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A3245 Sporobolus flexuosus Sandy Plains Semi-Desert Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This Chihuahuan Desert grassland alliance is characterized by diagnostic perennial grass Sporobolus flexuosus and occurs in sandy basins and plains, broad benches and terraces, and piedmonts.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mesa Dropseed Sandy Plains Semi-Desert Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Sandy Plains Mesa Dropseed Semi-Desert Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This Chihuahuan Desert grassland alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by diagnostic perennial grass Sporobolus flexuosus. Associated grass species include Bouteloua gracilis, Dasyochloa pulchella, Paspalum setaceum, and Sporobolus contractus, which can be present to codominant. Scattered Psorothamnus scoparius shrubs may also be present. It occurs on sandy basins and plains, broad benches and terraces, and piedmonts in southern and central New Mexico and extends into the Trans-Pecos area of western Texas and into northern Mexico.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This grassland alliance occurs on sandy sites and is characterized by dominance of diagnostic perennial grass Sporobolus flexuosus. Associated grass species include Bouteloua gracilis, Dasyochloa pulchella, Paspalum setaceum, and Sporobolus contractus.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Grasslands dominated by Sporobolus flexuosus also occur north into the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona and Utah. Classification review is needed to determine if these associations should be included in this Chihuahuan Desert alliance. Need to further understand the relationship to ~Yucca elata - Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Sandy Plains Semi-Desert Grassland Alliance (A3244)$$. Additional review of associations is needed.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial bunchgrasses. A sparse to moderately dense forb layer is often present. Annuals may be seasonally abundant. Rarely, sparse scattered shrubs may be present.

Floristics: This Chihuahuan Desert grassland alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer that is dominated by diagnostic perennial grass Sporobolus flexuosus. Associated grass species include Bouteloua gracilis, Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum), Paspalum setaceum, and Sporobolus contractus, which can be present to codominant. Other graminoids may include Aristida divaricata, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua parryi, Cyperus esculentus, and Digitaria cognata (= Leptoloma cognatum). Forbs are moderately sparse, averaging less than 15% total cover. A common perennial forb is Chamaesyce albomarginata (= Euphorbia albomarginata) with up to 10% cover in one stand. Other species may include Eriogonum wrightii, Hymenopappus flavescens, Sida neomexicana, and Solanum spp. Annuals may be seasonally abundant during wet years. Sparsely scattered Yucca elata shrubs may be present on some stands (Muldavin et al. 1998a). Scattered Psorothamnus scoparius shrubs may also be present.

Dynamics:  Sporobolus flexuosus has replaced Bouteloua eriopoda in areas on the Jornada Experimental Range (Hennessy et al. 1983). Sporobolus flexuosus is more drought- and grazing-tolerant than Bouteloua eriopoda (Muldavin et al. 1998a).
Environmental Description:  This Chihuahuan Desert grassland alliance occurs on sandy basins and plains, broad benches and terraces, and piedmonts. The climate is semi-arid, with most of the annual precipitation of about 35 cm occurring during the summer months as a result of convectional thunderstorms and during winter as occasional rains. Late spring and early summer are typically dry. Summers are hot and winters can have periods of cold weather and occasional snow. Elevations range from 1200-1580 m. Stands have been found on the edge of a sandy playa bottom where there is a slight slope. Sporobolus flexuosus stands generally occur in loose and/or blowing sand. The soil is derived from sandy alluvium and is classified as a Psamment, with little pedogenic development. The edge of the playa is probably inundated less often than the center; consequently, salinity on the edge could be high. One plant association is presently known from extreme southwestern New Mexico on the Gray Ranch, Hidalgo County. Other possible locations include western Texas, but it has not been documented from there.
Geographic Range: This Chihuahuan Desert alliance occurs in south-central, southwestern and southeastern New Mexico and extends into the Trans-Pecos area of western Texas and into northern Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  MXCHH, 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.c Soaptree Yucca / Black Grama - Mesa Dropseed Semi-Desert Grassland Group G491 3.A.2.Na.3.c
Alliance A3245 Mesa Dropseed Sandy Plains Semi-Desert Grassland Alliance A3245 3.A.2.Na.3.c
Association CEGL001693 Mesa Dropseed - Low Woolly Grass Grassland CEGL001693 3.A.2.Na.3.c
Association CEGL001694 Mesa Dropseed - Slender Crowngrass Grassland CEGL001694 3.A.2.Na.3.c
Association CEGL001696 Mesa Dropseed - Spike Dropseed Grassland CEGL001696 3.A.2.Na.3.c
Association CEGL001762 Blue Grama - Mesa Dropseed Grassland CEGL001762 3.A.2.Na.3.c
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes most associations of Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Sporobolus flexuosus Herbaceous Alliance (A.1268), and one association from Old Alliance V.A.5.N.e. Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance (A.1282).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sporobolus flexuosus Herbaceous Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
= Sporobolus flexuosus Series (Muldavin et al. 1998c)
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
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