Print Report

A3162 Prosopis glandulosa Ruderal Desert Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This widespread ruderal alliance occurs as invasive upland shrublands found in former semi-desert grasslands in the foothills and piedmonts of the Chihuahuan Desert, extending west into the Sky Island region of southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico, and north into the lower Mogollon Rim foothills. The open to dense, tall (2-5 m) to short (<2 m) shrub layer is dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with typically low cover of desert grasses.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Honey Mesquite Ruderal Desert Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Honey Mesquite Upland Desert Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This ruderal alliance occurs as the common invasive upland shrublands that are concentrated in extensive areas of former semi-desert grasslands in foothills and piedmonts of the Chihuahuan Desert, extending west into the Sky Island region of southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico, and north into the lower Mogollon Rim foothills. Stands are characterized by an open to dense, tall (2-5 m) to short (<2 m) shrub layer dominated by Prosopis glandulosa. Associated species that may codominate or form a short-shrub layer include Acacia neovernicosa, Acacia constricta, Acacia greggii, Atriplex canescens, Ephedra trifurca, and Fouquieria splendens. Grass cover is generally low and composed of desert grasses such as Bouteloua eriopoda, Dasyochloa pulchella, Muhlenbergia porteri, and Muhlenbergia setifolia. Scattered Juniperus spp. trees may be present. Larrea tridentata is absent or has low cover. Substrates are typically derived from alluvium. During the last century, the area occupied by this vegetation has increased through conversion of desert grasslands as a result of drought, overgrazing by livestock, and/or decreases in fire frequency.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrub layer is dominated by Prosopis glandulosa and occurs on upland sites with alluvial or colluvial substrates, not eolian sand deposits. Chihuahuan Desert indicator species are often present.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is considered by some to be a native ruderal invasive alliance that historically did not occur naturally. Whether or not upland mesquite shrublands occurred naturally or not, they have unnaturally greatly expanded their range and now dominate vast areas of former semi-desert grassland in foothills and piedmonts of the Chihuahuan Desert, extending west into the Sky Island region southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico, and north into the lower Mogollon Rim foothills. Upland Prosopis velutina-dominated scrub has similarly expanded its range and occurs further west. In addition, because Prosopis glandulosa can have both shrub and tree growth forms, there may be confusion classifying a given stand. In general, desert upland stands are considered shrublands. Prosopis glandulosa-dominated stands are considered natural along drainages and in lowland areas.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderate to dense layer of extremely xeromorphic deciduous shrubs that are less than 5 m tall. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse but ranges from low to moderately dense cover and is dominated by graminoids, with annual forbs present seasonally. Succulents are often present.

Floristics: This alliance occurs as the common invasive upland shrublands that are characterized by open to dense, tall (2-5 m) to short (<2 m) shrub layer dominated by Prosopis glandulosa. Associated species that may codominate or form a short-shrub layer include Acacia neovernicosa, Acacia constricta, Acacia greggii, Atriplex canescens, Ephedra trifurca, and Fouquieria splendens. Other characteristic shrubs may include Ericameria laricifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Larrea tridentata (low cover), Lycium spp., and Parthenium incanum. Succulents such as Opuntia engelmannii, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (= Opuntia leptocaulis), Opuntia phaeacantha, Nolina microcarpa, and Yucca baccata are often present. Grass cover is generally low and composed of desert grasses such as Bouteloua eriopoda, Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum), Muhlenbergia porteri, and Muhlenbergia setifolia. Other common perennial grasses may include Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, and Pleuraphis mutica. Sparse annual grasses may include Aristida adscensionis, Bouteloua barbata, and Dasyochloa pulchella. Forb cover is also sparse, but it can be relatively diverse. Common forbs may include species of Chenopodium, Croton, Eriogonum, Euphorbia, Solanum, and Zinnia. Scattered Juniperus spp. trees may be present. Larrea tridentata is absent or has low cover.

