Print Report

A3204 Bouteloua eriopoda - Bouteloua ramosa Piedmont Desert Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These semi-desert grasslands are found primarily in the piedmont areas of the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands have an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses such as Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua ramosa, Bouteloua trifida, and Digitaria californica; annual grasses Bouteloua aristidoides, Chloris virgata, and Eriochloa lemmonii are important on disturbed sites. A sparse to open canopy of scattered shrubs may be present.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Grama - Chino Grama Piedmont Desert Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Black Grama - Chino Grama Piedmont Desert Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These semi-desert grassland are found primarily in the piedmont areas in the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands have a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Bouteloua ramosa, Bouteloua trifida, Bothriochloa barbinodis, Digitaria californica, Hesperostipa neomexicana, and Pleuraphis mutica. Pleuraphis rigida is important in western stands transitioning into the Sonoran Desert. Annual grasses Bouteloua aristidoides, Chloris virgata, and Eriochloa lemmonii are important on disturbed sites. An open canopy of scattered shrubs may be present. Common shrub species are Acacia neovernicosa, Ayenia microphylla, Dasylirion wheeleri, Ephedra trifurca, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Larrea tridentata, and Parthenium incanum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This Chihuahuan Desert alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses frequently with scattered shrubs. Character species include Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua ramosa, Bouteloua trifida, Digitaria californica, and Hesperostipa neomexicana. Pleuraphis rigida is important in western stands transitioning into the Sonoran Desert. Scattered diagnostic shrubs are Acacia neovernicosa, Ayenia microphylla, Dasylirion wheeleri, Ephedra trifurca, and Parthenium incanum.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: More classification review is needed to refine this alliance from this complex group.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to dense graminoid layer dominated by medium-tall perennial bunchgrasses. Occasional evergreen broad-leaved and needle-leaved trees and sparse cover of shrubs (<10%) are often present. Cover of forbs is also sparse.

Floristics: These semi-desert grassland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Bouteloua ramosa, Bouteloua trifida, Bothriochloa barbinodis, Digitaria californica, Hesperostipa neomexicana and Pleuraphis mutica. Pleuraphis rigida is important in western stands transitioning into the Sonoran Desert. Annual grasses Bouteloua aristidoides, Chloris virgata, and Eriochloa lemmonii are important on disturbed sites. An open canopy of scattered shrubs may be present. Common shrub species are Acacia neovernicosa, Ayenia microphylla, Dasylirion wheeleri, Ephedra trifurca, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Larrea tridentata, and Parthenium incanum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  These semi-desert grasslands are found primarily in the piedmont of the Chihuahuan Desert. Climate is semi-arid. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 24 cm, but is highly variable with drought years not uncommon. Typically, a third of the precipitation occurs in late winter, and two-thirds during July through October, often as high-intensity convective storms. Substrates are often shallow, rocky soils.
Geographic Range: This broadly defined desert grassland (shrub-steppe) alliance is typical of the Borderlands of Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico and occurs throughout much of the Chihuahuan Desert, extending west to the Sonoran Desert, with scattered occurrences northward to the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona, and east into the Trans-Pecos of western Texas.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXSON, NM, TX


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.3 Black Grama - Bullgrass - Tobosa Grass Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland Macrogroup M087 3.A.2.Na.3
Group 3.A.2.Na.3.a Black Grama - Chino Grama - Bush Muhly Semi-Desert Grassland Group G490 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Alliance A3204 Black Grama - Chino Grama Piedmont Desert Grassland Alliance A3204 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001591 Sideoats Grama - Curly-mesquite - Black Grama Grassland CEGL001591 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001729 Dense Ayenia / Black Grama Shrub Grassland CEGL001729 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001732 Longleaf Joint-fir / Black Grama Shrub Grassland CEGL001732 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001750 Black Grama - Red Grama Grassland CEGL001750 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001752 Black Grama Semi-Desert Grassland CEGL001752 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004244 Viscid Acacia / Hairy Grama - Blue Grama - Black Grama Shrub Grassland CEGL004244 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004246 Creosotebush / Hairy Grama - Blue Grama - Black Grama Shrub Grassland CEGL004246 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004522 Chino Grama Grassland CEGL004522 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL005323 Cane Bluestem Grassland CEGL005323 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL005329 Needle Grama - (Feather Fingergrass, Canyon Cupgrass) Annual Grassland CEGL005329 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: Several old alliances make of this new alliance, some are in part. Old Alliances V.D.2.N.d. Bouteloua aristidoides Herbaceous Alliance (A.2683); V.A.5.N.c. Bothriochloa barbinodis Herbaceous Alliance (A.1209); V.A.5.N.d. Bouteloua curtipendula Herbaceous Alliance (A.1244), In part; V.A.5.N.e. Bouteloua eriopoda Herbaceous Alliance (A.1284), in part; V.A.7.N.m. Bouteloua eriopoda Xeromorphic Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1553) (in part); V.A.7.N.m. Bouteloua hirsuta - Bouteloua gracilis - Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1548), V.A.5.N.e. Bouteloua ramosa Herbaceous Alliance (A.1275); andV.A.7.N.e. Pleuraphis rigida / Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1529).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
  • Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1995a. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.
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