of saline or alkaline indicator species in the herbaceous layer such as Sporobolus airoides, Pleuraphis mutica, or Distichlis spicata. Parthenium confertum is prominent in some stands.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Shrublands in this alliance can grade into grasslands dominated by Sporobolus airoides or Pleuraphis mutica, or occur within a matrix of other desert shrublands. Natural Heritage of New Mexico has additional associations that need to be reviewed for possible inclusion in the USNVC and this alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense layer of facultatively deciduous, extremely xeromorphic shrubs up to 2 m in height. A sparse graminoid layer may be present.
Floristics: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert, and is characterized by the dominance of Atriplex canescens with saline indicator species Allenrolfea occidentalis, Sarcocornia utahensis, Suaeda moquinii, or other halophytic plants that may be present to codominant. Parthenium confertum is abundant on some plots. Scattered invasive Prosopis glandulosa may also be present. The understory ranges from barren or sparse to abundant graminoid cover dominated by Distichlis spicata, Panicum obtusum, Pleuraphis mutica, Scleropogon brevifolius, Sporobolus airoides, or Sporobolus wrightii . Some Chihuahua Desert indicator species are likely present, such as Acourtia nana, Euphorbia dentata, Hoffmannseggia glauca, or Flourensia cernua.
Dynamics: Atriplex canescens is tolerant of saline or alkaline soils, but is not restricted to those soils. Therefore, it is not a reliable indicator of those conditions (USFS 1937). This shrub is considered good forage for deer and many classes of livestock because it is highly nutritious and palatable (USFS 1937).
Environmental Description: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands often occur on alluvial flats and around playas, as well as in floodplains and intermittent washes. Substrates are generally fine-textured, often saline soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in saline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands often occur around playas and on alluvial flats, as well as in floodplains along the Rio Grande and Pecos River.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899276
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.b Fourwing Saltbush - American Tarwort Lowland Basin Scrub Group | G299 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3151 Fourwing Saltbush Lowland Basin Desert Scrub Alliance | A3151 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001290 Fourwing Saltbush / Gray''s Feverfew Shrubland | CEGL001290 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001292 Fourwing Saltbush / Big Sacaton Shrubland | CEGL001292 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance III.A.5.N.b. Atriplex canescens Shrubland Alliance (A.869) in part (one association)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Atriplex canescens Association (153.272) (Brown 1982a) [included within Chihuahuan Desertscrub, Saltbush Series.]
< Atriplex canescens Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Fourwing Saltbush Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
? Saltbush series in the Chihuahuan Desert Region, Saltbush series (Donart et al. 1978a)
< Atriplex canescens Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Fourwing Saltbush Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
? Saltbush series in the Chihuahuan Desert Region, Saltbush series (Donart et al. 1978a)
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- 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.
- Donart, G. B., D. Sylvester, and W. Hickey. 1978a. A vegetation classification system for New Mexico, USA. Pages 488-490 in: Rangeland Congress, Denver, CO, 14-18 August 1978. Society for Range Management, Denver.
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- 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.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1937. Range plant handbook. Dover Publications Inc., New York. 816 pp.