Dynamics:  Prosopis glandulosa has invaded large areas of desert grasslands, especially those dominated by Bouteloua eriopoda in the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southern New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona (York and Dick-Peddie 1969, Hennessy et al. 1983). Studies on the Jornada Experimental Range suggest that combinations of drought, overgrazing by livestock, wind and water erosion, seed dispersal by livestock, fire suppression, shifting dunes, and changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation have caused this recent, dramatic shift in vegetation physiognomy (Buffington and Herbel 1965, Herbel et al. 1972, Humphrey 1974, McLaughlin and Bowers 1982, Gibbens et al. 1983, Hennessy et al. 1983, Schlesinger et al. 1990, McPherson 1995).

Prosopis spp. and other shrubs have extensive root systems that allow them to exploit deep soil water that is unavailable to shallower rooted grasses and cacti (Burgess 1995). This strategy works well except on sites that have well-developed argillic or calcic soil horizons that limit infiltration and storage of winter moisture in the deeper soil layers (McAuliffe 1995). McAuliffe (1995) found Prosopis spp. invasion on these sites limited to a few, small individuals. This has implications in plant geography and grassland revegetation work in the southwestern U.S.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs as the common invasive upland shrublands that are concentrated in extensive areas of former semi-desert grasslands in foothills and piedmonts of the Chihuahuan Desert, extending west into the Sky Island region of southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico, and north into the lower Mogollon Rim foothills. Elevation ranges from 1200-1600 m. Climate is arid to semi-arid. Temperature is hot in summer and is frequently below freezing in winter. At the nearby Jornada Experimental Range in southwestern New Mexico, annual precipitation ranged from 7-45 cm with mean annual precipitation of 23 cm (Herbel et al. 1972). Drought is not uncommon. The precipitation has a bimodal distribution with about two-thirds falling during July to October and a third during the winter months. The summer precipitation often occurs as high-intensity convective storms. The driest period is in late spring and early summer. Sites include plains, bajadas, piedmonts, foothills and mesas They range from flat to moderate slopes occurring on all aspects. Substrate is usually gravelly alluvium. Parent material includes andesite and rhyolite. Soils are generally coarse-textured such as sandy or gravely loams, but may include finer-textured loamy soils. Muldavin et al. (1993a) described the ground cover of a stand with 40% bare ground, 25% rock and gravel, and 33% litter. During the last century, the area occupied by this vegetation has increased through conversion of desert grasslands as a result of drought, overgrazing by livestock, and/or decreases in fire frequency.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs as invasive upland shrublands that are concentrated in the extensive desert grassland in foothills and piedmonts of the Chihuahuan Desert ranging from the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and adjacent Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, MXCOA, MXSON, NM, OK?, TX


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.90 Honey Mesquite / Red Brome - Lehmann''s Lovegrass Desert Ruderal Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M512 3.A.2.Na.90
Group 3.A.2.Na.90.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite Warm Desert Ruderal Scrub Group G819 3.A.2.Na.90.b
Alliance A3162 Honey Mesquite Ruderal Desert Scrub Alliance A3162 3.A.2.Na.90.b
Association CEGL001383 Honey Mesquite / Blue Grama Ruderal Shrubland CEGL001383 3.A.2.Na.90.b
Association CEGL001384 Honey Mesquite / Mixed Grasses Ruderal Shrubland CEGL001384 3.A.2.Na.90.b
Association CEGL001510 Honey Mesquite / Black Grama Ruderal Shrub Grassland CEGL001510 3.A.2.Na.90.b
Association CEGL001511 Honey Mesquite / Bush Muhly Ruderal Shrubland CEGL001511 3.A.2.Na.90.b
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance III.B.3.N.a. Prosopis glandulosa Shrubland Alliance (A.1031), in part, 2 associations. Old Alliance V.A.7.N.m. Prosopis glandulosa Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1550), in part, 1 association

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Mesquite (southern type): 68 (Eyre 1980)
>< Mesquite (western type): 242 (Eyre 1980)
= Mesquite - scrub series (Donart et al. 1978a) [from the Chihuahuan Desert Region of the Desert Shrub Formation.]
= Mixed Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [includes Prosopis glandulosa/Gutierrezia sarothrae/SMF-F (dunes).]
= Shrub-Mixed Grass Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [includes Prosopis glandulosa-Microrhamnus ericoides-Gutierrezia.]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-21-15
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