Print Report
A3791 Cercocarpus montanus Madrean Montane Chaparral Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes shrublands dominated by Cercocarpus montanus in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Stands occur from foothill to lower montane elevational zones in desert mountain ranges and along the Mogollon Rim.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Madrean Montane Chaparral Alliance
Colloquial Name: Madrean Montane Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Chaparral
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes shrublands dominated by Cercocarpus montanus in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub canopy dominated or codominated by Cercocarpus montanus with other shrubs common in interior chaparral such as Ericameria laricifolia, Garrya flavescens, Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Robinia neomexicana, and stem succulents such as Agave parryi, Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa, Opuntia engelmannii, Cylindropuntia imbricata, and Yucca baccata. Chaparral species Arctostaphylos pungens, Arctostaphylos pringlei, Ceanothus greggii, and Quercus turbinella are absent or present with low cover (not codominant). Scattered trees may also be present with low cover, including Pinus edulis, Juniperus monosperma, and Juniperus osteosperma. Open stands may have an abundant herbaceous layer characterized by Madrean perennial grasses such as Muhlenbergia pauciflora and Muhlenbergia emersleyi, although many other herbaceous species may be present to abundant. Shrublands included in this alliance are found on breaks and foothill, mountain and canyon slopes throughout much of the southwestern U.S. Elevations range from 1500-2500 m. Sites are variable but are generally xeric and rocky with moderate to very steep slopes. Substrate is typically thin, well-drained, poorly developed lithic soils with abundant rock outcrops. Parent material is variable and includes alluvium, colluvium and residuum from igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by dominance or codominance of diagnostic species Cercocarpus montanus with shrubs common in chaparral such as Garrya flavescens, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, and Robinia neomexicana. Arctostaphylos pungens, Arctostaphylos pringlei, Ceanothus greggii, and Quercus turbinella are absent or present with low cover (not codominant). Open stands may have an abundant herbaceous layer characterized by perennial grasses such as Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, and Muhlenbergia setifolia, although many other herbaceous species may be present to abundant.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Cercocarpus montanus is a wide-ranging species. This alliance is associated with warm semi-desert interior chaparral stands, not the more temperate foothill to montane zones in the Rocky Mountains. The varieties of Cercocarpus montanus typical in this alliance are Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus, Cercocarpus montanus var. montanus, and Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (western). ~Rhus virens var. choriophylla / Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus Shrubland (CEGL001123)$$ was moved from ~Eastern Madrean Chaparral Group (G280)$$ to this alliance because is was sampled in the Mule Mountains of southeastern Arizona and is more typical of ~Western Madrean Chaparral Group (G281)$$ in the Sierra Occidentale and Mogollon Rim. This alliance (A3791) is included in G281 as a best fit. However, the alliance is widespread, occurring in central and southeastern Arizona, extending east across southern New Mexico to the Organ, Oscura, Mockingbird, San Andres, San Augustine and Sacramento mountains. One association described from the San Andres and Oscura mountains, i.e., ~Cercocarpus montanus / Muhlenbergia pauciflora Shrubland (CEGL001089)$$, is included in this alliance although it was also described from the Guadalupe Mountains of Texas and New Mexico, which is the northwestern extent of ~Eastern Madrean Chaparral Group (G280)$$. More classification review is needed to better understand the transition zone between ~Eastern Madrean Chaparral Group (G280)$$ and ~Western Madrean Chaparral Group (G281)$$. Additionally, there are several other Cercocarpus montanus plant associations described in Muldavin et al. (2000b, 2003) that need to be reviewed for inclusion in this alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderately sparse to moderately dense cover of broad-leaved deciduous/evergreen shrubs 2 m tall. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is usually less than 1 m tall and dominated by graminoids. Some stands have herbaceous layers dominated by perennial forbs, but generally forb cover is sparse. Annuals are seasonally present.
Floristics: This alliance includes shrublands dominated by Cercocarpus montanus in the Chihuahuan Desert. Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub canopy dominated or codominated by Agave parryi and Cercocarpus montanus with other shrubs common in interior chaparral such as Ericameria laricifolia, Garrya flavescens, Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Robinia neomexicana, and stem succulents such as Agave parryi, Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa, Opuntia engelmannii, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), and Yucca baccata. Chaparral species Arctostaphylos pungens, Arctostaphylos pringlei, Ceanothus greggii, and Quercus turbinella are absent or present with low cover (not codominant). Scattered trees may also be present with low cover, including Pinus edulis, Juniperus monosperma, and Juniperus deppeana. Open stands may have an abundant herbaceous layer characterized by Madrean perennial grasses such as Bothriochloa barbinodis, Bouteloua eriopoda, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Muhlenbergia tenuifolia, and Schizachyrium cirratum, although many other herbaceous species may be present to abundant, including Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Eragrostis intermedia, Hesperostipa neomexicana, and Schizachyrium cirratum (Muldavin et al. 2000b). Forbs may be diverse and include Artemisia carruthii, Artemisia ludoviciana, Eriogonum jamesii, Eriogonum wrightii, Hedeoma plicata, Heliomeris longifolia, Heliomeris multiflora, Mirabilis multiflora, Mirabilis oxybaphoides, and Viguiera dentata.
Dynamics: Ecological factors that control shrub densities such as fire and drought need more investigation. Unlike other species of Cercocarpus, Cercocarpus montanus is a fire-resistant species because it can resprout from the base after a fire has killed the top (Cronquist et al. 1997). In the southern portion of its range Cercocarpus montanus functions as an evergreen shrub by retaining leaves during mild winters and losing them during cold winters (Dick-Peddie 1993).
Environmental Description: Shrublands included in this alliance are found on breaks and foothill, mountain and canyon slopes throughout much of the southwestern U.S. Elevations range from 1500-2500 m. Climate is semi-arid. Summers are hot and winters are mild. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 24 cm with precipitation occurring bimodally during the winter and late summer with a droughty period in late spring/early summer. The late summer rain often occurs as high-intensity thunderstorms. Sites are variable but are generally xeric and rocky with moderate to very steep slopes. Stands are usually found on southerly aspects. Substrate is typically thin, well-drained, poorly developed lithic soils with abundant rock outcrops. Soils textures are variable and range from sandy loam to clay. Parent material includes alluvium, colluvium and residuum from igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks such as granite, gneiss, limestone, quartz monzonite, rhyolite, sandstone, schist and shale.
Geographic Range: These shrublands occur from Utah to Texas in breaks, canyons, foothills and mesas, mountains in the southern Colorado Plateau, Chihuahuan Desert and Mogollon Rim south into Mexico especially on desert mountain ranges.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, TX, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899843
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.896 (in part) and A.1538 (in part). This alliance includes two associations from Old Alliance III.B.2.N.a. Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (A.896), one association from Old Alliance V.A.7.N.g. Cercocarpus montanus Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1538), and on association from Old Alliance III.B.2.N.a. Rhus virens var. choriophylla Shrubland Alliance (A.922).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cercocarpus montanus (Mountain Mahogany) Series (Muldavin et al. 1998b)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Wood et al. 1998)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2003a)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin 1994)
? Mountain Mahogany-Mixed Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [included within the Montane Scrubland Vegetation Type]
? Mountain mahogany Series (133.34) (Brown 1982a) [included within Interior Chaparral]
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Wood et al. 1998)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2003a)
= Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin 1994)
? Mountain Mahogany-Mixed Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [included within the Montane Scrubland Vegetation Type]
? Mountain mahogany Series (133.34) (Brown 1982a) [included within Interior Chaparral]
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