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A3259 Fallugia paradoxa Desert Wash Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Fallugia paradoxa-dominated shrublands of washes and upper stream terraces of the northern Mojave and Sonoran desert regions.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Apache Plume Desert Wash Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Apache Plume Desert Wash Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes Fallugia paradoxa-dominated shrublands of washes and upper stream terraces. Two suballiances are defined to recognize the range of associated species, one for the northern Mojave and one for the Sonoran Desert region. This alliance occurs across a wide geographic range of the nominal species, and the two suballiances account for associated species differences from north to south.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrubland dominated by Fallugia paradoxa.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance has two suballiances: ~Fallugia paradoxa - Rhus trilobata - Forestiera pubescens Northern Mojave Wash Suballiance (A3259a)$$ and ~Fallugia paradoxa - Brickellia longifolia Sonoran-Chihuahuan Wash Suballiance (A3259b)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation stands within this alliance are classified as temporarily flooded, short (1-2 m), broad-leaved, cold-deciduous shrublands.

Floristics: This alliance includes shrublands dominated by Fallugia paradoxa. This alliance has two suballiances: ~Fallugia paradoxa - Rhus trilobata - Forestiera pubescens Northern Mojave Wash Suballiance (A3259a)$$ and ~Fallugia paradoxa - Brickellia longifolia Sonoran-Chihuahuan Wash Suballiance (A3259b)$$. It often occurs with other shrubs such as Acacia greggii, Brickellia laciniata, Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Chilopsis linearis, Prosopis glandulosa, Rhus microphylla, and Rhus virens. Composition varies with soil, drainage, elevation, and cultural influences. Detailed information on the floristics of the two suballiances needs to be developed.

Dynamics:  This appears to be a flood-tolerant alliance located along stream margins.
Environmental Description:  This shrubland alliance occurs on sandy terraces along major rivers and washes. Stands typically form a narrow but continuous band about 3 m above the channel on streambanks and natural levees. Soils range from silty clays over clay loam to sandy loam.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in North American Southwest deserts, from California, Nevada, Arizona, southern Colorado and New Mexico into Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, TX, UT


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.7 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup M092 3.A.2.Na.7
Group 3.A.2.Na.7.a Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group G541 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A3259 Apache Plume Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A3259 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL002357 Apache Plume Colorado Plateau Desert Wash Shrubland CEGL002357 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL002716 Apache Plume Arroyo Wash Shrubland CEGL002716 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL002719 Apache Plume / Mexican-buckeye Shrubland CEGL002719 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL003875 Apache Plume Shrubland CEGL003875 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL005298 Apache Plume Grand Canyon Desert Wash Shrubland CEGL005298 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Concept Lineage: A.2575, A969

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fallugia paradoxa Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
? Apache Plume Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-14-14
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