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A3841 Vachellia farnesiana - Celtis ehrenbergiana Riparian Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance occupies resaca bottoms and other intermittently or temporarily flooded areas in the South Texas Plains and the Coastal Prairie of Texas and Mexico and is dominated or codominated by Vachellia farnesiana.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweet Acacia - Spiny Hackberry Riparian Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Sweet Acacia Riparian Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance occupies resaca bottoms and other intermittently or temporarily flooded areas in the South Texas Plains and the Coastal Prairie of Texas and Mexico. It is dominated or codominated by Vachellia farnesiana. Other canopy species may include Celtis ehrenbergiana, Prosopis glandulosa, Parkinsonia aculeata, Mimosa pellita, and Sesbania drummondii. Canopy height and closure are variable. Other species in this alliance include Wissadula periplocifolia, Sidastrum paniculatum, Spartina spartinae, and Eleocharis montevidensis. It is a considered a natural disturbance type of river floodplains and depressions that may succeed to Celtis laevigata-dominated forest, especially on floodplains of major streams. It is similar in composition and habitat to occurrences of widespread ruderal vegetation. In wet areas, Vachellia farnesiana often forms nearly pure stands or occurs as scattered individuals within a matrix of weedy grasses during the course of secondary succession.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance occupies resaca bottoms and other intermittently or temporarily flooded areas and is dominated or codominated by Vachellia farnesiana.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is centered on the Rio Grande delta with some associations extending into adjacent regions. It is a mixture of subtropical and temperate species. Data gaps could represent undescribed associations. Its concept and group placement need a broader review in the context of other temperate and subtropical vegetation that could have similar composition, especially in Mexico. No character species have been identified, and while there could be some differential species, they are not the dominants. It is similar in composition and habitat to occurrences of widespread ruderal vegetation. Additional data and information may differentiate natural and semi-natural associations. Kartesz (1999) uses Acacia farnesiana for Acacia smallii (which is accepted by Isely) and which is now treated as Vachellia farnesiana (USDA Plants 2017).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Canopy height and closure vary from small trees to tall shrubs and woodland to forest. In wet areas, Acacia farnesiana often forms nearly pure stands or occurs as scattered individuals within a matrix of weedy grasses during the course of secondary succession.
Floristics: This alliance is dominated or codominated by Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia minuta ssp. minuta). Other canopy species may include Celtis ehrenbergiana (= Celtis pallida), Prosopis glandulosa, Parkinsonia aculeata, Mimosa pellita (= Mimosa pigra), and Sesbania drummondii. Other species in this alliance include Wissadula periplocifolia, Sidastrum paniculatum, Spartina spartinae, and Eleocharis montevidensis. It is a considered a natural disturbance type of river floodplains and depressions that may succeed to Celtis laevigata-dominated forest, especially on floodplains of major streams. It is similar in composition and habitat to occurrences of widespread ruderal vegetation. In wet areas, Vachellia farnesiana often forms nearly pure stands or occurs as scattered individuals within a matrix of weedy grasses during the course of secondary succession. This woodland may grade into Acacia rigidula or Acacia berlandieri shrublands in southern Texas and Schizachyrium scoparium grasslands in the Coastal Prairie.
Dynamics: The natural disturbance of flooding helps to maintain this alliance.
Environmental Description: This woodland occurs over moderately to poorly drained soils of river floodplains and depressions, primarily in the South Texas Plains and the Coastal Prairie.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs primarily in the South Texas Plains and the Coastal Prairie of Texas and Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXTAM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899893
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division | D013 | 1.B.3.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup | M036 | 1.B.3.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a Rio Grande Palmetto - Texas Ebony - Cedar Elm Tamaulipan Riparian Scrub Group | G549 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A3841 Sweet Acacia - Spiny Hackberry Riparian Scrub Alliance | A3841 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL002131 Sweet Acacia - (Honey Mesquite) Riparian Woodland | CEGL002131 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL007755 Sweet Acacia - Jerusalem-thorn Riparian Forest | CEGL007755 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Huizachal (Rzedowski 1981)
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 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.
- Kartesz, J. T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: J. T. Kartesz and C. A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC.
- Rzedowski, J. 1981. Vegetaciòn de México. Editorial Limusa, Mexico City, Mexico. 432 pp.