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A3193 Ebenopsis ebano - Phaulothamnus spinescens Thornscrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is characterized by a mixture of xeromorphic shrubs which may include Ebenopsis ebano, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Citharexylum berlandieri, Leucophyllum frutescens, Prosopis glandulosa, and a variety of other shrubs occurring on clay dunes, levees, and other areas of the coastal plain in southern Texas and possibly adjacent Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Texas Ebony - Devil-queen Thornscrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Tamaulipan Lomas & Levee Thornscrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance occurs on in the coastal plain in southern Texas and possibly adjacent Mexico. It is characterized by a mixture of xeromorphic shrubs which may include Ebenopsis ebano, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Citharexylum berlandieri, Leucophyllum frutescens, Prosopis glandulosa, and a variety of other shrubs. This vegetation typically includes tall (3-4 m) and short shrubs sometimes with an emergent canopy of short-statured trees. These shrublands can occur on the well-drained portions of clay dunes within coastal tidal flats, where they are influenced by salt spray, high winds, and extreme xeric conditions. They also occur over fine- and coarse-textured soils on river levees, resaca banks, and elsewhere in the coastal plain.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Thornscrub vegetation of clay dunes (lomas), levees, and the Rio Grande delta plain in southern Texas.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Classification of this vegetation is complicated by the difficulty in discerning dominance patterns. Johnston (1952) collected vegetation data from xeric shrublands in this region and he concluded that no clear patterns of dominance could be correlated with different habitats; these shrublands all seem to intergrade. Some examples may have emergent trees that blur the line between shrubland and woodland. More information is needed to flesh out detailed floristic, environment, and range of this alliance. There may be undescribed associations related to this alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance includes tall (3-4 m) and short xeromorphic thorny shrubs sometimes with an emergent canopy of short-statured trees.
Floristics: This alliance is characterized by a mixture of xeromorphic shrubs which may include Ebenopsis ebano, Phaulothamnus spinescens, Citharexylum berlandieri, Leucophyllum frutescens, Prosopis glandulosa, and a variety of other shrubs. Associated species in maritime areas include Condalia hookeri var. hookeri, Forestiera angustifolia, Havardia pallens (= Pithecellobium pallens), Karwinskia humboldtiana, Maytenus phyllanthoides, Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Sideroxylon celastrinum (= Bumelia celastrina), Yucca treculeana, Zanthoxylum fagara, and Ziziphus obtusifolia. In levee shrublands, associates include Adelia vaseyi, Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Condalia hookeri, Ehretia anacua, Karwinskia humboldtiana, Sideroxylon celastrinum, Zanthoxylum fagara, and Ziziphus obtusifolia. Other associates may include Acacia berlandieri, Acacia greggii var. wrightii (= Acacia wrightii), Acanthocereus tetragonus (= Acanthocereus pentagonus) (in eastern portion of lower Rio Grande delta only), Adelia vaseyi, Aloysia gratissima, Amyris madrensis, Amyris texana, Bastardia viscosa, Borrichia frutescens (in openings on saline soils), Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum, Castela erecta ssp. texana (= Castela texana), Celtis laevigata var. laevigata, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Chromolaena odorata (= Eupatorium odoratum), Condalia hookeri, Diospyros texana, Forestiera angustifolia, Guaiacum angustifolium, Havardia pallens (= Pithecellobium pallens), Isocoma drummondii, Jatropha dioica, Karwinskia humboldtiana, Koeberlinia spinosa, Lycium berlandieri, Malpighia glabra, Maytenus phyllanthoides, Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (= Opuntia leptocaulis), Phaulothamnus spinescens, Randia rhagocarpa, Sideroxylon celastrinum (= Bumelia celastrina), Xylothamia palmeri (= Ericameria austrotexana), Yucca treculeana, Zanthoxylum fagara, and Ziziphus obtusifolia var. obtusifolia. Callisia micrantha may be locally dominant in the ground cover beneath the shrubs. Herbaceous components are generally better represented in openings and may include Billieturnera helleri, Trichloris pluriflora (= Chloris pluriflora), Pappophorum vaginatum, Sidastrum paniculatum, Sporobolus wrightii, and Tamaulipa azurea (= Eupatorium azureum). The invasive grass Pennisetum ciliare may also be common in occurrences of this alliance.
Dynamics: More information is needed to better describe the dynamics for this vegetation. Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors all likely played a role historically in maintaining this vegetation. Loss of these natural processes may have resulted in a shift toward a more closed canopy, increase in successional woody species, and decrease in native grass cover.
Environmental Description: These shrublands can occur on the well-drained portions of clay dunes within coastal tidal flats, where they are influenced by salt spray, high winds, and extreme xeric conditions. They also occur over fine- and coarse-textured soils on river levees, resaca banks, and elsewhere in the coastal plain of south Texas and adjacent Mexico.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Tamaulipan region and nearby areas of Texas and adjacent Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXNLE?, MXTAM, MXVER?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899317
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.1 Honey Mesquite - Spiny Hackberry / Multi-flower Rhodesgrass Tamaulipan Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M130 | 3.A.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.1.a Honey Mesquite - Spiny Hackberry - Texas Barometerbush Thornscrub Group | G099 | 3.A.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3193 Texas Ebony - Devil-queen Thornscrub Alliance | A3193 | 3.A.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002132 Honey Mesquite / (Spiny Hackberry, Devil-queen, Lotebush) Woodland | CEGL002132 | 3.A.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002169 Texas Ebony - Devil-queen Scrub | CEGL002169 | 3.A.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002170 Berlandier''s Fiddlewood - Don Quixote''s Lace - Texas Ebony - Devil-queen Shrubland | CEGL002170 | 3.A.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Clover, E. U. 1937. Vegetational survey of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Madrono 4:41-55, 77-100.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Diamond, D., B. Amos, T. Cook, R. Edwards, W. Elliot, R. Evans, and K. Kennedy. 1992. Endangered, threatened, and watchlist of natural communities of Texas. Texas Organization for Endangered Species. Austin, TX. 14 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.
- Jahrsdoerfer, S. E., and D. M. Leslie. 1988. Tamaulipan brushland of the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas: Description, human impacts, and management options. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service. Biological Report 88(36). 63 pp.
- Johnston, M. C. 1952. Vegetation of eastern Cameron County, Texas. M.S. thesis, University of Texas, Austin. 127 pp.